Fearless, legendary, and ready to jump in the middle of any fire
of injustice, Reverend Jesse Jackson has been a friend and
spiritual advisor to Michael Jackson (who were not related), and
the Jackson family since Michael was a young boy with the Jackson
5. I had the pleasure to shake hands and meet Mr. Rev. Jesse
Jackson at the repass for Michael. History already remembers
Jesse Jackson as a man of dedication to the worthy cause of civil
rights, integrity, intelligence, faith, and a force of 'power to
the people.'
A number of years back, Jesse Jackson conducted a rare interview
with Michael Jackson on his radio show. It is more revealing as
to the truth of what Michael endured than a thousand twisted lies
on websites and media around the world. Why was Michael so
limited in his press? Now we know why. Who gained if he failed?
Who sought to destroy him and why? Now you can see the puzzle
revealed in the interview as follows. It is legendary, as the man
who conducted it and the star himself. We share a portion of it
with you here now. (abridged)
Jesse Jackson: What about this (earlier) period
(with the Jackson 5) that stands out the most in your mind?
Michael Jackson: This period for me which stands
out is because I was so young around that time. I was like eight,
eight or nine. I just remember the environment, what it was like,
all the music I was hearing. My father played guitar. My uncle
played guitar. Everyday they would come over, and you know they
would play great music. And we would start to perform to the
music. I remember seeing marching bands go down the street. I
would remember the rhythm of the band and the beats of the drum.
And every sound around me seem to record in my head and start
making rhythms and dancing. I use to dance to the rhythm of the
washing machine. My mother went to the corner store to wash the
clothes. I would dance to the rhythm and people would crowd
around. I remember those kind of stories. They would crowd around
pretty much and watch me. Those kind of little things. They are
reflections really.
On abuse allegations:
Michael Jackson: (…) I’m being
accused of something, where I know in my heart and in my
experiences in life I’m totally innocent, and it’s
very painful. But this has been kind of a pattern among black
luminaries in this country.
Jesse Jackson: And so, you had these hits, and
people that you have embraced are now facing you in court on a
daily basis. How does your spirit handle that?
Michael Jackson: (…) I pray a lot
and… that’s how I deal with it and I’m a
strong person, I’m a warrior. And I know what’s
inside of me. I’m a fighter. But it’s very painful.
At the end of the day, I’m human, you know, I’m still
a human being. So it does hurt very, very, very much.
Jesse Jackson: (regarding rumors) (…)
Michael, are you broke?
Michael Jackson: That’s not true at all.
It’s one of their many schemes to embarrass me and to just
drag me through mud. And it’s the same pattern, like I told
you before with these other people in the past. Same pattern.
Don’t believe (it), you know, this is tabloid,
sensationalized kind of gossip.
Jesse Jackson: Well, how did the money issue get
in it in the first place? Some people called and they thought it
was about the Sony catalog. What’s in that catalog?
Michael Jackson: In my Sony Catalog, is all the
Beatles music, all of the music I own, I own Sly and the Family
Stone, I own such a volume of so many, I own Elvis, so many Elvis
songs and it’s a huge catalog, very valuable, it’s
worth a lot of money. And there is a big fight going on right
now, as we speak about that. Now, I can’t say whether or
not – I can’t comment on it, but there’s a lot
of conspiracy, I’ll say that – conspiracy going on as
we speak.
Jesse Jackson: (…) Where you are now in
the head, how you are feeling?
Continued on next page