So the day came and is pretty much gone now - Michael Jackson's amazing memorial is now over. Unlike the memorial, his legacy lives on....I grew up watching Michael Jackson become a figure larger than life like the rest of my generation did. Like many other kids I stood in front of a mirror trying to figure out how the heck he did that moon walk thing? I wore the clothes, the glove, the shoes, heck, I even did my hair like Mike. I watched him blow up and become a star bigger than the sun.
His songs, as I hear them today, are a part of me. A part of me because they remind me of simpler times. Times when being a kid was easier even though I was poor living in a poor country. I had little to dream of and little to look forward to as there were not many dreams available to me in those days. Lucky me, I learned English at a very young age so I understood most of Michael's songs. And that to me was a blessing.
His songs "We are the world", "Man in the mirror", "Beat it", "Thriller", and others ring through my head as I deal with his death bringing me back to happier times, simpler times. Times that my children would never understand. Times that although we had wars, illnesses, discrimination and more, were easier because I can go out and play free of fear and be a kid. I could pump my old, single speaker cassette player and dance to Michael's songs. I remember interpreting them to my friends who didn't know English. It was fun, I felt powerful because I knew something the other kids didn't. I knew what Michael was saying - I received the message.
My dad was never a good dad; not til his death. But I learned from that. I learned that I wanted to be better than that to my children and to those around me. I learned from him that I wanted to be more. I wanted to do more. I wanted to have power and knowledge and the power of knowledge. I later came to the United States and struggled. I struggled to stay away from gangs and drugs, but that was it, I struggled. But I achieved it. I remember realizing that although I was in the U.S, Michael was not as big a deal to the other kids as he was to me. I dealt with that, kept his music to myself. I overcame the challenges of life living in the slums of Paterson, N.J and finished school. I had my first kid at age 20 and like I learned from my father and promised myself, I have always been a good dad to her and her brother. The best dad, as Michael was referred to by his daughter who undoubtedly loved him dearly. I did all that because I knew that if I wanted change, I had to make it happen. I stared and I talked to the man in the mirror and I made the necessary changes - I continue to do so today.
After all of Michael's success, he vanished..... disappeared out of my life and into the life of media destruction. I never, to this day understand how a man that gave so much of his life and fortune to kids all over the world so that we wouldn't have to can be ridiculed and scrutinized by the media and comedians as we saw day after day after day. Is that how we repay good will? Is that how we encourage other stars to do more? By making such as an example of the greatest giving celebrity in history that others, rightfully so, can say "oh no, that ain't going to be me" and hold on to the good within them? I don't blame them. I applaud those that do, but they can never match Michael Jackson's giving ways.
The media tortured him publicly for all of us to see. And we tuned in and watched and pass judgment. We agreed or disagreed but regardless, his image was tarnished. Can you imagine a man that spent his life living giving his all for children around the world and then have a scandal involving a kid bring him down? Is like taking away the man's air. He lived to give and provide love for all and we brought him down with what he believed was the only trusting thing in the world, children.
The media loved to hate Michael. Let me ask you now media men and women - do you love him now? Do you see him how other's did? Must a man die for us to show him love? If so, so be it. I believe we all contributed to Michael's death. We reported the news, we read the news, we watched and loved to see him dance, and that made Michael. It was a whole package. I do believe that Michael was happiest when he performed because he was giving us a part of himself. I also believe that when that was gone, he became lonely, and drifted into a new life. He became a father and I'm willing to bet he was fun and loving with his children. Now we will love and remember him forever. Long will last his legacy and I hope his memory serves as a reminder to us all that we were children, we will be men and women, and we must love our friends and family while we have life. Michael taught me that. I hope he taught you the same.
Rest in peace Michael Jackson
