Source:www.poynter.org
As long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed Michael Jackson’s music. I knew his role with “We Are the World” and how sales of the record helped impoverished families in Africa. He also donated the proceeds of a song to Hurricane Katrina victims.
But along with reconnecting with some powerful, wonderful music, I’ve found that since his death, I’ve learned about or have been reminded of his involvement with youth, charity and cultural programs. One speaker at his public memorial indicated that he set a record in charitable giving among celebrities.
“During the past two decades, more than 500 students at UNCF’s 39 member colleges and universities have been able to attend college thanks to Jackson’s generous gift,” according to a statement posted on the United Negro College Fund Web site shotly aftr his death in June. More than 20 years ago, he donated $1.5 million to establish an endowment. He headlined a benefit performance for UNCF, received its highest honor and received an honorary degree from member institution Fisk University in Nashville.
I didn’t realize how his visit comforted wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the nation’s capital, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said during the service. Or how calling Coretta Scott King brought joy to her before she died of cancer in 2006, according to her daughter, the Rev. Bernice King.
Or his support of a range of institutions, events and causes whether it was dolphins, orphans in Eastern Europe, historically black colleges and universities or the Million Man March. I didn’t realize or recall, for example, how the proceeds from the sale of “Man In the Mirror” went to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times to help children with cancer.
And I forget how in 1989, he allowed 13-year-old Ryan White, a child who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, to stay at his home and later recorded a song dedicated to the child, “Gone Too Soon.” Before his death in 1990, the Indiana teenager fought AIDS-related discrimination and sought to educate others about the disease. He became the face of the AIDS epidemic.
Ryan’s mother, Jeanne White-Ginder told CBS News on Friday that she didn’t have any reservations about letting her son stay with Jackson. She said she and her son visited Neverland Ranch, sometimes Ryan visited on his own.
“The little things made Michael so happy,” she said. “You could see it in his eyes. He was smiling from ear to ear, and he said, ‘I was the last person that Ryan listened to.’ And I said ‘yes.’ Because Ryan played ‘Man in the Mirror’ over and over and over again.”
More than 2,000 press credentials were approved for the public memorial, but watching it on TV, the crowds surrounding the Staples Center and inside were neither overly boisterous nor unruly. The service itself was touching, not tacky, celebratory and not the circus that some news stories lead viewers to believe would occur given the myriad reports of infighting among the Jacksons, disputes about custody of his children and cries of po’ mouth from Los Angeles city officials.
After the service, I got in my car and grabbed some food. At a Maryland restaurant two male waiters talked about how they didn’t mind crying while watching the service in honor of their “boy, Mike Jack.”
“He was the man. He was larger than life and I can’t front, I choked up when his daughter spoke,” one young man said, referring to Jackson’s daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson’s tearful statements at the end of the service.
She made me tear up while watching her. Also, when Jackson’s brother broke down and even Brooke Shields’ appearance because I felt what she said was heartfelt. Another take on the daughter’s appearance. There were many aspects of the service I appreciated including musician/actress Queen Latifah’s recitation of Maya Angelou’s original poem about Michael Jackson called “We Had Him.”
At the library, I overheard a librarian tell a patron that every video and CD featuring Jackson, i.e. “Free Willy” and “Motown 25 Years Anniversary Show” were all checked out. A patron sitting at a computer beside me said she hoped that he was at peace and that the memorial felt like a homegoing service, an occasion to celebrate Michael returning to the Creator.
