Michael Jackson: the Post-Racial King of Pop.
I am sitting in a movie theater with my two children to watch Space Chimps, an animated children's movie about chimpanzees who travel through space, through a wormhole to an alien planet, and then back to the Earth safely. The human controllers on the ground sport all the telltale signs of the super-geek: foreign accents, pocket protectors, glasses, etc. etc. And then there came a very funny moment. The chimps started to play the techno version of Axel F from Beverly Hills Cops, and the uber-geek with glasses, a pocket protector, and the foreign accent (vaguely Indian) broke out in a dance. All the telltale Michael Jackson moves. The moonwalk, the waves of his arms. Wow. And I see my children grooving to the music, attempting the dance moves first with their arms and then their feet.
Michael Jackson's memorial happened just yesterday. I was moved, shedding a tear or two in secret. I am of the generation that grew up with Michael Jackson's music. I was an Asian kid growing up in Germany when Michael Jackson became a huge star. He was such a huge star that his videos were shown only on the big screen in movie theaters. There was no such thing as MTV in Germany then. We were all in awe. We were speechless. This man was out of this world. In a league of his own. In his own world. He was not just a super star, he seemed to be a super human. He transcended everything. He was so cool. Beyond cool. Beyond words. Everyone dreamed of being like him. Everyone wanted to be like him.
Of all the years I spent in Germany when I was young, I only remember Michael Jackson as being the only African American singer who found such unfathomable fame, not just all over Europe, but all over the world. One cannot imagine current pop culture without Jackson. Would we have hip hop without him? Would we still have the same dance moves? Can you imagine a show like So You Think You Can Dance? Without Michael Jackson's influence?
His music and dancing inspired a whole generation of people and continue to inspire the future generations. Even my children, who don't know the name Michael Jackson, were grooving to his music. Watch this cool video from 2008 by Far East Movement :
Michael Jackson transcended race. He was truly the first post-racial star. He symbolized America and personified all of her possibilities. I would dare say that he even made Obama's presidency imaginable.
People like Peter King, a Representative from New York who can't see past the court drama that unfolded in Jackson's personal life, do not understand Jackson's cultural importance, one of the true gifts that America gave to the whole world. Is it a wonder then that there is now an effort to fund-raise against Peter King? Inmates in a Filipino jail paying dancing in a tribute, people in the streets of Europe and Africa break-dancing, people in Asia singing, clad in military style jackets and hats and the signature sequined single glove. Friends and foes alike dancing, mourning his death. Not everyone can bring people together like that.
And Michael Jackson was an American. How cool is that? When was the last time a single American united people all over the world like that? The likes of Peter King do not understand, not only what makes the world go around, but also how great America can be, what greatness America holds in every single one her citizens, and how America can unite the world along a common thread.
Michael Jackson was a true American star. Don't ever forget that. He deserves a tribute fit for a king. Long Live the King.
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I have been struck by the worldwide mourning. In particular, the number of people who used Michael Jackson's music with video from Iran protests as a tribute to MJ. There are some beautiful videos out there from all over the world celebrating his music.
WOW!!! I mean.....j
SENCvoter, agreed.
WOW!!!
I get what you are saying but only up to a point because in spite of the megastardom, he seemed to me a product, a reflection of a society that celebrated and accepted only one standard of beauty - and that standard was anything but post-racial.
Michael Jackson was a complicated man for sure. While others accepted him the way he was, he seemed to have been besieged by self-doubt and even self-hatred. I read some time ago in an article that Michael may be going plastic surgeries to look like Peter Pan. My feeling is that he felt like he did not have a childhood, so tried to recreate and perpetuate it, by appropriating the looks of a fictional character.
You did Michael proud.
Thank you! thank you for this wonderful article.Yo
While Michael did his part for transcending the Race issue in music, pioneers in Rock like Chuck Berry was a major star with White audiences. He helped open up music where we wouldn't need an Elvis to interpret Black music for a white world. And how can anyone forget Jimi Hendrix?
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And Bob Marley, and many others.
In my opinion, what sets Michael Jackson apart is that he became one of the first video music stars. He was inseparable from his videos. Hence, it wasn't just his music, it was also his dancing, his look, the whole package.
Bob Marley, who I love, having grown up in NYC was not American. Remember he became a superstar to the white world due to recordings and recognition by Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
I consider Chuck Berry the Jackie Robinson of Rock. Can you image what he and his contemporaries went through?
Jimi Hendrix was THE guitar god of my generation, having turn the Music upside down with his sound.
I agree, Michael was the whole package for HIS generation, no argument there. Each generation should have their own Icon.
Sorry to ramble about Music History which is my passion.
Thank you--so many people in America kept trying to make this a race issue--black and white ( funny how whites say blacks play the race card when that is all they tend to do in situations like this themselves)--I had to keep pointing out that Michael was an INTERNATIONAL POP STAR not a local one. Japan, Russia, Germany, India--Bri
I mean, they keep saying oh his kids look white crap like that. I have a bi-racial daughter who came right out of me with blond hair and blue eyes--looks like her Irish father. It happens folks. Just ignorance.
And if he wasn't a musician--but a Baker in Queens who gave so much personal time energy and care to the homeless, hungry and war veterans, they would be singing his praises for his efforts.
But he was just some black singer so who cares....B
Thank you for this comment. I agree 100%.
Great article. I can't honestly say I appreciated Michael's music or style, but I do agree that he had a tremendous impact on bringing people together both in this country and throughout the world. Ms. Shinn is absolutely right, some people will just never get that, truly, We Are One. Michael got it.
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I am glad you agree. ActBlue now shows over $3500 donated against Peter King. Isn't that amazing? That's how pop culture crosses over into politics.
YAY! kewl. I hate people who let the press prosecute a man when the court is supposed to do it. The court spoke and a jury of 12 acquitted, some of them were like even the jurors "There was no evidence--why were we even here." And the jurors were white--not black so anyone with a head to think anything stupid can go to the hot place. I mean really--he was acquitted, and his insurance company paid the 20 million to get Jackson on tour even though Jackson wanted to fight...so much misinformation from people who wanted to believe the worst, like Mr King, without knowing ALL the facts. Allegations do not make one guilty--they have to be proven. Twelve people didn't think there WAS a case. Case closed.
Check out the video at about 3:54. Freaking awesome!!! I didn't know that that was humanly possible.
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