It is innate within every individual to want to be liked and accepted regardless of your race, religion, or status. Artists are usually ridiculed and criticized in the public eye and we often forget that their music is their form of art and that they want nothing more than to have everyone appreciate them and what they produce as much as they do. Yesterday, John Mayer had an interview with Playboy where he spoke on the tabloids, his past relationships, his sex life with Jessica Simpson, and having a “nigger pass”. It is obvious that John Mayer is bitter and irate with how the tabloids and public have perceived him throughout the course of his career and believed that this interview will only get his voice across and get everyone to see him for who he truly is but it did the exact opposite. This interview has angered millions of fans and fellow musicians because he came off as someone who is not only arrogant but possibly racist. Mayer bluntly stated ‘Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’’
Without notice this became a controversial issue and was quoted and exploited everywhere from social sites such as Twitter to the tabloids. Artists also speculated with the issue at hand. The Roots’ Questlove tweeted ‘Hmmm. I’ll give Mayer a benefit of the doubt (remember how people misinterpreted my photo?) and assume that was a punchline gone awry,’ and Talib Kweli tweeted ‘My man John Mayer must love the taste of his own foot.’ Marlon Wayans found humor in the situation by starting a trending topic, ‘#JohnMayersDingDing.’ It is evident that the word “nigger” has more of a connotation behind it that would lead to emotions of anger and sensitivity and leave everyone questioning exactly what this renowned blues guitarist intentions were? Although he did not mean to use it immorally in context it is a word that has more meaning behind it than what he was consciously aware of during his interview. Whether you agree or disagree it is undeniable that the word should not have been used and it is evident why they would be perceived as racial comments. I honestly do not think John Mayer meant to come off as racist or a white supremacist. John Mayer is an artist who is constantly misunderstood and it was an easy way for the public to put their own spin on the comments that were made.
His insight on black females enraged numbers of females in the black community by referring to his private parts as a “white supremacist” along with his statement on Kerry Washington and referring to her as “white-girl crazy”. It is obvious that those comments are not only degrading but offensive to say the least. As a black female I am sad to say that we are constantly ridiculed and demeaned in the society that we live in and although I think some things should never be said I also understand that everyone has their own preference even if it is not prejudice.John Mayer later apologized via twitter, his personal outlet and also had a tearful apology during a concert in Nashville, Tenn.
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