TheLoop21.com

By: eharris (follow this member)
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 00:00

Since Michael Jackson’s death, much has been broadcast by the mainstream media about the life, legacy, death and eccentricities surrounding the pop icon. It is not all that surprising since even in his life, Michael was always surrounded by hype of one sort or another.

It was nice to see BET do the quick pivot on its awards show and turn it into a Michael Jackson tribute. That was nice and very well done considering how quickly those changes had to be made.

What seems very clear in every type of media is that no one else — and I mean no one else — had the impact of Michael Jackson on music and society. While that might seem like an exaggerated statement, when talking abut MJ, it is simply fact.

Michael has been a part of our lives since the '60s. That’s a long time. Few, if any stars, can claim that longevity at such a high level. America and the world watched this man-child grow up before our eyes, taking part in every milestone of his life from his changes in clothes, hair and marriages, to his trials, the births of his children, his hair catching on fire, the success of his multi-platinum albums, and yes, even his skin changes and plastic surgeries.

Unfortunately, his shifting look — his thinning nose, cleft chin, straightened hair and white skin, are a part of his legacy. Much has been said about Michael wanting to be white, despite his skin disease. But that still doesn't explain the European style nose, straight hair and blonde — let’s face it, white — children. But you know what? Despite all that, Michael was African American and had a huge impact on our community.

He opened doors and changed the music, becoming the largest, most popular African American performer to cross over, filling stadiums all over the world and thereby showcasing a large part of African American culture to many who might not otherwise have gotten a glimpse of it or accepted it. And history will show that.

Michael Jackson's 50-city tour was going to be the hottest ticket in the world. Especially because it was going to be his last. If only he could have gotten that farewell tour. The truth, though, is that he left us with enough music and videos to last a lifetime.

Rest in peace, MJ. You deserve it.

Earnest Harris is a feature film producer, director and scriptwriter, and co-owner of Marlo Productions, a feature film production company based in Los Angeles. He is also the head of Harris Image Management, an entertainment publicity and public relations agency in the same city. He has written about race, politics and business for many years, and taught a course on communications as a Woodrow Wilson Instructor at The Lyndon Baines Johnson Graduate School for Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.