Skip to Main Content

Common, Pharrell, and ‘The New Black’: An Ignorant Mentality That Undermines the Black Experience

BACKWARDS THINKING

The rapper Common made waves during a recent appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart when he offered his take on race in America. It isn’t nearly so simple.

Stereo Williams

Stereo Williams

Published Mar. 19 2015 5:15AM EDT

articles/2015/03/19/common-pharrell-and-the-new-black-an-ignorant-mentality-that-undermines-the-black-experience/150318-williams-common-race-tease_d89lty — Tami Chappell/Reuters

“The New Black doesn’t blame other races for our issues.”

So decreed Pharrell Williams when the hit-making superstar spoke to Oprah last summer about the current racial climate in America.

Stereo Williams

Stereo Williams

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.