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There are some things we expected to last as long as we are
around. The World Trade Center. The big auto manufacturers.
Michael Jackson, and more. America has changed in our generation
more perhaps than any since World War II. It is not the same.
Certain things we may have taken for granted are no more. Love
him or hate him, Michael Jackson was a part of America’s
cultural identity.
When visitors from other countries would come to the U.S.,
including some of my friends from Europe, they would say, that
when they think of America, they think of big money, big cars,
big houses, fancy clothes, Elvis, the Beatles, Madonna, Brittney
Spears, Disneyland, New York City, Hollywood, and Michael Jackson
among more. Michael Jackson was the most famous living star on
the planet. Those that questioned my statement of that fact
didn’t doubt me after July 7th. Every major network in The
United States halted all other news for live reports on the sad
news. Michael Jackson had passed on.
Aside from his greatness as a talent, his genius as a singer,
dancer, and performer, Michael Jackson influenced the world by
the sake of his massive fame alone. It didn’t matter that
he hadn’t made a record in years, he was still famous.
Highly well read, he studied classic literature, history,
philosophy, law, and more. The intellectual side of Michael
Jackson was not known by most of the world. While media sought to
focus on his facial surgeries or masks he wore, they didn’t
bother to remind the world that he has suffered second and third
degree burns on his head and face while shooting a commercial
years earlier, during which an explosion scarred his facial
tissue and left him in severe pain. There are two sides to every
story, and the fact is, despite being the biggest star in the
world, Michael’s side usually didn’t get out fairly.
And when it didn’t, he often just didn’t bother
trying to set the record straight.
Michael Jackson not only gave us great entertainment with his
music, he also gave us great entertainment with his life as well.
His theatrics, for better or worse, became nearly as famous as
his sound. The world talked about Michael Jackson no matter what
he was doing, or not doing, he had become thought of as almost
otherworldly. Michael Jackson was a part of not only American pop
culture, but the cultures of the world. He embraced fans in other
countries, where he was just as big, if not bigger than his
homeland. When Michael left us, a part of the popular culture
identity we have through mass media changed. Michael Jackson was
larger than life. And now that life is dead. It s a painful
reminder, if Michael Jackson can die at a mere 50, maybe we
should not take life so much for granted.
The death of Michael Jackson was a reality check, for other
icons, for superstars, stars, celebrities, for his fans, and for
the world. Life is not forever on this planet. We must act NOW.
Michael Jackson is gone, but a part of him is still with us.
Let’s make the world a better place like he always wanted,
and let’s start with ourselves first. We dedicate this
issue to the biggest star ever that I had the pleasure of
photographing – Michael Jackson.
- Bruce Edwin, Editor, © The Hollywood Sentinel