They made Michael Jackson (MJ),
and then
destroyed him. After that, he
destroyed himself. They put him up on a pedestal making fortunes for themselves
as they carefully constructed his throne. Then systematically tore him down and again
made money like it was going out of
style. For "MJ" we could just as well substitute "OJ," or "Kobe," or
"Tyson," but first, let’s take a look at the fallen idol once called the
"King of Pop"...
If Michael Jackson looked
like James Brown, how far
do you think his career would have gone? Back in the day, Jackson was the
biggest thing the world had seen. (Only Elvis and the Beatles had
gotten as far.) But Chuck Berry, "Father of Rock ‘n Roll," James Brown,
"Godfather of Soul," and Louis Armstrong, the "King of Jazz," all had just as
much, if not more, of whatever it is Michael had. How come they never made
it to the top?
All
(Jackson's) four could sing.
All could dance. They could prance. And they all had the God-given gift
to channel the heart, the soul and above all the rhythm of Africa
into fantastic new forms. So why was Jackson the only one who scaled
the heights? Because he did not look like the others. He did, though, for
the first 20 years of his life. But as he neared the top, his African
features and his masculinity began to drop. He could not be the original
Black man that he was and sit was atop the throne. He had to transform, and so
transform he did, to become the one and only venerated, worshipped
and bowed down before "Black" icon...
And so they made him. And
they made fortunes off him. And now, now that was thrown to the
wolves, they made money off him non-stop. You would think there was no
recession, that they had found the weapons of mass destruction, that the
nation wasn’t engaged in two wars five thousand miles from our shores. You’d
think that 300 million Americans didn’t have anything better to do than sit
around and vicariously vilify Michael Jackson. One almost expected they
would come up with a MJN, a Michael Jackson Network...
Jackson was a huge
childhood star. But then he became a man, and his career leveled off. And he
said he would never go back on tour with his brothers in tow. But then he
changed his mind. Remember the year? It was ‘84. And his 1984 comeback
concert tour was dubbed VICTORY.
Remember what was happening
in Black America that year? Jesse Jackson was running for the highest office
in the land, and he gave them a run for their money. But there was also this
other Jackson, Michael, running all over the US and Europe and much
of the western world. And at every stop his gala concerts were sold out
affairs, with thousands upon thousands of women absolutely freaking out just
at the sight of him.
That was the Jackson that
the media focused on. "Look!"-- the tube was telling us. Look! Michael’s
crossed over! Michael’s made it to the Promised Land! Michael Jackson has
been fully, and irrevocably, accepted by America. He has achieved the Dream.
He has attained VICTORY! So never mind that other Jackson, Jesse.
Race simply doesn’t matter in America anymore.
And then, when the election
was over, Michael was quietly slipped off the stage and mothballed. But
after a while they rolled him out again. They turned the spotlight back on
in 1988. And what was happening then? Jesse ran for president once more. And
he was doing even better than in 1984. But when the media reported on his
steady progress, they never forgot to intone the brainwashing mantra, "but
of course Jesse Jackson cannot win."
Meanwhile, they pumped up
Michael to an even greater extent. And we found ourselves foolishly grinning
from ear-to-ear at his accomplishment which was nothing but a contrivance.
And if two Jackson's were not enough to confuse us, the media promptly threw
in a third. "ACTION JACKSON" was the name of the 1988 film about a Black
detective with a big gun, who chased the ladies and had great fun. And when
all was said and done, and Jesse barely missed the nomination, Michael again
was promptly put out to pasture...
A few years later came the
first set of charges, and the media made a little bread on the deal. But
that was in the Stone Age, the old pre - O J days. Now comes the second set
of tawdry claims, in modern, post - O J times, when the national news media
functions without compunction from the depths of the sewer. Witness the
horrid spectacle, the bloodthirsty feeding frenzy. The Kobe Case was good,
but the Michael Case is better. And they still have Kobe on the back burner
keeping warm.
By the way, what year is
this? Yes, again the race for president is upon us. And somehow Al Sharpton
has the audacity to stand up and actually run for the prize. Note how after
every debate the reporters have no choice but to say that Sharpton "had the
best lines," or "had the best ideas" or "was the most articulate." But of
course they’re quick to add the little mantra, "But we all know that
Sharpton doesn’t really have a chance." Why? Because he’s a Black man?
Because no matter what he seems to be, he may just turn out to be another O
J or Michael or Kobe? In the media’s eyes are not we all?
And what is our ultimate
goal? Approval? Acceptance? If so, remember the fate of these three
contrived idols systematically constructed, and then just as systematically
demolished, when they thought the time, and the money, was right...
(Arthur Lewin AFRICA
UNLIMITED 6/2/9
Ramsees7@yahoo.com)
