Photo: Michael's brothers, Randy, Tito, Jackie, Jermaine and Tito serve as pallbearers each wearing a single sequined glove as they accompany their brother's casket in the Staples Center. Photo source: Wally Skalij, LA Times Considering the various eccentricities of Michael’s public life, and the private parts that became public, there was bound to be something of a circussy aura even to the memorial service. And yet for the most part, and considering the presence of so much media, an impressive dignity was observed.
Tom Shales The Washington Post
For all we know the grace and dignity of yesterday’s memorial service for Michael Jackson may have reflected the private and very much real Michael the public never saw; his mother’s wishes for how she wanted her son to be remembered by his children; the memories of his brothers, sisters and friends.
Maybe for the first time, the world witnessed what African American religious traditions call “A Homegoing.”
UPDATES are included in this post.
One would think “fade to black” would be the epithet for the last 6 days of coverage of Michael Jackson’s life and death (1958 – 2009). I haven’t seen so many pictures of Michael’s early career on display complete with Afro and brown skin since…he looked like that. Maybe it’s a need to recapture the innocence lost in the crazy hazy world of show business and the trials and traumas of superstardom. Maybe it means not having to say “grow up” anymore. Maybe it’s a reminder he was someone’s son, brother, neighbor, and friend.
To be honest, I can’t recall a bad day, a bad mood or moment listening to Michael’s music. Now, every song is a constant reminder that he’s gone.
No doubt Michael Jackson’s death marks the end of something for American pop culture. CNN reports Michael will lie in state for a public viewing at his former Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County later this week. Update: “Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland,” the statement said. “Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly.” Source: New York Times
In the tsunami of information (true and otherwise) there comes a time to go to higher ground. Here are a couple of notable news items from the past 6 days.
JACKSON 5 IN AFRICA
I got an email from Image Nationin New York announcing the first public viewing of an unfinished documentary about the Jackson 5’s trip to Senegal in 1974. The film was made by a group of African investors who ran out of money to complete it. The owner of the film wants to remain anonymous.
The screening is Tuesday, July 14 at 7 PM
The National Black Theatre
located at 2031-33 National Black Theatre Way
Fifth Avenue (Btwn 125th & 126th Streets) in Harlem
Tickets are $15 in advance, and they’re going, going…fast. Visit www.imagenation.us. If you’d like to volunteer for the event, email volunteers@imagenation.us The owner is also looking for buyers. Email gregory@imagenation.us.
NEW ORLEANS PAYS TRIBUTE WITH A SECOND-LINE
The New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Club Task Force hosted a second-line in memory of Michael Jackson on Sunday. The line-up was at the 1200 block of Bernard Street, in New Orleans.
VIDEO: Huge second-line honors Pop King Michael Jackson
BOOTSY COLLINS Interview Bootsy Collins was not part of Michael’s inner circle or should I say orbit. Nevertheless, this is one of the best and most insightful interviews I’ve heard to date. Bootsy got his start as a bass player with Soul Brother #1, James Brown, then joined George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic before launching a solo career. Parliament and the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1997. I got this one from Undercover Blackman who’s back on-line after a hiatus. And just in time. Check out UBM’s Vox blog for the interview. [Bill Cunningham is a conservative talk show host in Cincinnatti, OH. UBM has a slant on him.]
THE PRICE OF THE TICKET
When in doubt, go back to James Baldwin. This morning on “Democracy Now” (hosted by Amy Goodman), Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Margo Jefferson and Duke University professor Mark Anthony Neal talked about the life and legacy of Michael Jackson. Neal quoted from James Baldwin’s 1985 essay “Here Be Dragons” The Michael Jackson cacophony is fascinating in that it is not about Jackson at all. I hope he has the good sense to know it and the good fortune to snatch his life out of the jaws of a carnivorous success.
Margo Jefferson, author of On Michael Jackson, wrote this for Salon.com Suddenly, death has restored Michael Jackson to cultural respectability. Death gives us an easy way out of the unanswered questions and uneasy feelings. But (and this is the good thing), death also restores our total pleasure in his artistry. It makes me happy to see masses of people revel in the ache and charge of the music again, in the brilliant dancing, in the reckless splendor of his showmanship.
THE THIRD ACT
The Wall Street Journal (including the WSJ blog) and business and trade sections of newspapers or websites will be the go-tos for the next act of the Michael Jackson story. This story will evolve into how his debts and assets will be consolidated, sorted out, and distributed. At the end of the day it’s going to be about business, the lawyers, and the accountants. Vultures beware. My gut feeling is in the final analysis the estate will come out in the black. Arts management and entertainment law students and professionals will be taking notes.
Update: In Today’s NY Times: The three best-selling albums in the United States last week were all by Mr. Jackson: “Number Ones” sold 108,000 copies; “The Essential Michael Jackson” sold 102,000; and “Thriller” sold 101,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In total, 422,000 copies of Mr. Jackson’s albums were sold in the week that ended on Sunday —more than 40 times the previous week’s figure — as fans snapped up everything in sight.
