📚Aunt Viv Becomes Will and Carlton’s Black History Teacher

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[@SMUS16475]

Don't get me wrong. Daphne was pretty good as Aunt Viv, but Janet was downright irreplaceable. This was HER role.

[@shaneestokes880]

Daphne wasn't in a lot of episodes though

[@axelfoley1406]

She was lackluster.

[@mupri1]

@@axelfoley1406 Well said

[@odotb9916]

The brilliant thing about this scene is that it actually teaches you black history.

[@cre8152]

I still love the original aunt Viv.

[@olechristianhenne6583]

I heard she was casted out for being honest or independent

[@doody244]

She was fabulous no doubt but don't discount Daphe. She was the first black Homecoming at Northwestern, a very prestigious institution. She also was the first black woman to grace the cover of Glamour Magazine. Her marriage to Tim Reid has lasted the test of time which is not easy in show business. The Reids have dont so much for the arts community in VA. It's wonderful to love Miss Janet I just wish people would give Miss Daphne some credit too.

[@ChaosDraguss]

@@olechristianhenne6583 That wasn't it. Simply put, she was apparently a nightmare to work with and the rest of the cast couldn't stand her. She also pretty much wanted to be the star of the show. It's true she was a more talented and experienced actress at the time, but the show was made to revolve around Will Smith, and she knew what she signed up for.

[@joygillmoriah2562]

Original aunt viv was a mom , second aunt viv was a wife

[@unknownfancy]

She was stronggg-

[@k.r.99]

Black women's voices have so much soul in it.

[@k.r.99]

@Jarred Knox i know. I'm not a racist/supremacist :) but considering my experiences, i'd say that many african people are gifted with nice voices.

[@nolol4197]

@Jarred Knox but white people didnt go through what black women went through so black women sing with more meanings

[@lfromdeathnotesfuturewife7767]

@Jarred Knox stfu

[@pmccline5403]

That's because we are emotional creations and the narrative of us being " strong" is ignorant.

[@gainsandglory6808]

@@nolol4197 lol what do you mean? You know the planet has more countries and cultures than the US?

[@victorvvc1925]

Seriously, Janet Hubert-Whitten was the best aunt Viv. She's got everything: the looks, the style, the voice, she's so cool!

[@magikopa]

She has great presence! The way she sings, the way she dances...

[@victorvvc1925]

@@magikopa I remember myself trying to learn the Aunt Viv dance!

[@Mayaisawesome91]

Agreed

[@mikejessmax]

Too bad Will didn't think so

[@cattuslavandula]

Aunt Viv had such a sophisticated style and demeanor. I liked Daphne Maxwell Reid, but Janet Hubert was so perfect for the role.

[@schnioula]

*I lie to you not! Vivienne Banks had the best style in sitcom history! Decades later I find myself copying her style.. the pencil skirts, the scarfs, the sophisticated look of it all..* ❤

[@AvecPoesie]

I emulate her appearance, as well. Her level of sophistication and elegance was a remarkable example for us all. Her sartorial choices alone let you know that this is a woman that deserves the utmost respect.

[@hazelanglin5907]

True she has great taste

[@cgreen399]

Sorry can’t agree! Claire Huxatable

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

Me too, and I'm a guy!

[@magikopa]

@@cgreen399 I think both are on the same level of sophistication.

[@briarrose7584]

The original Aunt Viv is the only one I love.

[@Bull1908]

Too bad she thought she was too good to follow second to Will Smith. Even Avery had no problem with it.

[@sbella6719]

@@Bull1908 or maybe she just wanted to retain the character strength of aunt Viv because clearly they watered her down with Daphne Maxwell Reid (no fault of hers.) It clearly worked at first

[@Bull1908]

@@sbella6719 if you also watched 2nd and 3rd season you noticed she became comic relief more than the strong parental presence that she was in 1st and half of 2nd.

[@sbella6719]

@@Bull1908 it's been awhile so I don't remember the seasons and I only heard rumors about why she left. I just remember the obvious differences in character once DMR came onboard.

