Rịba ama amaokwu a dị n'okpuru ma zaa ajụjụ ahụ mgbe e mesịrị n'otu asụsụ ahụ dị ka amaokwu ahụ:  Passage: A mụrụ Smith na Septemba 25, 1968 na Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, nye Caroline (Bright), onye nchịkwa ụlọ akwụkwọ Philadelphia, na Willard Carroll Smith Sr., onye agha US Air Force na injinia refrigeration. A zụlitere ya na Wynnefield dị na West Philadelphia, ma zụlite ya dị ka onye Baptist. O nwere nwanne nwanyị nke okenye aha ya bụ Pamela na ụmụnne abụọ, ejima Harry na Ellen. Smith gụrụ akwụkwọ na Our Lady of Lourdes, ụlọ akwụkwọ praịmarị Katọlik nke onwe na Philadelphia. Ndị mụrụ ya kewara mgbe ọ dị afọ iri na atọ, mana ha agbaghị alụkwaghịm ruo ihe dị ka afọ 2000. Smith gara ụlọ akwụkwọ sekọndrị Overbrook. Ọ bụ ezie na a kọwo n'ụzọ sara mbara na Smith jụrụ inweta agụmakwụkwọ iji gaa Mahadum Massachusetts nke Nkà na Ụzụ (MIT), ọ dịghị mgbe o tinyere akwụkwọ ịga mahadum n'ihi na ọ "chọrọ ịkụ egwú rap". Smith na-ekwu na a nabatara ya na "pre-engineering [summer] program" na MIT maka ụmụ akwụkwọ sekọndrị, mana ọ gaghị. Dị ka Smith si kwuo, "Nne m, onye na-arụ ọrụ maka School Board nke Philadelphia, nwere enyi bụ onye ọrụ nnabata na MIT. Enwere m akara ule SAT dị elu ma ha chọrọ ụmụaka ojii, ya mere enwere m ike ịbanye. Ma, ebughị m n'obi ịga mahadum".  Ajụjụ: Olee mgbe a mụrụ Smith?
Septemba 25, 1968