Brooklyn Girl Publishing

I've always known Michael Jackson.

I was raised on him, if you really want to be technical. Raised on him the way most Black folks were raised on bacon, beatings and the Bible.

Do you remember the Destiny Album? Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good time, blame it on the boogie. Whoo!

Or the Triumph Album with Can You Feel It? With the glitter?! (Can you just about feel the whippin you would have gotten if you even tried that mess in the house?) And Heartbreak Hotel? Man, I could sing those songs for you to this day. AND I could show you the dance moves my sister and I made up in the basement! Okay. Maybe I can't show you. I'm not quite as limber or acrobatic as I was back then. ;o)

What about Off the Wall? And THRILLER?! Forget about it! We stayed up to watch the premiere of it, and had nightmares about the yellow werewolf eyes. But we watched it again, the next time it came on! Run Ola Ray, run!

Oh! And don't forget the MJ posters and buttons! One day my dad took our posters (the one in the yellow sweater and the one with the red and white shirt) away because we were acting up! Raised on him, I tell you!


Do you remember Motown 25? When he did the moonwalk for the first time? And what about the reports of the Pepsi commercial set where his hair caught fire? As a young girl, I was devastated!

So, of course, it hurts me today to learn that he's passed away. Of a heart attack.

Michael Jackson had an enormous talent that he embraced, honed, perfected and then shared with us. We were never going to get scraps from Michael Jackson. His appearance was unique and impeccable. His steps and execution: flawless. The songs he chose: timeless.

Whether we were feeling him or not, we could rest assured what he was putting out was going to be from the heart. As much as it was ingrained in him, it seemed to be something he loved to do.

He was preparing to do another tour, at fifty years old, and his heart gave out. Perhaps because he'd already given us the best he had? Only God knows.

But the one thing I do know, is that despite his flaws, quirks, and physical anomalies, Michael Jackson always gave his best. Some will choose to remember only those flaws. But the truth is, Michael Jackson touched most EVERYONE'S life in a good way at some point. And for THAT I will always remember Michael.

 

Rest in Peace, MJ.