[@richardramfire3971]

2 nd one was so lame

[@stevencoates3382]

"The underground railroad was a group of people who led the slaves to freedom." "And when was it established?" "During slavery." Lol 😅😅😅

[@redips]

smh Will

[@ilovenoodles7483]

I always loved when Aunt Viv sang this song "Wade in Water," and still do!

[@cammy85]

I became a fan of this song thanks to this show!! It originally aired in one of the earliest episodes as the first of many serious audience reactionless episode endings. The one that introduces Phil's parents and his history.

[@twinborn3850]

She was a phenomenal dancer and singer and actress

[@Wellington1991]

Procurei muito por esse episodio, para saber como se chamava essa musica...detalhe: não sei falar ingles. Mas li sua tradução e juntamente com sua melodia achei linda. Obrigado....

[@VladSicoe]

The original aunt Viv and Granny are my favorite characters in the series. Ashley and Hillary are great too, but after Janet Hubert's departure, the show wasn't as fun as before.

[@littlesongbird1]

I agreed. Her replacement was talented as well and I liked both, but I loved the original and how she played Aunt Viv as a highly educated and classy lady but if needed she could revert back to being a tough Philly chick (like in the episode where Will and Carlton are arrested and she takes off her earrings and says, "It's about to get busy in here.")

[@NeoAndersonChannel1]

@@littlesongbird1 In addition to all what's been said here. There was a great composition between James Avery & Janet Hubert. He was the big round gentle giant and she was a slim, sleek, dark-skinned, glass of fine wine bombshell. They were a better pairing. And the romance and desire (bedroom dialogue scenes) was much more believable.

[@markeithhunt6321]

​@@littlesongbird1 Chris get arrested and Greg got busted.

[@mariosanchezgumiel7757]

This is my favorite episode: how Will and Carlton think they know about black history and then realize they do not, how their classmates are interested in a topic they are unaware of, the final remarks about the importance of knowing about history... a lot of humor and many important, valuable points. Good script and well acted.

[@jessmorgan6732]

15 footnoted pages within a week? As a high school assignment? Aunt Viv doesn't mess around.

[@hadihatab3126]

Jess Morgan well it is an elite prep school which usually has a more strict curriculum compared to a regular high school.

[@EndlessSummer888]

@@hadihatab3126 That's still pretty extreme. Even in my third year of university (which i just finished), my longest essay was no more than 11 pages. And that 11th page was only half filled.

[@timbrown5576]

@@EndlessSummer888 I remembered that research papers are usually 10 pages. I never had a professor who wanted 15 pages.😮

[@darth856]

If I remember correctly, she was really a university professor and only did this class temporarily. That might have influenced the assignments.

[@nrkgalt]

That’s Professor Banks

[@juniorrodriguez81]

This lady showed all of her acting chops, singing chops and dancing in her stint of Fresh Prince - True Triple Threat

[@gpie4850]

"Black American history gentlemen.." Something about the way she delivers that line you knew you were about to get a heavy dose of know-ledge!

[@pinkysw1]

Yup the first aunt Viv is the best! She is so talented and amazingly beautiful!

[@Bull1908]

The 2nd wasnt as big of a presence to Will in his life like the 1st was.

[@jamieevans9645]

This aunt viv was the best

[@sexcorpio6976]

For me, she is the one and only

[@tysonyates2791]

I remember this episode.Will and Carlton.Despite being the black students of the class were the least interested in it and thought they were getting a free ride having a relative as a teacher.

[@smill1985]

Yeah. All the white students loved the class.

[@JoeKlunder1]

The Original Aunt Viv is great. Her voice is beautiful. I like her in other movies, too.

[@lorderik237]

I like the student in the front row near the window who kept showing sincere interest in the lesson

[@littlesongbird1]

If you watch the whole episode, all of the students save Will and Carlton really enjoyed the lesson and learning about the history.

[@Mxyzptlksac]

A lot of us melanin deficient people want to learn what wasn’t taught to us in school

[@nisuperman]

@@Mxyzptlksac melanin not melatonin.

