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AJC: Dr. Tolliver Highlighted Thanks to Timely Book Release

They say good timing is invisible, but for Willie Tolliver Jr., professor of English and director of Africana Studies, the timing of his new book could not have been better. 

In “Deconstructing Will Smith: Race, Masculinity and Global Stardom,” Tolliver gives a critical look at the career of a multi-talented celebrity who was thrust into the spotlight early in life. From his time on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to his billions made with box office action hits, Smith is one of the most recognizable and polarizing figures in the entertainment industry. 

Sunday’s shocking Oscars moment brought that to the forefront. But it is Tolliver’s coincidental foreshadowing of a prologue titled “A Slap Heard Around the World,” referencing an incident in 2012 that raised interest for a sitdown with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. 

Tolliver joined entertainment reporter Rodney Ho to walk through the complexities of a global star like Smith and what the aftermath of Sunday’s altercation could mean moving forward. 

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To learn more about Dr. Tolliver’s fascinating new book, please click here.

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