Justin Bieber’s latest album is getting mixed reviews for presenting the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Released Friday, Bieber’s sixth studio album, Justice, begins with one of the most famous quotes from the late civil rights icon: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, words from his April 1963 “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.”
Six tracks later is “MLK Interlude”, a 1-minute, 44-second stretch of King’s sermon “But If Not”, which he delivered at Atlanta Ebenezer Baptist Church in November 1967. “I tell you this morning, that if you’ve never found something so dear and precious to you that you’re dying for it, then you’re not fit to live, ”said King as he urged his audience to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences.
Because of his contributions, King is even credited as a songwriter on Bieber’s album.
Some critics, professionals and civilians alike, had problems with the use of King’s words, finding a disconnect between their origins and their placement in Justice.
How Variety critic Chris Willman – who has written for Yahoo Music in the past – noted that music after King’s second segment is about Bieber being willing to risk his life for a romance. “Now, if you are wondering why someone thought it a good idea to merge the martyrdom of the civil right with the idea of succumbing to a hot woman, keep asking yourself: this, like the other part of MLK, or the socially conscious logic because the title of the album, by the way, doesn’t make any sense “, he noted in an article that was largely positive overall.
Many listeners agreed with him.
Justin Bieber has an “MLK Interlude” on his album. Then, an inspired 80’s pop song about dying in love follows. pic.twitter.com/11uBfJVGb3
– RacismSummitBookingAgent (@ KirkWrites79) March 19, 2021
I’m confused why this Justin Bieber album is called justice and has a whole skit of mlk if it’s just about how he’s in love with Hailey Bieber💀
– bri🤪 (@iamabriannaa) March 19, 2021
Justin Bieber using MLK speeches about justice … to sing about his white wife?
– cxitIyn (@cxitIyn) March 19, 2021
Justin Bieber profiting from the civil rights movement as a white man is strange. his album is called ‘justice’ and has an MLK interlude, but it doesn’t speak of social justice anywhere, and is focused on love and relationships … huh?
– aly (@herestokesha) March 19, 2021
Why Justin Bieber put an MLK speech on his album 😭😭😭
– Daniel (@ flicker6dalinco) March 19, 2021
Justin Bieber’s album is cute, but calling it justice and inserting a minute of MLK speech when the rest of the album are love songs … pic.twitter.com/b7dGPWin7D
– thalia (@ThaliaMariie) March 19, 2021
However, some very important people appreciated Bieber’s change: notably King’s daughter, Bernice, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center staff. They stressed that the artist asked fans to support the King Center and other organizations dedicated to social justice on the eve of the launch of his latest collection.
Yahoo Entertainment did not have an immediate response after contacting a Bieber spokesman for comment.
Meanwhile, no controversy seems to be affecting sales. Justice was the best-selling album on the iTunes Store on Friday. His last single, “Peaches”, from the album, was the fifth best-selling song.
Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: