What was the first video to air on MTV by a black artist?
this is from http://www.indiana.edu/%7Et311/timeline/1980aswart.html It was only with the phenomenal success of Michael Jackson and his ‘Thriller’ album of 1983 that MTV and its harsh color barrier format were broken. It was Jackson and his ‘pluralistic market appeal’ that paved the way for himself and subsequently other African-American artists. Even Jackson’s airing was met with difficulty. Both ‘Billy Jean’ and ‘Beat It’ – two songs enjoying enormous success on American radio waves were initially rejected by MTV. It was only when MTV realized the money it stood to lose due to its exclusionary format that it allowed Jackson to be aired. Incidentally, both of Jackson’s videos went on to become ‘two of the most popular videos ever aired on MTV’ – putting to rest MTV’s belief that it was only R and R which its target demographic desired.