[@Mxyzptlksac]

@@nisuperman lol auto correct . I’ll fix it

[@odeleon24]

That was Cornflakes

[@brianpullin6768]

Aunt Viv sing those songs in that sence so beautiful.

[@jacquettediggs4633]

The 2nd Aunt Viv could never

[@Harambae613]

2:45 Perfectly told but one important and amazing contextual point missing. The amazing thing that’s not mentioned here is one of astronomy. The Big Dipper and the Little Dipper are what’s known as circumpolar constellations: they never leave the sky at all during the year because of their proximity to the North Celestial Pole. If you look at photos where the stars are combined to show how they circle around the sky across the years, the Dippers are the stars with the shortest trails. Following the Dipper was guaranteed to send you North regardless of what time of year it was. To Canada. Where slaves were then free.

[@snakebitepellehue]

Wooooow!!!

[@OmriSama]

You a real one

[@TragicallyCharmed]

Its in this episode just not this scene

[@darkskinss]

Viv sang that! Work, sis.

[@nolol4197]

@Jarred Knox we don't care because we will never see u, and one day you're gonna call the wrong person "sis" and get beat the hell up 🤭

[@willdwyer6782]

Excellent history lesson. When the slaves sang about Moses, they were referring to Harriet Tubman's codename as a Civil War spy.

[@ronki23]

The other Aunt Viv couldn't do this

[@JobColman]

the first aunt viv was a strong woman, and knew when to give uncle phill the righteus power, and knew when she was in power, she wasnt a "im a strong woman and no enemy can stop me" she was a woman with flaws, and she knew that, but uncle phill was there to fill those gaps, thats why phill and vivian were such a good couple.

[@perrysaunders331]

Why are you bashing Daphne Maxwell Reid? She and her Husband Tim Reid have served the African American Community Proud & has been honored by the NAACP, Essence & Soul Train for their works in the Community and Theater. It wasn't her fault what lead to the first Aunt Viv getting fired! She clash with the whole Crew and was fired. Now she made peace with Will and the rest of the crew. Why why keep competing them both? That's almost like your Male Friend Mother companion you to her son's girlfriend before you? Would you like that? Us as black folks we need to stop doing this.

[@xdxd9300]

@@perrysaunders331 No she means the character not the actress

[@mattj8995]

@@perrysaunders331 Actually you need to get your facts checked. The original aunt viv was sacked by will because he saw her as a threat and the whole cast actually treated HER poorly

[@BG-lo1vi]

Facts!

[@shannonrichardson5129]

I wish Aunt Vic was my African American Literature professor.

[@odeleon24]

It’s crazy to think they didn’t get along behind the scenes but had great chemistry on set

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

That’s the power of acting!

[@jhgjhggj]

Who didn’t get along with who?

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Janet Hubert-Whitten (the first Aunt Viv) didn’t get along with Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton).

[@yvetteihemesinwa2981]

At least they apologized😊

[@roselynholloway7863]

@@yvetteihemesinwa2981 will should have done more

[@Summer_788]

I didnt say swim i didnt say backstroke I said WADE! HAHAHA Will is me whenever I think I'm an expert on a subject.

[@JaredThaBoi]

Will never want his aunt to teach black history knowing she’d drive them crazy 😂

[@Bull1908]

Yeah i think Will just came up with an excuse for being lazy and failing his latest history test. He also thought he would be taught stuff he THOUGHT he knew on black history and hoped it was more Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King then what he got

[@traviskarnes6825]

@@Bull1908 Exactly

[@daa589]

"that is the second time you've spoken out of turn Mr. Smith....."

[@recca7]

"extra work for you equals extra work for me" LOL imagine having a teacher like that

[@smill1985]

Sadly there are probably some teachers like that. 😕

[@rahatahmed6188]

I had teachers like that at school, not surprisingly, I didn’t do too well.

[@shaylawashington7700]

When Will took over the song 🤣 "I didn't say swim , I didn't say backstroke, I said wait"

[@rogerparker4468]

Can see why Will edged her out. She stole the show way too much for his liking. A beautiful talented, and powerful woman. Was so disappointed when they replaced her.

