Why Jackson's Death Is A Global Event

John Nichols: The King Of Pop Was An Imperfect Icon Who Became America's Global Face

(The Nation)  This story was written by John Nichols,.

---

This is a big world, with many remote corners where America is known only as a distant and different land. But Michael Jackson touched almost all of them.

The music star's death Thursday, at age 50 after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest is an international event. And we ought to recognize why that is so.

For all the eccentric - and ultimately unsettling - behavior that would see the "king of pop" ridiculed as the "king of weird" --or worse-- Jackson was for a significant part of the 1980s and 1990s as much or more the face of America as Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush or Bill Clinton.

"He brought human beings together across the barriers of race and class and gender," explained Michael Eric Dyson, the author and commentator who is a professor of sociology at Georgetown University. "He projected into the world (the genius and strength) of African-American culture."

The better part of a quarter century before Barack Obama was credited with remaking America's global image, Michael Jackson presented the United States as a country where an African-American kid from Gary, Indiana, could on the basis of remarkable talent and drive -- as well as a musicologist's understanding of the soul and R&B traditions -- become fabulously successful, fabulously influential and fabulously wealthy.

"For all his tragic flaws as a human being, Jackson could legitimately be seen as the greatest entertainer of his generation," argues Richard Williams, the former head of head of artists and repertoire at Island Records who went on to become a savvy cultural commentator for Britain's Guardian newspaper.

One did not need to revere Jackson or his music to recognize that at a particular point in this country's long and complicated history of wrestling with its better angels and uglier demons, the singer projected to the world the sense and the promise of a multicultural and tolerant United States. Hip-hop empresario Russell Simmons summed it up: "Michael Jackson was my generation's most iconic cultural hero."

For a time, on the basis of the enormous popularity of his Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad albums, he was not just a dominant figure in popular music. He was the dominant figure in popular music. Inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - as a solo artist and as a member of the Jackson 5 -- he earned 13 Grammy Awards and 13 number one singles as a solo performer -- achieving worldwide sales in excess of 750 million albums.

The key word is "worldwide."

Jackson's 1991 hit "Black or White" charted at number one in the Australia , Austria, Belgium, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Unites Kingdom, Zimbabwe and, of course, the United States.

"Black or White" was an angry song with an anti-racist message that was reinforced by a video digitally enhanced to show Jackson smashing windows with graffiti reading "KKK Rules" and "No More Wetbacks." The ubiquitous video featured the singer dancing with Africans, Asians, Native Americans, southern Asians and Russians.

Jackson was not an expressly political artist -- he told Ebony magazine in 1992 that "I never get into politics." Yet, because of his immense celebrity in the 1980s and early 1990s, his determination to treat people with AIDs respectfully (like that of Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor) took on significance that was both political and cultural. That commitment was most on display, following the death of Ryan White, when Jackson used public appearances - particularly one at Bill Clinton's inaugural gala -- to plead for more funding of HIV/AIDS research and care.

Jackson's charities were many: programs for refugees and the victims of violence such as Warchild, the "We Are the World" project and his own Heal the World Foundation, as well as the the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the Red Cross, UNESCO and for many years the United Negro College Fund.

His stumbles, especially in recent years, were disturbing, at times horrifying. There was about this desperate manchild more than a hint of the tragic and self-destructive.

The tragedy and the trials will be remembered, for a time.

But, as with Elvis Presley and so many brilliant artists whose lives ended after their stars had been tarnished, it will be the iconic influence - an influence stretching across boundaries of race, class, gender and nationality -- that is most remembered when we speak of Michael Jackson, and the ultimately most significant.

[gandjdaug]

What I do.t like


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Sent: 7/15/2009 5:22:11 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time
Subj: Fwd: A soldiers thoughts about Michael Jacksons death ...






----- Forwarded Message -----
From: [e-mail]
To: "Maxie Oliver" <[e-mail]>, "Mary Jo Nelson" <[e-mail]>, "Joann Daughtery" <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:23:54 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Fw: A soldiers thoughts about Michael Jacksons death ...



