Pharrell's Comments on Politics and DEI Upset the Internet. I Asked Him About It.

I saw what he said, so I asked him what he meant.

(Black Ambition via YouTube)

I know Pharrell.

No, that’s not a flex. We don’t hang out and talk about 808s or hip-hop. In fact, I’ve never really had an in-depth discussion about music or fashion design with the … hold on, let me look this up—13-time Grammy winner (That can’t be right. I’m sure my editor will fact-check this). Although I was once one of the highest-ranked rappers in Hartsville, S.C. (until Trap Dickey stole my title), I imagine discussing music with Pharrell Williams would be like telling Michael Jordan how I won the 2006 over-30 city league basketball tournament.

Aside from my personal relationship with Williams, he also served as executive producer for my podcast Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History, we collaborated on a special issue of Time magazine, and I have interviewed him. It’s not like I’m under consideration to become the fourth member of Clipse (yet). Still, for transparency’s sake, you should know that I have a personal and professional relationship with the person I’m writing about.

A few nights ago, while scrolling through my social media feed, I saw a clip of Pharrell Williams saying this:

“As we look at what’s going on, the current political climate–” the groundbreaking musician said before interrupting himself. “I hate politics. Like, despise them ... I don’t believe in either side. So I think when you pick a side… You are inadvertently supporting division. Yeah, it’s not a popular point of view, but I just gotta say that.”

He continued:

The wells are drying up, and now the diversity is off the table. Now equities off the table. Now inclusion is off the table. So that makes me ask myself, “OK, so how do we survive?”

Well, other black people hear that tonight and in your heart, do you think…you’re the best? OK, so do you want the job because you’re Black or because you’re the best? Do you want someone to support your startup because you’re Black or because you’re the best?

Right, so I think now, for me, it’s about us having the best ambition. That’s the reason why you should support these businesses. Yes, they happen to be Black and brown, but it should be based on the belief that we’re the best, not because we are a total shade of a skin color.

Considering the current political climate, my initial impression was: “This isn’t good. Someone should tell him.” Then I remembered:

I know Pharrell.

Plus, I believe in double standards. While I think it is fair to criticize a person’s public statements, I think there is a difference between Sexyy Red’s uniformed political podcast punditry, an athlete’s off-the-cuff postgame remarks and Stephen A. Smith setting up a microphone, soliciting sponsors and screaming into a microphone about a “ghetto” Black woman (For some reason, it’s never, ever, ever a white woman or a Black man). It’s fair to parse their statements and question their respective agenda, but it is also fair to consider the source.

This lack of nuance is partly why white media feels so comfortable hopscotching over well-informed Black people to position rappers, athletes and celebrities as mouthpieces for “the Black community.” Meanwhile, Abby Phillip is the only journalist brave enough to position ill-informed celebrities like Jillian Michaels, Scott Jennings and Kevin O’Leary to speak on white issues. Assessing an opinion based on the speaker’s education, experience and expertise is not “elitist,” it’s smart. Otherwise, we’d be living in a country where an uncredentialed medical quack could run the CDC or a wrestling executive in charge of the Department of Education.

Oh, wait …

After watching the clip, I considered calling him to warn him what was coming. Black Twitter and the thinkpiece economy might be the only place in the known universe where I have more experience than Pharrell. But I ultimately decided not to call. After all, this is the same internet that said he has 43 Grammy nominations, which is (probably) scientifically impossible. I’m pretty sure if he had that many Grammys, he would’ve sent me one.

My decision had nothing to do with my friendship or his Grammy hoarding. Anyone who knows me understands that I am perfectly fine with interpersonal criticism. The willingness to offer and accept honest, good-intentioned critiques without the other person taking it personally is what separates a real friend from a casual acquaintance.

But, 24 hours later, after I had totally forgotten about the clip, I got a call from Skateboard P. After I delivered a long-winded rant about school funding statistics, the difference between actual DEI and white people’s definition, college admissions policies and more, Pharrell offered his well-thought-out rebuttal.

“I know.”