[@Kuraujia]

I think she did get a little offended when he added the finish to the song. Things like those, even for the comedy of the show, would be somehow disrespectful to someone who was talking about a serious part of history such as slavery

[@12mak]

@@Kuraujia It's a script bro. Probably wasn't even his idea

[@nightwing4429]

@@12mak Will would famously go off script constantly in the first season because he would never remember his lines. So it wouldn't surprise me if he did just throw this on here because Janet and James would constantly get irritated with Will's behavior during filming the first season. It's way the show almost didn't get renewed for a second season

[@kevonsidek9737]

Nah she wanted to be the star of the show and was too controlling she even got into with the other cast members lol will didn’t do anything she just didn’t cut it

[@kevonsidek9737]

@@nightwing4429 lies

[@ari9638]

I know they’re doing it for the moment, but Viv really could’ve just told Carlton and Will at home “Boys, just so you know, at school you will refer to me as Professor Banks, not Mom or Aunt Viv.” Like she had to know it would come up.

[@wightangel]

As what as recently been proved , Will Smith does not like being upstaged. That is probably the reason why the original Viv was ousted out.

[@Frnk_3]

Will adding extra soul to Wade in the Water killed me 😭😂

[@soulflowerpeace9236]

Original Viv is a bad chick..fierce and classy!

[@homerenjan]

This was when Will Smith decided to get a new aunt Viv.

[@luckyspray]

Original Aunt Viv is the best 💙 - Beautiful voice 💥

[@carguy3910]

This must be the moment where Will Smith’s and Alfonso Ribeiro’s real life feud with Janet Hubert began.

[@blackcitroenlove]

Eastern Cherokee woman, grew up singing these songs too. The Drinking Gourd is the Big Dipper, pointing to the North Star. I taught it to my Jewish husband a few nights ago.We also have a tradition of walking in shallow streams to cover our tracks .

[@anneputseys4441]

lol I'm imagining your black citroen racing through puddles to "avoid leaving tracks" :') not alot of shallow streams to walk through in my part of europe though, seems like a nice thing to do

[@sarahrobertson634]

Stop mixing races. Marry a Cherokee man.

[@Patrick3183]

@@sarahrobertson634 racist

[@x0xTHLover4Lifex0x]

@@sarahrobertson634 your mother should have swallowed you.

[@amadi5x5]

Will was hilarious trying to be a know it all. ☠️ Currently learning "Wade in the Water," on cello.

[@kevindouglas5333]

Will and Carlton wanted to talk it but not walk it. Will read one book and thought that meant something.

[@brunoferreira4628]

She’s so Beauty and classy.

[@Sanatra1025]

Dammit i forgot she can sing. Gorgeous melanated OG viv...

[@xdxd9300]

@Jarred Knox not me, I love this dark skinned aunt viv, she had way more personality

[@Sanatra1025]

@Jarred Knox get off my comments troll.

[@nolol4197]

@Jarred Knox that's actually very incorrect tbh more people hated lighter viv

[@MarlonDeathboy]

@Jarred Knox No, that's just you lol

[@jessicatravis94]

The sad thing is where I live we had a professor fired for this exact reason. Teaching lessons like this. She was a smart women with a masters in psychology, history and math. Was dedicated to her job and taught for 35 plus years at the same university. Apparently some snow flakes couldn't handle a white women teaching black history saying it was racist. 35 years of teaching history, psychology and math to students only to be fired for doing her job. Did more for that university then anyone I ever seen. Just a small town local university that had exceptional education due to professors like her. Former students came to defend her a majority of them being black, Hispanic and Asian. We are a small town of 12,000 with a population swelling up to 20,000 for summer time when workers come down for harvest season and training. A majority of the families have kids who come here for college because it's cheaper, smaller and the education is excellent. Without people like her small town universities would diminish.

[@theoutlook55]

I am so sorry, that pisses me off. This is coming from a proudly Hispanic man. I don't care if someone's white, or what-have-you, if they know their subject matter and have a good delivery then I'm all for it.

