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."

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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.