-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "Floyd Schoonover" <[e-mail]>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: Fw: A soldiers thoughts about Michael Jacksons death ...
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:29:23 +0000



----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara A. Campbell
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:01 PM
Subject: Fw: A soldiers thoughts about Michael Jacksons death ...


The powerful truth from a soldier who is serving his country. He said what he thought and felt, and the truth. May God Bless him and all our service members whatever branch they are serving in.





This is a perfect example of how screwed up our priorities are in this country!




THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ .

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find
the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of
a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America .

Where is there moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridence," and "Thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan .

They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them.

But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat
and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.
Feel free to pass this along if you want.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."



- Isaac






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dell Studio XPS Desktop: Save up to $400 - Limited Time Offer




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dell Studio XPS Desktop: Save up to $400 - Limited Time Offer


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summer concert season is here! Find your favorite artists on tour at TourTracker.com.

[dewmww]

Also why are there so many comparisons with OJ. It does not make sense. There was stacks of THAT THING THEY CALL EVIDENCE against OJ. Show me the evidence against Michael Jackson? None! Case closed... Don't make the comparisons because of colour. You all sound very colour blind to me.

[dewmww]

Michael was a fantastic individual who was better musically than them all. He was used and abused by so many newspapers and media that it makes me sick. He will go down in history as the greatest entertainer of all time and can I let it be noted that on record he gave more to charity than any other celebrity. This is in the Guiness Book of Records. I thought America was the land of the free. Some have slated this man for the whole of his life. How he ended up as normal as he did I will never know. Let him live on as an Icon and a person that gave more than he had to. Why many of you are discussing his colour... I find that really strange... I thought America was past that.

[kgbyrdgillis]

i think the whole thing was stupid- he was a pervert & people were honoring him - if he was white this would not have been done- & take reverend off of jackson & sharpton they are very predjudice against whites

[cuellar1183]

I hear comments that Jackson was better than Elvis; You cannot compare these 2 icons they are both from a different era. Rev Sharpton states that Sinatra and Elvis were not treated this way after death; Well, they were not accused of child molesting. Also, there is sheer hypocrisy when Madonna tries to adopt a black child in Africa; black community was upset but Jackson's kids are all white! Lasty, this has gone too long; please end this. RIP Jackson.

[gwinginit]

Good bye and Good Ridence to the King of Perverts. I have no idea why the perverted media is giving this so much play, except to acknowledge that the world is a safer place for small children. Would you let your child spend the night in his bed, I didn't think so. I sure wouldn't. What a freak. A weak pitiful person unfit to be part of the Human Race. Addicted to Drugs and small children what a pitiful existance.

[no70157]

What is the U.S. major networks' obsession over Michael Jackson? They weren't very interested in him when he was alive. Maybe that is because he is worth much more to them in death versus in life? The networks obsessive coverage reminds me of vultures circling over a dead carcass, waiting for an opportunity to feed.

[Sybaris]

8 soldiers died in Afghanistan today.

[speakinup22]

"Why Jackson's Death Is A Global Event" - headline



yeah, please explain this to us. It seems a bit contrived by the media. The guy WAS great at one time, but the baby over the railing thing made him a nut case.



"The King Of Pop Was An Imperfect Icon Who Became America's Global Face"


Not MY America - maybe yours....

[cajunsunshine]

I grow up watching Michael. The first time I was setting with my family in our small living room watching the Ed Sullivan Show. As the years went by I had kids and they to like I did at a young age set in front of the TV and watch Michael do Bet It and Thriller. They were just as fascinated with him as I was at a young age. He was a Great Man and a entertainer. He will always be in our heart. I know that Micheal is with God.I grieve for his family and his lovely children. May his family and fans find peace. We love you Michael. I will be in Gary,IN for his memorial to show my respect to a loving soul.

[knyghtwolf]

You do not simply buy someone off to prevent or make a problem go away. Spending millions of dollars to settle a case out of court is not an admission of guilt, but it is also not stand of innocence. Either you did or you didn't do the crime, it became an issue of money after a certain point in time, go ask OJ.

[ianlou]

Thou it is very sad that MJ died so young, I believe that, like Elvis, MJ's best days as an artist and performer were behind him.

