Harold's Left: John Mayer Liberals

Harold's Left:

John Mayer, the multi-platinum, multi-grammy award winning artist, has got his foot so far in his mouth it's tickling his stomach. Mayer is one of my favorite musicians of our generation and I checked my Ipod this morning and I have over 100 Mayer songs on it. He's a brilliant guitarist and and excellent songwriter. However, this does not excuse his overt brashness and tabloid antics. His latest stunt was clearly over the top, and has created somewhat of a media typhoon .

When asked whether he has a 'hood pass', which a term used to describe acceptance by the urban black community, Mayer responded:

"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."

He keeps going...

PB: Do black women throw themselves at you?

JM: I don’t think I am made for that. I have a supremacist dick that is rather white supremacist. I possess a Benetton heart and a fuckin David Duke cock and I am going to date separately from my dick.

So there are really two different issues at work here. One that I believe is inexcusable and one that has perhaps been made into a bigger issue than it should be. The use of the N-word and his apparent dislike of black women.

Mayer is a political liberal by nearly every measure possible. He spent time on the campaign trail with Obama, and is probably never going to vote Republican a day in his life. He is (well, he was) also very well received by the black community. Mainly because he has been featured on numerous hip-hop artists songs and seems to embrace black culture in his music, especially his deference to blues. This feeling of connectedness with the black community is in part what made Mayer think it was okay to use the N-word in this context. Yet, there is something else at work. John Mayer is the classic example of an uber-liberal white person who is liberal precisely because of his internalized, and often unrecognized, belief in inherent white supremacy. Yes, John Mayer and folks like him want to help people. Yes, John Mayer and folks like him would march in rallies for civil rights. But, his progressiveness seems to be predicated on a belief that "I am better".

Molly Securs of the Huffington Post comments, "Suffice it to say Mayer's words were symptomatic and indicative of white arrogance. Only someone who is certain he is above recrimination could publicly utter indefensible slurs against black women and think he could get a pass."

The second issue at play is a bit different although for many equally controversial. In the Playboy interview Mayer comments that he does not see himself as attracted to black women and goes on to say "I have a supremacist dick that is rather white supremacist". Here is where I break with lots of other folks; I think no less of Mayer because he is attracted to a certain type of woman. Granted it does seem presumptuous to say that he would never date outside his race, but if that is what he's attracted to then so be it. It does not offend me as a black American. When I look at my life I realized that I have never dated a white woman, ever. Not because I have some personal or even attraction issue. It just has never happened. I think people should be allowed to be attracted to whomever they wish without punishment. I do understand that for many black women, issues of attractiveness are a sore spot given that the features of white women are deemed as precious. My own daughter cried last year when she realized she would never look like the white Disney and Barbie princesses. Even with all of that I think Mayer is within his right to like who he likes, even though he worded his feelings in a completely ridiculous way.

I still think Mayer is a brilliant musician, but now his tabloid personality is overshadowing his talent. I was literally days away from purchasing tickets to his concert this Spring, now; I'm not
so sure.