John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane” were meant to be Black

A classic song has a secret race theme

“Little ditty ‘bout Jack and Diane,” as it begins, then tells a story about white kids in the Midwest having lots of sex. The 1982 Pop song remains a classic.

But as I look into the sources for John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane,” I’m surprised to learn the song was meant to be about a Black race drama—and a critique of white America.