John Mayer Speaks on Black Women

John mayer black women is coming under fire for comments he makes about African American women in his controversial March Playboy interview.

John Mayer is at the center of a racial controversy — and it’s all because he compared his penis to a white supremacist. It’s all over an interview Mayer just gave to Playboy Magazine.

PLAYBOY: Do black women throw themselves at you?

MAYER: 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.

Personally, I’m not offended that John Mayer isn’t attracted to Black women. Like all people, he’s entitled to his preferences, even if they’re different than mine. I’m also not going to hastily throw the “racist” label at Mayer, who most likely thought that his “Black pass” (i.e. cultural insider status) allowed him to make edgy comments that cannot (and should not) be made by ordinary white artists. In his attempt at humor, Mayer nonetheless reinforces racist thinking and reduces White supremacy to a (bad) punch line. One of the affordances of white privilege is being able to say things that cause hurt to people of color, and then appeal to your “heart” (or hip-hop collaborations) as proof you’re not racist. Again, I’m not calling Mayer a racist –I don’t know him– but his comments were certainly racially irresponsible. Next time, John, just say “Everybody has their preferences. Black women haven’t been mine.” Then, no harm, no foul.