[@jules1728]

I hope she was able to keep her job. I understand as a teacher how hard it is to talk/handle students. We’re all just trying to do our best, and it’s not always easy

[@pauljordan4452]

I'm sorry to hear this. One woman, many women.

[@willdwyer6782]

Harriet Tubman was a Union spy during the Civil War. Her codename was Moses. When the slaves sang about Moses in the fields, they weren't singing about the guy in the old testament.

[@subarashii2374]

What University?

[@ER-uy7ct]

They also used quilts a way to give navigational directions.

[@KingTriton1837]

Original Aunt Viv was THE shit!!!!

[@bman3794]

The only spirituals I ever heard of where “swing low sweet chariot” and “follow the drinking gourd” but I never knew the drinking gourd meant the Big Dipper.

[@penandroll9287]

The only aunty Viv...love her dearly

[@tiffanybrown1001]

I didn’t know “Wade in the Water” were instructions to the slaves!

[@mariafox9226]

I heard the song “wade in the water” but I didn’t know it was a code for the Underground Railroad. That’s really neat.

[@blacklavoux]

I love her outfit, she’s always dress very elegant

[@youknowwhatflav9916]

Shes so classy

[@jbvo6037]

Will...classic psuedo intellectual moment ☠😂

[@vman108]

Its because of themes like this, and actors like this that this show wasn't just another sitcom. I feel that it was super funny but still so deep, which is why I can rewatch it several times (something like Friends, not so much).

[@Kk-fc5jw]

Talented and strong…………and gorgeous 👊🏼

[@isnotyourmom]

OG aunt viv is the best

[@AAHomeGardening]

The first aunt viv is so good

[@mahoganybrown9366]

Aunt Viv was such a babe 😍

[@joanclayton5212]

💥This is why they wanted to remove Aunt Viv from the show. Yeah Will and Janet had beef but the network executives and the establishment wanted Aunt Viv gone. She was a dark skinned, intelligent, beautiful, sexy, accomplished, college educated Black woman on a super popular, crossover, mainstream tv show. That image wasn’t something they wanted promoted. Not then and not even now. I believe the beef between them was instigated to remove the positive role model Aunt Viv was. How else could you explain how the show changed after her absence. Hilary and Carlton were dumbed down, the study was removed and talks concerning education, civil rights, and the arts was all but removed.

[@MissEasyPeasySleasy]

Exactly, will was a scapegoat... they used him and alfonso to get rid of her

[@kleeamd8274]

Such 💩. If that was true, they would have never had a character like Claire Huxtable played by a strong black woman like Phylicia Rashad

[@joanclayton5212]

@@kleeamd8274 Excuse me!!!! I said DARK-SKINNED, intelligent, beautiful, sexy, accomplished, college educated Black woman.

[@AladeenMusic]

Their beef didn't start until the 3rd season of the show when she stopped talking to anybody.

[@mahmoudeltayeb2771]

Tbf Tatyana Ali was allowed to shine in the later seasons after Janet HW left

[@jacobdavenport5177]

They did her dirty

[@debbij1917]

Literally had goosebumps while she sang 'wait in the water'

[@bahma810]

Me too. It is Wade in the water, right?

[@debbij1917]

@@bahma810 idk the actual tittle sorry...i was just intrigued by her voice and energy...

[@bahma810]

@@debbij1917 Ya me too. Must look for the song.

[@glenrushing5361]

The Original Aunt Viv is so talented.

[@brandonmackey5209]

The best Aunt Viv hands down!

[@Natedawg38]

These white preppys getting into black history was so wholesome.

[@operaanimelover369]

Oh, how I would have loved to have Aunt Viv as my teacher!

[@QueerOkie]

What a voice!

[@Mxyzptlksac]

Janet Hubert attended Juilliard and was on Broadway Cats, Sophisticated Ladies and more. She’s very talented

[@IgnizNova]

and here I am, learning about Black American history (I am not from the USA) through aunt Vivian, GOD DAMMIT!

[@eunicewilliams9275]

Great clip!

[@riannonbrown1658]

I couldn't imagine the " other" aunt viv teaching this

[@juniorrodriguez81]

If the first Aunt Viv would’ve been on that show longer, she would’ve done what Jackee Harry did to Marla Gibb’s 227. Yikes! She stole the show!

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

One measure taken to counter the underground railroad was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. In a nutshell it stated that any runaway slaves in free territory must be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of the free states had to cooperate in doing so. When the Civil War broke out there were union armies that would hold runaway slaves as contraband of war, employ them as scouts or other things. When the owners would request that the salves be returned in accordance with the FSA some (not all) would refuse, claiming that the FSA did not affect a foreign country, which is exactly what the Confederacy was claiming to be. In one sense you gotta hand it to these union officers for exploiting this interesting loophole. On the other hand I find myself disappointed that these people after having escaped bondage are simply captured or put to work again instead of being allowed to go free.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

California being a free state was a violation of the Missouri Compromise so that was meant to compromise again.

[@mikejohn29mj]

The sad truth is that in the movie, Hoodlum, starring Laurence Fishbourne, there was a scene where his friend was drunk and fed up with the way things were going in the gangster lifestyle and left. As he was walking on the way home, a police car rolled up as the officer and his men came out, the man said he was out of that life, but the officer replied and asked if he was having trouble learning, then he said, "They should've told you long ago that once you're in, you can't get out.", so they took him, tortured him, and interrogated him, but he refused to answer, so they killed him. The moral is that you can run, but no matter how far you go and how close you get to freedom, they will catch you and bring you right back for questioning, then punish you for life.

[@charlessantee8329]

I love this episode of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air good job Professor Vivian Banks.

[@eizyaws]

Sing Aunt Viv!!!

[@hazelanglin5907]

Janet Hubert was the best aunt Viv

[@jamespolk6146]

I didn't say swim, I didn't say backstroke I said WADE!! Sang it, Wilbert Smithsonian! SANG IT!!

[@graceandmarvellouswonders6249]

Did not know he sang, just beautiful thank you

[@hermex9496]

this version of wade in the water is amazing

[@Leeohlin89]

Qué magnífica mujer y actriz es! Qué voz! ❤️

[@kendawyatt673]

Aunt Viv was just so amazing ✨🖤🤍

[@melanated_persephone2334]

15 pages?!Poor Will & Carlton 🤣🤣 Yeah she's definitely a college level Professor, but she's someone I can be actually learn something from.

[@colleenmarin8907]

Gotta love Aunt Viv!!

[@shafiurrahman3913]

Keep my wifes name ouch your fucking mouth

[@jonthomas8569]

"And when was that, Mr. Smith?" "During slavery." "Care to narrow that down?" That made me laugh out loud.

[@tmpqtyutmpqty4733]

"My name is not mom"

[@SH-yu3nf]

bril voice aunt vivivien too good

[@sm.r3751]

Follow the drinking Gourd 🙌🏾I learned this in 4th grade ❤️💚🖤

[@ericrountree9009]

Wade in the water @ 3:07

[@nathansaintus9927]

Thank you!

[@janetmatthews7973]

This is why I love Janet’s character.

[@muchada15]

she was amazing she character she had danger authority and personality

[@RapFanatic4ever]

I don’t even see why the original Aunt Viv was replaced . She was so good

[@thetraveller485]

That was very well put but you're wrong l😆 😂 🤣

[@tiffaneypatrick3001]

She said 15 pages😂. She was not playing

[@LarryBanks85]

Wow I love this!

[@southamcaballero]

What's great about the scene, besides the educational value and funniness of it, is that, right around that time, there was a rap song called Hey Little Walter that was really popular, which was based on Wade in the Water

[@samhouston1646]

This is the only aunt Viv I recognize 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@CapricornGilbert]

The with the glasses looking at Will shows he's never even see a black person lol

[@hotwuk212]

Follow the drinking gourd to find this i searched follow the yellow brick road fresh prince😂😂

[@enoch6450]

Don't tell me....Will isn't happy with her singing....so he gets up & slaps her