Sales of Michael Jackson’s album’s topped the Black Eyed Peas’ recent realease “The E.N.D.” which sold 88,000 and is #1 on the Billboard 200. Jackson’s music cannot occupy Billboard’s 200 (new releases), but he takes the top 9 spots on the catalog chart.
Some people will say the debut of The Beatles on the “Ed Sullivan Show” was broadcast TV’s greatest moment. For me, it was this….
Michael Jackson , the lead singer for the 1970s brothers pop group The Jackson 5, and the solo “King of Pop,” died this afternoon in Los Angeles. He had a heart attack.
I’m stunned.
Update
The LA Times has a full page of articles and tributes on their site. Apparently heavy web traffic stalled Twitter, TMZ, the LA Times and other sources for updates on Michael Jackson who died from cardiac arrest. The family statement was made by Michael’s older brother Jermaine.
People are taking to the streets. DJs are spinning some of the old records. People are remembering the dance steps. I found my Jackson 5 “3rd Album.” My “Off the Wall” must be in storage. We’re all singing old Jackson 5 hits and Michael’s solo songs over the phone. ITunes has them up. The old skating rinks are gone where you glided over the floor to “Rock With You.” How do you do the moon walk on wheels? I’m moved by the generations of testimonies and memories of many who grew up with Michael Jackson. Some are just discovering that brown child with the Afro and apple cap who was a super star before morphing to “The King of Pop.” It speaks to Michael’s enormous influence on the culture. Michael broke the color barrier on MTV – the first music video broadcast on the channel featuring an African American performer.
There will be a USPS stamp in time, but which Michael will be immortalized? Flip through the photo albums on line from his childhood on up. I get the feeling it will be the “Thriller” Michael with the “ABC” Michael in the shadows.
When Richard Wright came to Chicago from the South, he worked as a postman just before his first book was published.
JaBen Early plays Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright’s adaptation of his first novel Native Son for the The American Century Theatre directed by Bob Bartlett. “Native Son” opens tonight, April 14th (Arlington, VA). Rising from the Shreds
Easter Sunday, mezzo soprano Denyce Graves wore a dress given to her by the contralto Marian Anderson as she performed Anderson’s historic 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Two days before the event, Graves put Anderson’s dress into the dry cleaners for special handling and cleaning. It was returned in shreds. Fortunately this wardrobe malfunction happened under the counter. Like Cinderella’s fairy godmother, the costume teacher from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts and the crew from the Washington National Opera reconstructed the dress overnight before Sunday’s event. Ellington’s Beverly Johnson took a bow. Over 2,000 people showed up for the free concert which was followed by a ceremony for new citizens taking the oath of citizenship. A great day.
President Barack Obama Eases Some Travel Restrictions to Cuba
The embargo’s still on, but Cuban Americans don’t have to wait years to see their families, and some U.S. telecoms will be able to drop calls on the island. Only AT&T had service when I visited in 2000. The visit picked up for me once I got out of the tourist areas and into the neighborhoods. That’s how I met a photographer named Leslie Sinclair. Anyone with any interest in art, culture, jazz and getting around like a true native eventually hooked up with Leslie. He now lives in Switzerland with his wife and daughter. Below is a photo from Leslie’s portfolio. I’m still on the look-out for an exhibit space here in the U.S. to display his work. Click herefor a 4.4 MB PDF sample (note: pdf quality does not accurately refelct photo quality).
Tax day is tomorrow – April 15
Sandra Cisneros’ The House On Mango Street turns 25!
25 years already??!! This is one of my favorite books. It’s a collection of short stories, actually vignettes about a young girl, Esperanza Cordera, growing up in Chicago. One of the vignettes is titled “Hips.”
One day you wake up and they are there. Ready and waiting like a new Buick with the keyes in the ignition. Ready to take you where?
One Book, One Chicago is celebrating with a city read of The House On Mango Street. Cisneros has a schedule of readings starting this month to mark the anniversary. Check out her website – www.sandracisneros.com.
Neverland Gets a Grown Up Dose of Today’s Reality
Maybe Peter Pan has joined the Navy SEALs, but Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch is being downsized and its contents auctioned. The wake “viewing” is today at the old Robinsons-May building. Admission is $20. Bids are already being taken at juliens-auctions.com. Expectations are high for a single glove to rake in $10,000 (minimum bid). Jackson’s debt is estimated at approximately $24 million.
The exhibition is loosely organized into three categories — stage wear and music memorabilia, toys and Disneyana, and furniture and decorative arts. There are numerous music honors — awards from People’s Choice, Billboard, the NAACP, MTV and more — record displays, a Madame Tussauds wax figure of the star and a letter from President Reagan. A ceremonial crown, scepter and faux ermine cape, cropped military jackets and costume brooches are reminders of Jackson’s 1980s fashion icon status.
As far as I’m concerned, this man-child Michael is still missing.
Update: Apparently the King of Pop gets to keep his treasures. Juliens Auction House has been told to “beat it” after reaching a settlement. But the “viewing” still goes on. It is now a “promotional exhibit.” Hmmm, I sense a little PR chain yanking here.
