Tonight, Mo’Nique won the the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In her speech, she was dignified, brief, and poignant. The light swipe she took at her critics –who lambasted her for allegedly bucking the tradition of promoting the film for free– will be sure to provide fodder for tomorrow’s headlines. Still, her Oscar victory and powerful performance should open up new possibilities for Mo’Nique, as well as other women of color in Hollywood.

Today marks the 45th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when nearly 600 people began the 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The historic trek was a watershed moment in the quest for voting rights.

Today marks the birthday of Miriam Makeba, the legendary South African singer and civil rights activist. Although she passed a away in 2008, her genius, courage, passion, and commitment to the liberation of oppressed people will never be forgotten! Rest in power, Mama Afrika!

Today’s video of the day comes from The O’Reilly Factor, where I discussed President Obama’s poll numbers.

In the March edition of Playboy Magazine, John Mayer made the following comments about dating Black women:

PLAYBOY: Do black women throw themselves at you?

MAYER: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.

Personally, I’m not offended that John Mayer isn’t attracted to Black women. Like all people, he’s entitled to his preferences, even if they’re different than mine. I’m also not going to hastily throw the “racist” label at Mayer, who most likely thought that his “Black pass” (i.e. cultural insider status) allowed him to make edgy comments that cannot (and should not) be made by ordinary white artists. In his attempt at humor, Mayer nonetheless reinforces racist thinking and reduces White supremacy to a (bad) punch line. One of the affordances of white privilege is being able to say things that cause hurt to people of color, and then appeal to your “heart” (or hip-hop collaborations) as proof you’re not racist. Again, I’m not calling Mayer a racist –I don’t know him– but his comments were certainly racially irresponsible. Next time, John, just say “Everybody has their preferences. Black women haven’t been mine.” Then, no harm, no foul.

As far as Black people go, I worry that our outrage is also connected to our constant need for White approval. Why should we really care whether or not John Mayer, or any other White boy, wants to sleep with Black women? If anything, we should focus on the lack of self-love –another outgrowth of White supremacy– that often informs Black men’s decision to avoid Black women. (Imagine if more brothers had Marcus Garvey hearts and Malcom X penises!) Also, Black people should be more careful about the White artists to whom we ascribe “honorary Black” status. It always seems to come back to bite us on the ass. Remember Justin Timberlake?