Lenny Kravitz goes gray on 'Black and White America'

Lenny Kravitz goes gray on 'Black and White America'

Black and White America, Lenny Kravitz's ninth studio album, is technically a very fine album. But if you're not willing to overlook the fact that Lenny Kravitz sidesteps talking about race in America -- which the title of his album suggests he will -- then you might understandably dismiss the album as artistically dishonest and pandering to the pop culture machine. "People used to yell obscenities and spit at them," revealed the 47-year-old Grammy-award-winner about his parent's interracial marriage during the tumultuous 1960s. He continues, "and this was in New York City, not in the South." Click here to view a Grio slideshow of 25 biggest black hipsters Lenny Kravitz was born in New York City in 1964, to Sy Kravitz, a Jewish television producer with NBC, and the pioneering black actress, Roxie Roker, best known for her role on 70s the television sitcom, _The Jeffersons_. WATCH LENNY KRAVITZ PERFORMING 'AMERICAN WOMAN' ON 'TODAY':

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In a "recent article":http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/story/2011-08-29/For-Lenny-Kravitz-Black-And-White-is-a-mixed-blessing/50180808/1 in _USA Today_ Kravitz discusses his new album saying, "I was channel-surfing in the Bahamas one night and came across this documentary. I don't remember what it was called, but it had all these people talking about President Obama. I know that there's racism, but to hear people voice it in such a hateful way -- I had to write a rebuttal." (Spoiler alert: Lenny Kravitz doesn't rebut racism in his new album, _Black and White America_.) It's risky business when artists tack provocative titles onto their work and fail to follow-up on said title as if being provocative itself justifies the work. (Not to mention it insults the audience, _eh hem_). The initial shock value quickly turns to chagrin. UPTOWN MAGAZINE: "Behind the scenes with Lenny Kravitz":http://uptownmagazine.com/2011/08/behind-the-scenes-lenny-kravitz/ Given his body of work, this should be little surprise since, after all, Lenny Kravitz is well-known for playing it relatively safe: belting out touchy-feely ballads over rough chords in torn jeans. And while it garnered him attention over twenty years ago, it now feels clichéd and sophomoric. Making socially conscious music is more Tracy Chapman, or someone less popular (read: commercially less palatable.) In a "recent interview with Tavis Smiley":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6i7bi1PFi4 Kravitz shares his first day of school in California where a fellow classmate screeches, "Your dad is white!" The emotional charge revealed in his talk with Tavis is nowhere to be found on the album. What could account for this omission, other than avoidance?