Regarding the reason why Will Smith's slap set the black people back 100 years is because, even though it was black male-on-male violence, it infringed upon Chris Rock's civil right to speak freely, to act with his creative determination of the mind in a comedic performance that some times makes people the center of the joke. John Locke in his written work Essay on Human Understanding recognized "liberty" affords people the opportunity "to perform work, or not perform, voluntary action according to the determinations of the mind." This imparts people with a certain amount of power to act in a democracy. It allows them the ability to gain social position because people with money or political influence are better situated to produce congruent effects with their intentions than persons without these advantages. Will Smith acted with a sense of entitlement to infringe upon this basic right with violence.

Because black men suffer at a disproportionate rate of violent death BECAUSE OF black male-on-male violence Will Smith just sent a message to all black men, that admire him, violence is a solution to perceived differences. THIS IS NEVER AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION.