In 1983, David Bowie sharply called on MTV to feature more black artists

The progressive views of David Bowie
(Image credit: RALPH GATTI/AFP/Getty Images)

In a 1983 interview with Mark Goodman, an MTV video journalist, David Bowie didn't stick to promoting "Let's Dance." The singer, who died Sunday after battling cancer, turned the tables on the network.

"I'm just floored by the fact that there are so few black artists featured on [MTV]," Bowie said. When Goodman tried to rationalize the decision by saying MTV was "narrowcasting" to its audience, Bowie responded with a droll, "That's evident."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.