Pharrell Williams and “The New Black”.

In a recent interview with Oprah, Pharrell Williams made a blunt, startling statement that has since generated a lot of buzz on the internet. He advocated for “the new black”.

By this term, the superstar was indirectly campaigning for a shift in the mental orientation of Black folks in the United States. Many years ago, a concerned Reggae megastar, Bob Marley, sang passionately about the need for the Black people to emancipate themselves from mental slavery. This time, it’s Pharrell Williams strongly advocating for a new black culture, one that is devoid of the usual silly excuses for which some Blacks are known. These excuses are much more common among young Black folks who refuse to take responsibilities for their actions in life.

For dropping out of schools, dealing in drugs, having unprotected sex, having unwanted babies, perpetrating black-on-black crimes, laziness and several other negative stuff, it’s often very convenient for these young black folks to heap all the blames on the “White man”, absent fathers, irresponsible mothers and a legion of other excuses that can come handy as “scapegoats”.



In the interview with Oprah Winfrey, Pharrell Williams stated poignantly that “The new black doesn’t blame other races for our issues. The new black dreams and realizes that it’s not a pigmentation; it’s a mentality. And it’s either going to work for you, or it’s going to work against you. And you’ve got to pick the side you’re gonna be on.”

In a different forum but still on the same subject, Pharrell went further to say: “This is the new black. Oprah Winfrey: That’s the new black. She’s a black billionaire. President Obama: He is a black American president. Regardless of what you think about him, this is his second term. That’s the new black. LeBron James: the first black man ever shot on a Vogue cover, a black man. Me: a guy that’s written a song at 40! Nominated for an Oscar, four GRAMMY awards — at 40! That’s the new black!”

The reactions so far have been mixed. While some people appreciate the timely opinion, there are others who are condemning the young man. Typical of the negative reactions that met with a similar “bitter truth” from legendary Bill Cosby sometimes ago, many of those against Pharrell Williams will prefer to persist in living in denial. And they will rather attack the messenger instead of looking at the merits of the message.