| Author | Message | ||
     Urban_scribe AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Urban_scribe Post Number: 739 Registered: 05-2006 Rating: |
It’s been one week since 50-year-old music icon Michael Jackson went onto his glory on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:26 PM (PST). I still can’t believe he’s gone. A big part of me wants this all to turn out to be an elaborate hoax. I keep watching the news and checking the Internet, waiting for the media to announce to the world that it was one of Michael Jackson’s many impersonators who’d collapsed, suffered cardiac arrest, and, unable to be revived, sadly passed away; that the REAL Michael Jackson is alive and well and chillaxing in Tokyo. He just decided to take a little break from rehearsing for his sold-out “This is It” farewell tour. I keep telling myself that Michael Jackson can’t be dead. He just can’t. Never did I imagine that I, a grown woman, could be so profoundly saddened by the death of someone I never even knew. Then I realized the flaw in my logic. My generation, the thirty-five to forty-five-year-old crowd, DID know Michael Jackson. At every significant phase in my generation’s lifetime—from birth to the terrible two’s to preschool to grade school to puberty to high school to our first date to our first kiss to college to our first job to marriage to parenthood to toting our own children off for their first day of school—there was a Michael Jackson chart-topping song that accompanied those milestones. During this past week, I have reflected more on my childhood, and, yes, my mortality, than at any other point previously in my life. For my generation, remembering Michael Jackson is nothing short of a whirlwind trip down memory lane. Many of those of my generation were either in JHS or HS on that fateful Monday night in May of 1983 when the Motown 25th Anniversary Special aired on television—the night when Michael Jackson was catapulted from superstar to Sirius status. I vividly recall the next day at school. All anyone could talk about was Michael Jackson’s breathtaking performance of his, now classic, “Billie Jean”. On my way to school that morning, I witnessed throngs of boys and girls moonwalking and jumping up on their toes. During recess, we formed a circle in the schoolyard and held an impromptu throwdown to determine who, if anyone, could moonwalk like Michael Jackson; a few teachers even got in on the act. Years later, the catchy slogan “Be like Mike” in reverence to basketball legend Michael Jordan, would call to mind the first Mike kids wanted to be like—Michael Jackson. Alas, as time went on, a different Michael Jackson surfaced. A Michael Jackson whose eccentricities often left many of those of my generation, who adored and even revered him, unable to decide whether to laugh at him or cry for him; unable to decide whether to defend him or denounce him. This new Michael was taking us to task, and caused us to examine and question our own sensibilities. Michael challenged our notions of “normal”. Exactly who determines what is “normal”? Is “normal” universal? Is your “normal” the same as my “normal”? Rather than answers, each question about “normal” opened the floodgates to more questions. Then came THE allegations. My generation again found ourselves at a crossroads. If there is such a thing as “normal” and if “normal” is universal and if your “normal” is the same as my “normal” then we categorically agree that when it comes down to anyone harming children—all bets are off. And if Michael Jackson has ever harmed any child, in any way, then we categorically agree: F/uck Michael Jackson! His talent, his fame, his genius, his gift, his humanitarianism, his accomplishments, and even the pride he instilled in the Black community is all meaningless—if Michael Jackson has ever harmed any child in any way. Let’s talk about the word “if”. If is a little word with a HUGE meaning. If implies doubt. If implies that important questions have not been answered satisfactorily. Michael Jackson was acquitted in a court of law of all allegations brought against him. There’s no if’s about that. In our imperfect judicial system where it’s more likely that the innocent will be punished than the guilty set free, his acquittal should have absolved him. But then “normal” pranced back into the picture. Determined to have final say in Michael Jackson’s fate, “normal” brought his closest and dearest friends: conjecture, speculation, gossip, and uncertainty—and through their combined efforts, the Michael Jackson we knew became no more. People will believe what they choose to believe about Michael Jackson. People will remember Michael Jackson as they choose to remember him. Should you choose not to believe what they believe or choose to remember him different from the way they choose to remember him, there’s no point in debating with them—because their “normal” ain’t like your “normal”. I choose to remember the Michael Jackson who transcended race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, age, and language. I choose to remember the Michael Jackson who tore down color barriers and opened doors and paved the way for every Black musician and singer, and many non-Black musicians and singers, who came on the scene in the past forty years. I choose to remember the best that ever did it! I choose to remember the record-breaking, trailblazing, innovating, trend-setting, moonwalking, toe-jumping, crotch-grabbing, drop-on-his-knees-spinning, Swarovski crystal studded one-glove-wearing, unparalleled entertainer in HIStory—’cause there was nothing “normal” about that! Rest in Peace, Michael Joseph Jackson August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009 All hail the King!  | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13870 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
A very touching tribute that says it all, Urban Scribe, an eloquent testimony to the realization that Michael Jackson was one of a kind. As the saying goes, after they made him they threw away the mold. | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 2001 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Well Ms. Scribe, although we've disagreed on this block, I have to say that was a well written piece. I even agree with most of your sentiments. I must be getting soft in my old age. | ||
| Ntfs_encryption "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Ntfs_encryption Post Number: 3620 Registered: 10-2005 Rating: N/A |
Nice commentary US. Like millions of others, I still can't believe he is gone. The man had an absolutely incredible career. No one is even close to his megastar talent and musical accomplishments. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 10387 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Urban_scribe, Thanks for that WONDROUS tribute. Like you, it seems that for my entire life Michael Jackson has been there: That great, joyous force of music. Of course we ALL die. Still, it's hard for me to imagine a world WITHOUT Michael Jackson. Things are never going to be quite the same without him. But, I keep hearing and seeing MJ sing and dance in my head over and over again.  | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 8049 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
I'm glad he's dead, myself. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13887 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Why wouldn't you be? He was a threat to you. As long as he was alive, Michael Jackson was a constant reminder of how a mundane wanna-be like you couldn't hold a candle to a gifted odd ball when it came to making a difference in the world. You continue to revere James Brown who was not that different from Michael. But you are too myopic and stupid to concede this. | ||
| Urban_scribe AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Urban_scribe Post Number: 742 Registered: 05-2006 Rating: N/A |
Chris, get the phuk off my thread! This is a Michael Jackson tribute thread. If you want to trashtalk about MJ then start your own damn thread. |
