Some of us knew it was coming—we just didn’t know when. Given Michael Jackson’s complicated life, there was a sense that he would never reach his sunset years. The King of Pop is another victim of what I call “vampirism”; we just suck the spiritual blood out of our public heroes and sheroes until they are emaciated human shells.
Concert promoters AEG Live originally contracted with MJ for 10 performances billed as the “This Is It” tour. Their greed ballooned that number to 50, to which Michael reluctantly agreed – not wanting to disappoint the demanding fans and needing the cash.
The rigors of getting in shape for that kind of exhausting tour, coupled with Michael’s alleged prescription drug abuse, may have been the wind that pushed him over the cliff. Don’t feel sorry for these vultures losing money on the concert; they will be releasing a DVD from Michael’s last rehearsal and stand to make a ton of money.
While the media and other detractors will focus on Michael’s self-mutilation, self-medication and bizarre behavior, I fear that his unparalleled vision and accomplishments will be overshadowed. If we are true fans (and I am), we must sum up his painful life lessons and carry on his true mission.
“He belongs to us, and we shared him with everybody else.”
That was the proprietary words of Jamie Foxx as the BET Awards program paid tribute to the musical icon. Black folks understood that Jackson would transcend the racial boundaries imposed upon all of us by a racist society. One white fan disclosed that Michael Jackson was the only black artist her mother would allow her to listen to while growing up.
Michael was a precocious child whose charm, wit, generosity and genius manifested quickly. At 12 years old, he was asked what he would do if he had $1 million, and his quick answer was “invest.” His talents included singer, songwriter, record producer, musical arranger, dancer, choreographer, actor, author, businessman, philanthropist, inventor (did you know he patented the anti-gravity lean seen in the video “Smooth Criminal”?) He inspired hordes of up and coming artists around the world.
While most of us were satisfied with being entertained by him, Michael was busy staking out his place in history as a cultural icon. Self-dubbed as the King of Pop, it seemed like a move by Michael to ensure that the title went to a black person since the other King titles went to white men. Who would have had the insight to make such a move and actually be deserving of the title?
His negotiation to receive the highest royalty per album and to purchase the Beatles’ publishing catalogue are examples of his brilliant business savvy. His earnings were eclipsed by his extravagant spending habits.
Michael’s musical contributions have made him the undisputed greatest entertainer of all time. With 13 Grammy Awards, 13 No. 1 singles in his solo career, the sale of over 750 million albums worldwide, and on and on, he is the world’s best selling male solo pop artist. His Thriller album still holds the coveted top-selling album of all times. Jackson is a double honoree at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is a phenomenon extraordinaire.
MJ often pushed the traditional boundaries because he stepped to a different drummer. He completely changed the genre of music videos, developing creative story lines, amazing special effects and unbelievable dance routines. He was an innovator who always left his marker just so people knew he had been there. His performances were out-of-this world experiences for any age group.
Frequently buried were Michael’s contributions to more than 30 charities, most devoted to children. His sensitivity to suffering, inequities and injustices were real and heartfelt. He traveled the world and gave his voice and his money to causes such as AIDS, hunger and the environment. When Pepsi settled the lawsuit that came out of filming the infamous commercial where Michael was burned, he donated the entire $1.5 million to the burn unit where he was treated. The Brotman Medical Center made a decision to rename the unit in Jackson’s honor.
I have often said that Michael seemed trapped in the body of an adolescent white boy. The more tortured he became on the inside, the more perverted his outward appearance and behavior became. But a young, idealistic fan I talked to over the weekend had a different take: Michael was trying to embody (literally) his own concept about humanity, a world that should blur the lines between race, gender and abilities, so they are seen as one. Interesting.
So when these media hounds and exploiters are diggin’, trashin’ and dissin’ the King of Pop, let’s be reminded of what Michael was really all about. Go back and look at videos like “The Earth Song.” Let’s recommit ourselves to a vision of peace and justice, humming to the music of “We Are the World.” His legacy is more than just nose jobs and moonwalks.
