John Mayer: It's Not Ok

Talented singer, guitarist, and entertainer John Mayer has the internet in an uproar over his remarks made in an interview with Playboy magazine. In the article some of the most outlandish things to come out of his mouth yet:

#1 -Mayer on dating black women:

"I don't think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fuckin' David Duke cock. I'm going to start dating separately from my dick."

#2 - Mayer on "being black"

"I come on very strong. That's why black people love me. 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.'"

Ok, Johnny. Why am I not surprised. It's my realization that given enough interviews and time in the limelight, most people will always expose themselves. Unfortunately, most times, it's not for the best.

First, Why do we as African Americans, put so much stock into certain people, and then when the person is caught being candid, we're suddenly appalled?

Case in point: Bill Clinton. I remember when comedians like Chris Tucker would joke with him saying he was inducted as the first black President because he wasn't from a high income family, liked soul food, etc. Fast forward years later to when Hilary Clinton was running for President against Obama. He was caught talking about Obama with Ted Kennedy saying, "A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee."

Or remember how Jay-Z embraced and promoted Cristal, the expensive champagne that artists made huge by putting in their songs? Well along comes Frederic Rouzand, the managing director, who was asked by the Economist whether associations with rap stars could affect the marque, he said, "That's a good question, but what can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business". Jay-Z later dropped the label.

And now John Mayer, who compares his cock to David Duke, the founder of the KKK, and thinks that because he and his music can relate so strongly to black people, he too, could make a pun using the N word...and get away with it.

It's just not ok.

Second: I can't say that I've listened to a lot of his music, but there are a few key songs that been added to my various playlists over time. But I know many people who are die hard John Mayer fans, and a few who have wooed themselves into the idea that he's a black guy in a white boys body. Similar to the likes of Eminem.

Call me crazy but personally, I think John Mayer portrayed typical white people behavior. It's the idea that when you're sitting on top of the world and you have a lot of fans or followers etc., you tend to feel as if you're invincible, you can do and say anything. But I've found that with a lot of people, especially white people...this is when the honesty shines through or in other words, this is when the innate racist come out. Black people are guilty of this too.

Now just to be clear, to my knowledge, John Mayer is not a racist, he misspoke. And before you throw the computer on the floor, I believe that John Mayer was making a JOKE. His whole concept was just misconstrued by the use of his language.

My solution is this: African Americans need to stop giving white people a "black pass" and saying things like, Hey you! You seem cool enough! You get a hood pass! Because with honesty comes reality, and reality, is a wolf in sheep's clothes. Also, the use of the 'N word' needs to be banned, from any party, black or white. Permanently.

John Mayer has recently apologized in a series of tweets, saying

"I am sorry that I used the word. And it's such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it because I realize that there's no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged."

Eh. It's not the end of the world, just a blemish on his record. Sad to say this stuff happens all the time and once something else of notoreity happens it will be forgotten. It's just upsetting that he initially thought it was ok.

It simply is not. And it never will be. Discuss.