Ever since the unexpected demise of the pop legend Michael Jackson, the media has been screaming with steamy headlines and gory details of the musician’s life. Some celebrate him while others criticize him. The most inhuman act of this was the disrespectful prying into Michael’s life, looking for flaws as if we don’t have skeletons in our closet. I find this very ruthless and infuriating from people who engage in this act. The dead should also be respected as well as the living; their personal life should not be made a public caricature.
From Michel’s birth to his death, everyone seems to have one discriminating thing to say or the other. We should not forget that this man’s music was one of the best in the world. Some even judged his mortality. Well, I hope we all know that we are all humans and whatever you do to someone else, the same will be done to us.
Instead of looking for flaws in Michaels life why don’t we view him from this perspective as the “man in the mirror”, the man who fought for a change.
Have we ever sat down for a minute to reflect on the emotions of the pop star, to put yourself in his shoes, to face the trials and accusations from not just one person but many people, to look into the mirror and realize that the whole world is against you because of your sacrifice?
Michael went through all this and despite the criticism and condemnation he faced, he was never discouraged, he pushed through, delivering music in the most entertaining way that nobody has been able to contend with. Is it his lyrics? They vary, he was not stereotyped, and his creativity was beyond measure. He touched almost every kind of being on earth: lovers, gangsters, children, even the earth. He was a vivacious performer on stage, wowing the crowd who couldn’t contain themselves. His energetic dance steps were the height of it all.
Michael was able to influence his generation, the present generation and inevitably the next generation with his music and dazzling moves. The list of musicians he has motivated is inexorable. Even when the world was against him he gave them music that was soul searing, wound healing, and love stunned. His altruism is still laudable.
Yet in his death people have the effrontery to judge him. Some went to the extreme of condemning his soul to hell, a place where all souls dread.
In fear, Michael raised his children, afraid that something bad might happen to them. During his lifetime, his children lived an isolated life, only appearing in public with hoods and masks, yet at his memorial service his beautiful daughter Paris, described him as the best dad in the world. Now he is gone, I hope the children will be fully protected in their new safe haven with their grandparents. However, Michael would not have loved his father to be part of his children upbringing because of the unfriendly relationship he had with him from childhood. But at least Joe Jackson deserves some credit because his discipline gave Michael the strength to carry on amidst the storm that shook his life.
Ironically, despite Michael’s flaws, he was the phenom among all. The most successful not only to his family but to the world. Michael was indeed a chosen one. We of the black race blame him for changing his colour, of denying his race have we ever ponder y Michael made that decision?
I know most people said he was influenced by the whites, but is it just that or is there more to it? We should not ignore the fact that Michael gained fame at an early stage in his life, mingling with celebrities and people who are more advanced in age than he was. He was deprived of a childhood experience which resulted to his unfathomable love for children.
Whatever the case, I believe that Michael was torn between two worlds and he made the safest and difficult decision of his life. He knew the consequences and he forged on, he tried o make a change when he could not control his human nature. When it was futile, he responded by singing black or white. I bet it was not easy for Michael to see the changes in his face, to watch his body pigment and was left with the Hobson’s choice; drugs.
Despite all these, Michael ought to be celebrated. He is a legend and will always be and there will be no duplicate of him never in this life.
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