Mourning Michael Jackson's Passing in the Time of Facebook

*Editors Note....this blog is normally devoted 100% to fitness/weight loss/ nutrition related material.  But I feel moved to post this essay I wrote about Michael Jackson's death.

I’m not a musician, or a journalist, or an entertainment specialist, but somehow feel driven to share my thoughts on Michael Jackson’s death.   I, like many 30-somethings (and 20, 40, & 50-somethings) felt moved to post on Facebook.  Throughout last night and even more so this morning I’m seeing more and more anti-MJ postings (has the media gone too far, yesterday you all hated him, he was ‘child molester’, he was a train wreck, etc.).  I myself was surprised at how all the major television networked covered Michael Jackson’s death, until I began to examine why we might be mourning.
In a sense, we are mourning our own mortality…every song that is played, every video that is played we remember our formative years. 

Michael Jackson’s song, for some of us, were some of the first songs we learned the lyrics to.  His videos were recreated in backyards and playgrounds everywhere.  His clothes set style and our first brush with urban legend (if the glove is on such & such hand it means your gay, if it’s on the other hand it means your cool—what was all that about?!)  Each song may strike a certain sentiment in us, we remember events of our youth….the prom, 8th grade dance, a college party, and dance clubs.  We aren’t necessarily remembering just the music—but WHO WE WERE at that time in our lives.  We become nostalgic for our youth—forgetting the bullies, the pimples, the hard times and relishing on the good memories we associate with these songs, these times in our lives.

In addition, Michael Jackson taught us how to come together…because somehow if the varied voices of Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis & the News, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Sheila E., Bob Geldof, Bette Midler, The Pointer Sisters & Smokey Robinson could come together to make a song the world couldn’t get enough of, maybe, just maybe the world could come together for a greater cause…hunger, peace, love.
Michael Jackson’s generosity inspired us to give….to give of our time, talent, and money.  As the news stories go on, I forgot how MJ donated money all the time, setting up foundations, and trust, putting on concerts for different causes.  Songs like Heal the World, You Are Not Alone, Man in the Mirror, and Black or White inspired us to make a difference in the world even if the difference was only making a small change in ourselves.

Because we want a good comeback story I believe many people may have written MJ off but hoped in their hearts he would overcome his demons.  I don’t know if Jackson committed the crimes he was accused of.  I know he was acquitted, I know Larry King and others overheard conversations by family members of the accusers stating they had a ploy to extort money.  I know that that Michael Jackson was a sad and lonely man who seemed very much innocent, childlike, naïve, and lonely.  Perhaps someone who wanted to give to others what he never had—unconditional love and acceptable.  In a sense we collectively weep for the vindication he never got in life, for the comeback he and we so desperately wanted….and most importantly because at the end of the day, we are human, we hope for the best in ourselves and we hope for the best in our friends. 

We grew up with Michael Jackson, and so now we wonder, if he’s gone, what does that mean?  Is our youth officially over (like the mortgage, the car payments, the screaming kids, the lawn and dishes hadn’t told us that already…but we hoped…..)?   So as we say goodbye to MJ, we say one last fleeting goodbye to our youth and we have in a sense a long reunion, with friends, with facebook, with our memories, of good times spent with a man who captured our emotions with his enigmatic voice and dance steps.

Comments

[Muata]

Excellent post, and as someone who is 38, you hit on ALL the important points IMO. Thanks ...

[Missy V]

Jen, this is exactly what has been going through my head. The first thing I thought of was "He will never get a chance to redeem himself now!". Everyone needs to remember that he was one of the biggest icons of all time and changed the world in so many ways!

WE are not his jury and judge, WE do not really know his personal life history...but WE do know he was an amazing influence back in his day.

[noreen mattos]

I agree with MUATA. You hit on all the important points - especially that the passing of Michael Jackson makes me think of my own mortality. Where have all the years gone? His music was played at high school dances, proms and family get togethers. His music was interwoven into the fabric of our lives.

[Berneta Moore]

As a child I remember going to school and being so excited about watching Michael Jackson on the music awards, it would be the talk of the day.
You couldn’t find a person outside when you knew Michael Jackson was going to perform, everyone so excited…

In most African American homes there wasn’t much family time and quality time spent together. Rarely did we watch television together but when the awards came on and we knew Michael Jackson was going to perform. Everyone in the whole house would gather around the television waiting for Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson has touched so many of our lives in ways he couldn't have imagined. He brought families together if it was only was for a little while. We watched Michael as a family.

I thank him so much for his music, dancing and entertainment. There will NEVER be another Michael Jackson.

I am a single mother of a wonderful 13 year old son (Shannon) and I am so blessed that he was able to watch and enjoy the Michael Jackson that we all love....

Michael and his family will stay in our prayers and heart forever. May God bless him with peace, Michael you are an angel.......Good Nite Michael….Love you, Berneta Moore