My Dear Sister,

I appreciate your heartfelt comments and I know that you loved Michael Jackson. As and adult woman, I have tried to come to grips with how someone whom I never met, could have affected me so that I could feel such grief over his passing.

And the truth is, I did grow up with him, even that he did not know me. And I loved their family and had such great times listening to them. They felt like us. And as an African American child, it was precious seeing them achieve such success, especially when the Jackson 5 received their own cartoon.

But I must lovingly say, that I don't think we do Michael justice when we do not talk about vitiligo and the potentially ravashing psychological impact that this could have on a person.

Here are some videos about Michael Jackson and about vitiligo.

I think there is more to Michael's story than assimilation and denial. I think Michael's life was also about overcoming childhood abuse of an extreme that most of us would have a hard time imaginging it. Can you image being beaten by a primary caretaker in the midst of your creative expression? Can you imaging having others constantly benefiting from your creative expression only to used like a workhorse for their personal gain and self engrandizement? This was the reality of his childhood and his adulthood. Even in his final days others were expanding his commitment for a tour beyond his physical abilities. Everyone new he was frail. No one who should have cared did anything to protect him.
Michael was told repeatedly by the man that donated his sperm and called himself father that his was ugly, had a big nose and "certainly did not take after him". And he did this knowing that Michael was his meal ticket. He had a mother who stood by as a powerless egg donor and is still married to this monster for a father. In spite of this Michael loved her. His will speaks clearly of his feelings for his father and siblings.
I think that Michael did remarkably well as a survivor of child abuse. He created a "Neverland" for himself to live in because he could afford it. In the absence of real adults to care for him, he did the best he could with what he had: himself.
And we loved his music, his dancing and ignored the rumors of his lifelong mistreatment. Even worse those of us in the African American community denied his need to manage a very serious skin disorder with accusations of his prefering "whiteness". 'What is an African American Man'? Can you define it? I cannot. I chose to think that he is a man doing the best he can with what he has. Culture is what we chose to make of it. I make and live my own idea of culture and I respect the right for Michael or anyone else to do the same. Isn't that part of what we human rights advocates are fighting for? Lets not over analyze Michael. Lets give the man some peace. He paid his dues in this life and then some.
Peace
Delorme

I am glad you couched your "assimilation" comments in context to choices we see a number of people in public life have made, including the disappearing act of the dreadlocks of our favorite "first children."

I agree with the other comments here, Michael's choices were never that simple, or simply made.

The MJ I remember most is the creative genius with the foresight to own his work. The courage to boldly point his fame and voice in the direction of intractable social and cultural conditions. And the artistic daring to be purposeful in crafting an image that challenged race and gender assumptions. At the same time his voice, his dance, his affect, remained beautifully black.

While the foibles of his fame and life as an artist are common, the quality and longevity of his excellence are unique. We should celebrate and learn from his example.

Hey Tammy,

Thank you so much for your relentless openness with your views and perspective. You keep us on our toes and remind us to wear our thinking caps as means rather than fashion accessory.

There are varying degrees of assimilation and denial. All Americans are assimilated and in denial; to what scale and intensity differs. None are immune.

Michael Jackson's transformation over the years to be as “visually” close to white as he possible could through skin color, nose shape, straightened hair, chin and jaw structure, and ultimately in adopting white children, I believe, represents the most vivid extreme form of ocular assimilation there could possibly be. On the other hand, my patronage of Denny’s Restaurant, however unassuming, from time-to-time at odd hours of the night after getting my groove on at a local club is another form of assimilation, albeit economic enculturation.

One might also contend that Michael’s radical “physical” assimilation was ultimately the manifestation of his internal equally fraught “psychological” assimilation. To Michael’s defense [though not really needed], in my community and professional work, advocacy and activist experience I have met quite a few people of color – academics particularly – that may not have transformed their external appearance to whiteness, but believe me, they were as, if not more, psychologically white as Michael was visually.

Michael’s denial of his psychological and physical identity is not unique; likewise denial of his transgender identity is not unique either; while marrying Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe he also slowly transformed from M-to-F while going from black-to-white. For years I relaxed and straightened my hair; I’ve even worn colored contact lens; and torturously struggled with my bi-sexuality.

All Americans are assimilated and in denial; to what scale and intensity differs. None are immune.

Dominant culture – white patriarchy – requires abnegation of all other ethnic, cultural and religious et.al identity by every citizen of its union. Abnegating ones unique identity and conforming to American Dream ideology and ambition is esteemed and measured as the highest form of patriotism possible. Consequently, as citizens we each assimilate by force and/or choice in varying degrees and points to their imperialist xenophobic capitalism schema.

Michael, “you are not alone” if truth be told.

Linda

Being neither black or white, I have watched masses of all colors and tongues cling to global MJ fever, they adored Michael. In the world recession, people did not hesitate to spend money to empty retail and virtual store shelves of Michael's music and products, some report even quoted $20K for an MJ jacket. As I watched the BET awards, I felt like I was a guest at a "down home" private, family party. No doubt that the Black music industry loved this "black man", said emcee Jaimie Foxx. Michael the celebrity extraordinaire left his indelible mark on pop culture in spectacular ways.

For me, a 60 something, I found myself building an MJ play list, so far made up of simple love songs and songs of social commentary. Michael loved, wanted love, wrote lyrics that reflected his love of children and the world. His poetry spoke simply against war, greed and cruel domination.

In my home country of the Philippines, Michael's magic was seen in a prison in Cebu where the warden had the inmates exercise to Thriller. As a result, inmates gained self-esteem and a pride that made the prison population happier according to the warden,who cherished Michael as one of his favorite stars.

Across barriers of race, generation, color, genres, sexuality, Michael's mark on all of us was best given by a middle aged man who was interviewed yesterday. "Michael made you dance, even when you didn't know how to dance, and when you did, you danced like no one was looking." Michael brought joy to the world, tickles to your toes. He left his mark, may he rest in death as he was never able to in life.

Assimilation is never fully achieved, rather, acculturation can overcome the barriers of race, color, hatred, deference. Michael said, "I'm an entertainer." His undeniable humanitarian work was far reaching.

There will be many lessons yet to learn from the life of Michael Jackson. I've learned several in just days while the whole world mourns in celebrations across the globe. Imagine how he could bring together people if he were a political leader.