Comments on: John Mayer drops the N-bomb

By: rainshiny day

rainshiny day — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:15:31 +0000

the word wannabe is no less offensive than wigger. to want to be something is to imply stereotypes, certainly. there are many people that fully immerse themselves in other cultures to which they are attracted for a myriad of reasons. we should encourage exploration of each other’s differences and similarities, not label such negatively, whatever word is used.

By: Merq

Merq — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 18:47:59 +0000

While Mayer was a minor, irrelevant item in that article, I must say the whole piece was an EXCELLENT read. Thanks, Ben H. I’d heard about D’Angelo’s insecurities, but I had no idea it was that bad.

By: Ben H

Ben H — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:33:27 +0000

Don’t really know anything about Mayer being racist or not so I don’t have an opinion. And I don’t know whether or not he’s a good musician, but ?uestlove sure seems to think so:
http://www.believermag.com/issues/200308/?read=interview_thompson
It’s a great interview in which race does come up, though not in relation to Mayer, so I hope it’s of interest.

By: site admin

site admin — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:24:32 +0000

Interesting finds, C and Ben. I’m going to amend the post to point people to the comments section so they can make up their own minds. –CVK

By: Sarah May

Sarah May — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:30:11 +0000

Not Funny.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:05:07 +0000

hold up.

first of all the original source (here) does not contain the phrase “several times.” i’ve recommended to gawker that they adjust the quote accordingly, and i make the same recommendation here. this dude is obviously not a mayer fan, and might have retracted some embellishments once he realized this entry’s audience might extend beyond his friends and parents. but i’m not a blogger, i don’t know what the rules are.

secondly, i agree with “hmmm…” in deploring ANY use of the n-word, particularly those who would be offended if it were repeated back to them by someone of a different skin color. i’ve never heard a white person say the n-word except when they were quoting a rapper (except that stupid dad on black/white), and according to sherrod brown’s account (thanks, C!), john mayer was quoting as well. and the only people who drop the n-bomb more than black rappers are… black comedians!

if he was actually “spewing racist garbage,” that’s one thing. but this seems like a mild overstepping of a pretty vague boundary, as reported by one random blogger who has already changed part of his account.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:29:07 +0000

Since we are talking about the use of the “n” word, do you know what other word has been bugging me lately? The use of the word “wigger”. Over the past 8 years or so, I’ve heard white people use it to describe a “wannabe”- a white person who tries to appropriate African American styles of dress and music. However, I’ve heard the term used in this context also: 1.) to describe a mixed race (black/white) person; 2.) a white person who is in a relationship (romantic or just friendship) with a black person. The word’s close association with the “n” word and just the fact that it has other connotations makes me cringe whenever I hear it. Why can’t people just use the term “wannabe” rather than using the “w” word?

By: brad

brad — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:10:52 +0000

Didn’t Mayer do a blues album with African-American artists? That probably gave him the streetcred to use the word. Right?

WTF? I don’t understand punks like Mayer or Bernhardt who think that they have a right to use any racist terms like this.

I had this discussion with an acquaintance of mine. He’s white and thought it was fine for him to meet his white buddies in a bar and say “What’s up my niggas?” I was stunned. He was shocked that I thought it was wrong of him to use that word.

As someone mentioned, a lot of folks feel powerful saying crapt like this. It makes them feel special and all cool to use such language. This phenomenon reminds me of a four year old who learns a bad word and says it over and over because she knows that the word is naughty and will get a reaction.

To answer a question posed earlier, I don’t see any reasonable person telling Mayer that his use of racist terminology was okay. Only closeted or openly or kiss-asses would tell him that it was fine-and-dandy.

Where’s a bar of soap when it’s needed?

BTW, if I hadn’t said it recently: I LOVE MIXED MEDIA WATCH! Seriously, it’s so nice to have a forum where mixed, biracial, multiracials, etc. can talk about this stuff.

By: brad

brad — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:05:16 +0000

Didn’t Mayer do a blues album with African-American artists? That probably gave him the streetcred to use the word. Right?

WTF? I don’t understand punks like Mayer or Bernhardt who think that they have a right to use any racist terms like this.

As someone mentioned, a lot of folks feel powerful saying crapt like this. It makes them feel special and all cool to use such language.

BTW, if I hadn’t said it recently

By: Marsha

Marsha — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:46:45 +0000

I thought I was the only one who thought that John Mayer and his “your body’s a wonderland” song was creepy. All along, I just thought he was an arrogant little f@ck but now he’s racist too…lovely..

Maybe John thinks he’s got the “black pass” after being on “The Dave Chapelle Show” or befriending Kanye West?