This is what differentiates the level of tragedy between MJ's death and the untimely deaths of John Lennon, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bob Marley and Buddy Holly who all left us with, perhaps, their greatest works unrealized.

[steeepe]

MJ was a great entertainer, but he wasn't the first black entertainer to connect with whites, as some of the media have portrayed. What about Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, the Supremes, Dionne Warwick, Jimi Hendrix, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonius Monk, Louis Armstrong, Cannonball Adderley, etc., etc.? MJ had some huge disco hits, but plenty of us never really liked disco all that much. If the face of the U.S. to the rest of the world is based on an entertainer, we don't have much to show for ourselves. Not to downplay the role that MJ played in some people's lives, but there are better songwriters (Dylan, Costello, etc.). He was gifted and a great dancer, but he wasn't the be-all and end-all of 20th century American culture.

[markangeloo]

No it wasn't as easy as A_B_C; 1-2-3; doe-ray-mi !!

To see that song's music video over again;
with the happy innocent 13 year old Michael
sing & dancing with all that fresh face energy
& realize the end result has brought a pang of melancholy.

Was it the final sudden feeling that the dreams of the baby boomers was finished.
They like him started with ideas of endless possibilities of America's promise
of the new garden of eden.

Now we ,amerika or the modern world feel & look like Michael.
Pop goes the king & all the other bubbles of our sixties childhood.
Cut, carved, veiled, shrouded, confused, deluded
yes sounds like the current global milieu.

[ArmandB]

It is a global event because the press is a collection of absolute morons. With all that is going on in the world both good and bad, they waste everyones time with articles and shows about this weirdo. He died because he was an idiot taking drugs, how about an article or two about the regular everyday heros that die. Our police, our military, the good father or mother. No...they die unnoticed. The press is only interested when someone from the press dies or someone with more fame then they have. It's a total waste of time.

[tomadams99]

He was just another stoked up junkie from the entertainment world. He did absolutely nothing for humanity or the society.

[dartplayer501]

No big fan, but I'm sure he did a hell of a lot more for humanity (AIDS, We Are The World) than you've ever done in your sad little life.

[knyghtwolf]

Small things amuse small minds, and the food chain gets smaller and smaller.....

[1Rita]

Michael Jackson's death is in one sense of the word, a tragedy, but it is of no loss in another. He was a great music icon in his day, but as he got older it was found that he molested several young boy's and even slept with them in his bed.
Because he was who he was it was brushed aside and the public seemed to forgive him, but had the molestation been one of their children I'm sure the tale would have ended differently. He was a sick human being and in his later years became freakish in appearance.
Now that he is dead he will be made a martyr, which is terrible. He is not worthy. Fortunately for his children, he will be worth more finacially dead than he was alive. My sympathy goes out to his family, but he doesn't deserve this daily news and talk of his greatness. He was a freak.

[aakalan]

Misinformation. This is getting ridiculous.

It was NEVER found that Michael molested boys. Not once, though the forces of the state were marshalled to try to prove that he did.

He was -acquitted-, not convicted. And the charges were obvious gold-digging to try to get their hands on his money.

In the US, you're innocent until proven guilty, so please don't misinform.

And what a sad, sad, commentary about yourself, that you so detest anyone who doesn't look like you.

[Henri_Rochard]

OJ got off, too.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

Loved Ya Michael

[ampsanne]

Unless you were born in the Jackson era it's just another passing of a man. He may have been talented but not to me. The media always says "all the people," but how does that include me who thinks the opposite. The media should say the "majority" of the people. As for Jackson we don't know what kind of life that turned it into turmoil. It's like don't judge a man until you have walked in his shoes. I'm sure with the entertainers and their busy schedules that some of them turn to drugs. But then again they have a choose of putting their foot down and saying hey I need a breather I know of someone who did this, and decided it was too hectic of life to lead and got out of the business. Granted Papa Joe pushed Michael to the edge and pushed him to a superstar, but was it all worth it in the end? Yes it is a tragedy that Michael ended up this way, but we don't all feel the same way. So next time leave me out media.

[ampsanne]

P.S. So next time leave me out media, unless it's Clint Eastwood.