The MJ Spin

I know some folks have problems with Michael Jackson's image, the rumors, and the tabloid-ready stories about crooked doctors (http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity_news/dpgo_michael_jackson_secret_girlfriend_lwf_070209_2632815) For me, the music of MJ and his family is a bigger part of the tapestry of my life, than the image of the Black man who transformed into a White-looking man (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/blackorwhite.html).

A "Matt and Ramona Show" listener sent this note about Michael Jackson on Monday:

"PLEASE PLEASE don't take this the wrong way. BUT - why are so many Blacks so crazy about him when he didn't seem to WANT to be black and he had white wives and white children? Seems he turned his back on his people."

A Black prodigal son? I can't say for sure. I won't attempt to speak for my entire race because our opinions are as varied as our complexions. But I've always hoped/believed that Michael, the Scarecrow from "The Wiz," was the brains of his wacky operation ( http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1614787/story.jhtml). He was a P.T. Barnum, genius enough to perform while running the freak show from behind the curtain. This was the man who reportedly hired the publicity agents who insisted the "National Enquirer" run a photo of him in a hyperbaric chamber (http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/06/exclusive-strangest-photo-ever-michael-jackson). Sadly, he created a persona so hugely popular and bizzare that it ultimately enslaved him.

Because he was such a showman, I was hoping he had a big trick in store for his final act. It would be the perfect way to kick off his 50-date London tour. If Jackson could remember to wave his gloved hand while being rushed to the hospital with a burned HEAD (http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/27/newsid_4046000/4046605.stm)maybe he could Punk the world! Beating Ashton Kutcher at his own game the Jacksons would wheel the casket to the front of The Staples Center, all dressed alike. Cue the smoke machines. Here comes the evil Vincent Price laugh! You know what comes next! "Thriller" music! Zombies move into place! MJ pops up and we hear, "I'm not like other guys!" You would've heard the cheering around the globe.

Of course we'd find out that for various dates on the "Care About Us" tour Mike had lined up big name performers like Mariah, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, Usher, John Mayer, Queen Latifah, the little British Michael Jackson and the entire Jackson Family. Every concert would raise money for hungry kids! Wow, what a show!!!! Quite a funeral fantasy, huh.?

Instead, we got exactly what lots of us were fearing. Black-White-admired-accused, it was an unmistakable memorial service. It was a formal farewell to the first R&B cross-over superstar. He put a hip new spin on dancing (http://www.junauza.com/2009/06/art-and-science-behind-michael-jacksons.html). He put a movie-quality spin on music videos, mixing horror and blockbuster special effects. He put his own spin on rock star style (there's already an exhibit of Michael's costumes at the Grammy Museum http://www.grammymuseum.org/interior.php?section=exhibits&page=mjhistyle) And His death put a new spin on his show-stopping ability to hold our attention to the very end.