Mahogany Misfit - Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 06:23PM - 6 said something... - filed under 80's Flashbacks Email Article Remembering The Time...
I have been very torn over whether or not to post anything about Michael Jackson since he passed last week. The public spectacle of today's services really made me question whether or not it was a good idea. Do I want to provide commentary on something that has been talked about to death and exploited ad nauseum? What could I possibly add to the whirlwind clusterfuck of media/blog excess?
Watching the memorial today, part of me felt like I was engaging in some strange orgy of grief, gawking at something that should have been private. I kind of felt like an intruder.
The other part of me was moved by a lot of what took place and grateful to have witnessed it.
As someone who was an extreme MJ fan from ages 3 to 9, but thought of him very seldom in the past 20 years, I almost feel like I subconsciously "forgot" about him, until very recently. Once he stopped resembling the person I once worshipped, I put him out of my mind...until the most recent sexual abuse allegations surfaced in 2004.
I'll go ahead and out myself as someone who, after reading quite a bit about the molestation accusations leveled against him (including taped calls of the first accuser's father, information regarding both families, depositions, court papers, etc.), does NOT believe he molested Jordan Chandler or Gavin Arvizo, his two most prominent accusers. There was simply too much information pointing me in the direction of doubt and disbelief.
It's been difficult to read and hear the viewpoints of others on this who disagree, simply because none have been able to offer up anything substantial that points to his definitive guilt. He was accused and that is enough for some people. Behavioral oddities, excessive plastic surgery, the inability to conform to (or even understand) what society deems "normal", and accusations alone have the power to destroy one's image. This much we know. Tragic as it seems, such is life.
As much as I could speak about this at length, it somehow feels pointless. I have engaged in too many conversations with the unenlightened over the past week...those who have read nothing and know nothing about these cases, save for the accusations.
Again, for some people, that is enough. Facts be damned.
So, instead of "defending" him or trying to change the unwavering opinions of those who don't matter, I just want to reminisce.
Behold, the doll that was given to me on my 5th birthday...
Whooo, Michael Jackson in his 1984 Grammy outfit!
I loved this fucking thing TO DEATH, OMG you have no idea.
Also, let me go ahead and admit that along with this doll, I was presented a birthday cake with Michael on it, IN HIS THRILLER OUTFIT!
Fuck yes! Thanks Mom and Dad for making 1985 one of the best years of my life with this shit!
It was almost too much for my 5-year-old sensibilities to endure.
Oh and may I introduce you to Michael's make-out partner?
Yep, I had the Brooke Shields doll too motherfuckers, DON'T HATE!!
Shit was REAL in the 80's.
I took these dolls everygoddamnwhere and they did nothing but kiss, hold hands, and slow dance.
I had a great childhood, and MJ was a huge part of that.
And not just mine. After speaking to both of my parents after MJ's death, I learned that my dad and my mom's brother (my parents were neighbors growing up and my dad was BFF's with my mom's many brothers), used to speed through the neighborhood on their bikes after finishing up their paper route in order to make it home on time to catch the Jackson Five's Saturday morning cartoon. My dad had a particular affinity for Rosie, the pet snake.
I also learned that my mom had a room full of Jackson Five posters and wanted to marry MJ when she was eight and he was twelve.
She liked older men.
Seriously though, I can't think of any other entertainer who dazzled the childhood of baby boomers in the late 60's AND that of their Gen X / Gen Y children nearly twenty years later, and I honestly love that the two most important people in my life share something so special with me. I love that they made MJ a part of my childhood and indulged me in that, for they loved him too growing up.
We'll always have those memories I guess....
Mahogany Misfit - Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 06:23PM - 6 said something... - filed under 80's Flashbacks Email Article 
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Oh and as an aside- anyone who decides to post something inflammatory with regard to MJ or this post, not only will that shit be promptly deleted, but I will ban your sorry ass.
Thanks.
That Brooke Shields barbie commercial was hot lolol. I forgot about those dolls. My older cousin had one of those and she would neverrr let anybody touch it.
Oh and was that Jackson cartoon on in the 80s too because it looks familiar and I think I might have watched it when I was little!?
Good post though MM. I think most of us who were growing up in the 80's can remember the MJ mania that ruled the world back then. I do hope that (even thou he has passed) something or someone exonerates him from all the trumped up charges that messed up his life. If not for his sake, for the sake of his kids.
no doubt the kids were told to lie there ass off about micahel molesting them to get money gavin's hole family changed there last name to JACKSON after the trail. and his mom whose name is janet is now going by JANET JACKSON
http://antonjackson.blogspot.com/2007/01/im-moving-to-atlanta-georgia.html
I never believed the allegations either. People always bring up the fact he has to be guilty b/c he paid off the 1st family. But they never mention, the prosecutor didn't press charges b/c there was lack of evidence. Knowing the prosecutor didn't have a case, the family sued for money. MJ just wanted it to be over.
I felt like I knew him personal. His death really hurt.
Kellina-Yes it did air in the 80's because I remember watching it as well! Also I agree with your last point and hope in death he can be vindicated somehow.
TruthTeller2009- I heard that the mother married her BF Jay Jackson and THAT is why she changed her last name...as far as why the kids would as well...uh I got nothin'. I can understand them wanting to change their names after the trial for anonymity purposes but why the boy (who is now 19 or 20?) would use the very last name of the man he claims molested him is suspect as hell.
Southerngal- The thing about the first settlement is, MJ himself did not pay that. His insurance company made the payout against his wishes....which I hear is common for celebrities involved in litigation that may be expensive.
Court Doc
Once the Chandler's received the payment they made the child unavailable to the authorities for any questioning and ceased all communication, which rendered the case dead in the water due to lack of evidence...
Sad situation all the way around.
I'm not gonna get into the whole child molestor situation cause I don't want MM to kick my ass *grin* Suffice to say, I didn't ever see him as a predator. I saw him as a man who may not have viewed himself as an adult. I could say more but I won't.
What I will say is that I, too, had MJ dolls! All of them! And they were the boyfriends of my Barbies...screw Ken; MJ was the shiz!! My brothers and I performed the whole Victory tour album every Saturday in our living room. My middle brother was MJ cause he had the curl and outfits *lol* (incidentally we did this with Prince vids as well).
I didn't cry but I did get choked up when Paris spoke during the memorial. And of course when the choir first sang "Soon and Very Soon" I mean what black funeral doesn't either start or end with that? I did think though, wow, this is unbelievable. The hoopla that is happening, even still, is kinda over the top and ridiculous. Let the man be at peace now.
There's a lot that I think though in the academic and psychological critique of his life that can be explored but for now can we give MJ a little rest. *shrug* that's what I think.