TGR: “Thriller”: A Superstar Forever
Michael Jackson touched our hearts and souls forever
By Doni Glover, www.bmorenews.com
(BALTIMORE – June 29, 2009) – Early memories of the then-child superstar, Michael Jackson, include a trip to Baltimore’s Civic Center to see him and his brothers perform. Interestingly, all I really remember was the bus trip home when my sister and my two nephews were getting on the bus and the man in front of us got pick-pocketed. Actually, robbers took his whole back pocket off.
Thanks to my big sis, my fanhood of the King of Pop soared. She got us t-shirts and memorabilia. Like many of you, I had posters and albums. I pretended I too was a superstar and could sing like him, but I never could. I quickly realized early in youth how I had to find my own and not covet another's gift.
I think his greatest gift was showing us the superstar in all of us. Long live the King of Pop!
Nonetheless, I collected records like you, including the album with my childhood favorite, “Going Back to Indiana.” I loved that song.
I too watched his love for Ben the rat on the big screen. I too remember the skit with Scoop Newsworthy. I too went to see them (The Jackson 5) perform at Painters Mill on the revolving stage, and fondly recall sitting on the front row when Janet sang. I swear she looked at me while she sang her song.
Seeing Bern Nadette Stanis Saturday made flashbacks of “Penny” on “Good Times” come to mind. Nonetheless, the stage always belonged to Michael.
And it wasn’t until I read Charles Robinson’s column yesterday that I better understood what Michael meant for black America and the world - beyond the realm of entertainment. He, in many ways, helped empower other blacks in other fields. He showed a black man can be rich, can be wealthy.
A shrewd businessman say some, he was also a bridge builder, a man who’s talents exceeded greatness, yet a man full of challenges, like us all. What we won't know is how it was to live his life. In other words, so many think they want stardom. However, there is a price. The real question becomes whether we are truly willing to pay the price. After all, who of us could really find some normalcy in an otherwise megastar life?
Maybe he never grew up. Maybe he had issues with his father. Who cares? At this point, I – like many of you – can only reflect on how dynamic he was … and will forever be in the hearts and minds of billions of people. Yes, billions.
From his first interview on The Ed Sullivan Show, he forever changed the way white people, in particular, thought of us. Even more, he changed the way we thought of ourselves as black people.
His excellence demonstrated that if you are good at what you do, people have no choice but to give you your props. Never heard him really talk about Civil Rights. I do recall the “Black and White” song and the impression he made by performing with Paul McCartney. I was a kid.
In 2006, I got to hear of his greatness first-hand during a visit to Ethiopia. There, they regard him in a very special manner. You see, he helped them during a famine. I learned that when you give hungry people food and water, they will never forget you.
So, in order to keep this column short, I will join the many, many fans all over the world by saying that Michael Jackson will forever be missed.
Actually, the sweetest memory of his entire life for me is when my 8-year old daughter began telling me stats 2 days ago on the man we call “Thriller” – about the many albums he sold, the many hits and awards and successes he had. Suddenly, I started to swell up – but didn’t cry. Why? ‘Cause I cut the conversation short. I wasn’t having an 8-year old take me down memory lane to cry. I found it too painful. Say what you want. I, like many of you, loved his music and hold dearly to what he will forever mean to us.
”Tell ‘em that it’s human nature” because “the lady in my life” made me look at “the man in the mirror.” And what I saw was - no more, no less – a fan of the greatest performer in my lifetime … and maybe that of my children, too.
For more than 4 decades of singing to us, dancing for us, acting for us – and all else – Thank you, Michael Jackson. You are forever in our hearts and souls.
PS – I think his greatest gift was showing us the superstar in all of us. Long live the King of Pop!
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1 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
It is amazing how quickly we make the uncommon common or greatness regular!
MJ has in some many ways has been reduced to a common or normal status due to his suspected private issues.
Not So! He will never be common or normal. He was uncommon and he perfected the uncommon qualities that God blessed him with.
I still recall seeing early home films of the J5. It was obvious to me that MJ embodied greatness. His presence was felt then!
His brothers danced but MJ PERFOMED! He overshadowed his brothers but it did not matter to them because they knew he had the IT FACTOR!
His was a Van Gogh with his feet and a virtuoso with his voice. His dance moves were fluent and rhythmic and His voice produced heavenly melodies.
Who could forgot how he took us to another level with Got To Be There! Lttle Anthony who? MJ was greatness wrapped in a lttle boys body.
Growing up black in the late sixties it was a welcome relief to see yourself on TV. Like MLK & Macolm-X were our fathers and big brothers manhood, Michael was ours. I am sure some of friends on North & Longwood would agree with me. We expressed ourselves in many ways and the arts was just one the many forms of our expressions.
We were young gifted and BLACK!
MJ was the emblem for the post baby boomer generation. Were not the fifties, or even mid sixties generation. We were the see what we can do with our gifts generation and MJ was our poster board!
ABSENCE FROM BODY BUT PRESENCE WITH THE LORD! YOU HAVE ENTERED YOUR ENTERNAL RESTING PLACE. Your lyrics linger with us! Your are out of our lives, but, you will never be forgotten!
Peace Doni!
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