While fans and artists alike have taken to social media to reflect on the greatness of the late David Bowie, it’s also important to remember the moments when he spoke out on matters of race in the media.
In various interviews throughout his career, Bowie challenged societal norms and shared his stances on issues like MTV’s earlier lack of the integration of black music and the controversies around interracial dating. We’ve shared some of the icon’s most memorable responses on race in America below.
In 1982, David Bowie questioned MTV about not playing more black music on the network.
There are many reasons to love David Bowie. Here's one. 1982: challenging MTV on their refusal to play black music: pic.twitter.com/0ku30wccVG
— Charlene White (@CharleneWhite) January 11, 2016
The interview reportedly took place on air and was with MTV VJ Mark Goodman.
Bowie readdressed MTV’s racism in a 1983 interview.
1983, when David Bowie blasted MTV for being racist pic.twitter.com/sbE8tXtXh3
— profloumoore (@loumoore12) January 11, 2016
Bowie was also one of the earliest supporters of the late R&B legend, Luther Vandross.
Free excerpt from my Luther Vandross bio about David Bowie's life-changing influence https://t.co/3zPMPQ8Scp{!email} pic.twitter.com/xVEQHwJi7x
— Craig Seymour (@craigspoplife) January 11, 2016
Nile Rodgers wrote in his memoir that when the collaborators first met in 1982, Bowie explained to him that his English upbringing was responsible for his eclectic music taste. "We don't separate the music on the radio by race or by genre," Bowie told him.
In 1993, he spoke about interracial relationships and his wife, black supermodel Iman, on the Arsenio Hall Show.
“It’s a very strange situation for me because I think with both of us having so called celebrity status, as soon as we step outside of doors we’re known as David and Iman," he said. "I don’t know what it’d be like for us—you don’t see that many mixed couples in America. In Europe there’s a lot of couples. Over here there still a rarity, it’s still this separatist type of thing over here. I don’t know what it’d be for like for us if we weren't known in our own right. You get the odd snide remark but, nothing with any weight.”
