David Bowie: "I'm Just Floored by the Fact There Are So Few Black Artists on MTV. Why Is That?"

Snatched this from a 1983 MTV interview of the late David Bowie from The Atlantic Notes online. I also give 2 thumbs up to the refelections noted below the video, by journalist Chris Bodenner .

In the past few weeks, two powerful gifts to our hearts, minds and ears have moved on ~ Natalie Cole and David Bowie.Their presence made us happy and provided great soundtracks to happy and joyful moments. Their lyrics, topics and phrasing made us think. And the tones of their voices tickled, massaged and filled our ears with the most pleasurable sensations. 

Both artists, seem to be the last of a dying breed. They were artists absent the celebrity aspect of being an entertainer. We think of them as real and true creators, minus the commercialism of today's music business.They never tried to become a 'brand', which I consider the highest example of an artist that has lost sight of the purpose of embodying a talent. The sheer gift of having a vehicle for one's creative expression to flow through, and it being of an outstanding quality, seems to me, to be enough in itself. 

Natalie and David were extremely classy people and not because of their birthright, but because of the way that each lived their lives. They are excellent examples for people to note, for living honestly, and being true to one's integrity. Never swayed by their popularity, but each deeply grounded to their core truths ~ a center that gave fresh excellence time after time. Unique, talented human beings, amongst and before us. And for this, we do give thanks.
lovu,
Kendke
 


By Chris Bodenner
Atlantic Notes

Jay Smooth recently posted this video of Bowie asking, with terrible politeness, why there were so few black artists featured on MTV. It’s an absolute masterclass in how to use privilege well. Being a white celebrity means that he doesn’t have to shout to be heard. Being a white musician means that he has an advantage when it comes to remaining genuinely calm in these sorts of debates, because it’s not personal to him, and rather than treating that fact as a reason to abandon calmness, he treats it as an opportunity.

Finally, being white at all means he has a better chance of being perceived as calm. I don’t think a black person could have said all that, in precisely that tone, without being pejoratively accused of being “angry.” So, Bowie just uses the power he has to pull an awkward fact into the light and sit with it until it becomes terribly uncomfortable, deftly walking the line of politeness without ever letting MTV off the hook. It’s beautiful, and worth learning from.