A resurfaced clip of David Bowie putting MTV on blast for racial bias has made the rounds on social media – and it has rightfully won the approval of many, including Ice T.
During the 1983 interview with MTV’s Mark Goodman, Bowie opted to take a stand and speak up for those who didn’t have a platform.
“Having watched MTV over the past few months, it’s a solid enterprise with a lot going for it,” he said, before highlighting: “I’m just floored by the fact that there are so few Black artists featured [on MTV].”
The late singer-songwriter flipped the script and quizzed the interviewer as to why that was.
Goodman offered an array of arguments and jumped to the defence of the music channel, saying, “I think we’re trying to move in that direction,” but Bowie brought the attention back to his initial point. He noted that “there seems to be a lot of Black artists making very good videos that I’m surprised aren’t used on MTV.”
“The only few Black artists one does see are on in about 2:30 in the morning until 6:00,” Bowie added. “Very few are featured prominently during the day. I’ll see that over the last couple of weeks, things have been changing, but it’s been a slow process.”
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Things got much worse when the MTV interviewer candidly claimed that “some town in the Midwest that would be scared to death by Prince, which we’re playing, or a string of other Black faces” – despite Prince being from Minneapolis... A Midwestern town.
Ice T reposted the viral clip calling Bowie a “REAL ONE” for showcasing his impeccable moral character.
A lotta people may NOT know that David Bowie put MTV on blast back in the day for NOT playin Black artists.. He side stepped the double talk… Bowie was a REAL ONE. 👊 https://t.co/c5ShmKgqN1
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) December 26, 2021
“A lotta people may NOT know that David Bowie put MTV on blast back in the day for NOT playin Black artists,” the rapper said. “He side stepped the double talk… Bowie was a REAL ONE.”
Naturally, the clip garnered much attention across Twitter.
This is only half of that segment. As the interviewer keeps justifying, Bowie's face is like. pic.twitter.com/s9BDi2iOOE
— Kiril (@thebestkiril) December 26, 2021
Mark Goodman basically saying that racism in the Midwest was acceptable, his explanation of how MTV had to cater to that racism is the definition of institutional racism.
— Geoff Lusk (@geoff_lusk) December 26, 2021
It was that moment when Bowie says, "That's very interesting" was basically the point of no return.... pic.twitter.com/asU80era3c
— JM =^) (@JM539581) December 26, 2021
"The Midwest would be sacred by Prince."
— Guns are Post-Birth Abortifacients (@ritaresarian) December 26, 2021
Minnesota: pic.twitter.com/6NPpLWkQhB
Mark Goodman actually said that white people would be scared to death to see videos by black artists? That is very shocking.
— ARobinson (@ARobbNJ) December 26, 2021
“…pick some town in the Midwest that would be scared to death by Prince…”
— Vaxxed & Happy (@angelarare) December 27, 2021
Was Mark Goodman aware that Prince was from Minneapolis and that, in fact, Minneapolis is a Midwestern town?
Bowie also convinced his young backup singer, Luther Vandross, to go solo. Obviously had an eye for talent too.
— jason (@elvispeacock04) December 26, 2021
Be a David Bowie not an Eric Clapton.
— Ana Mercedes💙🇵🇷#VegasStrong (@mercedesana88) December 26, 2021
He was an incredible artist but even better human. You can’t fake that.
Yet another reason why Bowie will always remain a legend.