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Is MJ a Socially Aware Black Artist to You or Not Really?

Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Prophetic lyrics from a great Rasta man (no not Bob Marley):

"400 years (400 years, 400 years, wo-oo-ah)
And it's the same philosophy
I said it's 400 years (400 years, 400 years, wo-oo-ah)
And the people they still can't see
Why do they fight against the youth of today
And without these youths, they would be gone
All gone astray

Come on, let's make a move
(Make a move, make a move, wo-oo-ah)
I can see time, time has come
And if-a fools don't see
(Fools don't see, fools don't see, wo-oo-ah)
I can't save the youth
The youth will be strong

So won't you come with me?
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live, live a good life and be free

Look how long: 400 years (400 years, 400 years, wo-oo-ah)
Way too long!
That's the reason my people can't see
Said it's 400 long years (400 years, 400 years, wo-oo-ah)
Give me patience, give me philosophy

It's been 400 years (400 years, 400 years)
Wait so long! Wo-oo-oo-ah
How long? 400 long, long years..."
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Here's one of the famed socially aware anthems for black people:

"Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight

Preacher man don't tell me
That Heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know what life is really worth
It's not all that glitter is gold
Half the story has never been told
So now you see the light, hey, stand up for your rights
Come on!

Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your right
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight

Most people think Great God will come from the sky
Take away everything and make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You will look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
So stand up for your right, Jah!

Get up, stand up (Jah, Jah!)
Stand up for your right (oh!)
Get up, stand up (get up, stand up)
Don't give up the fight (life is your right)
Get up, stand up (so we can't give up the fight)
Stand up for your right (Lord, Lord)
Get up, stand up (keep on strugglin' on)
Don't give up the fight (yeah)

We're sick and tired of a-your ism-skism game
Dyin' and going to heaven in Jesus' name, Lord
We know and we understand
Almighty God is a living man
You can fool some people sometimes
But you can't fool all the people all the time
So now we see the light (what you gonna do?)
We're gonna stand up for our rights (yeah, yeah, yeah)

So you better
Get up, stand up (in the morning! Get it up!)
Stand up for your right (stand up for our rights!)
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight (don't give it up, don't give it up)..."
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Here's another lyric, may not be just for the black experience but I bet a lot of protest artists got a little giggle hearing Ron Isley tear into this lyric:

"I tried to play my music
They said my music's too loud
I tried to turn all about it
I got the big run-around
And when I roll with the punches
I got knocked on the ground
From all this BULLS**T goin' down!"

And don't get me started on Stevie's "U Haven't Done Nothin'"... "Jackson 5, sing it with me, DOO-WOP... DOO-WOP..."
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Don't believe Mike was at least influenced by the Isleys:

default.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCBTR7583P4

"Fight the power, hee-hee-hee..."
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

and he still cares about the world as a whole because he realizes that he lives in a whole world, not just a black world, unlike many other black people who see the world problems only one way.
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Exactly.

And great post classic. That's the truth right there, all the way. Michael's supported many black establishments, including the NAACP, he's given his music to BET above other channles, he's granted exclusive access and interviews to Ebony and Jet over the years, he's continually spoken about the impact and importance of black artists, visited Africa several times and met with black political leaders such as Nelsen Mendela and tribe leaders as well, etc... More then half the kids he invited out to his ranch were black or hispanic, probably more then half. And he called Tommy Mattola racist, not Sony itself. And as pointed out, that isn't the first or only time Michael has spoken on the issues black artists are faced with in the industry. As a young man he spoke numerous times about how he thought America was brainwashed and that as a country, it should follow suite after places like Switzerland and such, who he felt were color blind. Again, Michael is bigger then race issues, as SoS pointed out, in the big picture, race issues are man made and false, they have no basis in reality. But what about the fact that Michael gave Little Richard his entire music catalog back, for free, after purchasing it? That speaks more to Michael's awarity of black people's struggles in the industry then talking about it every five minutes. Whatever though.
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Now compare that to:

"We Are the World"
"Man in the Mirror"
"Heal the World"
"Keep the Faith", I think, is the one song where I feel he's actually talking to ME, lol
"They Don't Care About Us" - the other one can be seen in different ways I guess
"Earth Song"
"We've Had Enough" had a Marvin/Curtis/Isleys flair to it

----
Most of these songs don't just speak to black folks and I have to be honest most of the aware songs written and/or performed by black artists can be viewed in different ways but all of them are in essence protest songs that everyone can relate to even if you look at most of them from a black perspective.

Some have called "The Ghetto" the anthem of black life, but the same can be said about "Inner City Blues", "The Bottle", "Living for the City"...

Other songs like "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was looked on as black awareness in the '70s but people of all races are determining what "revolution" means in their minds.

So has James Brown's "I'm Black and I'm Proud" hence that there were a multi-racial melting pot of children singing the chorus, lol!

Michael mostly speaks from HUMANITARIAN views so in that sense, he's aware of world issues (like "Can You Feel It" for example).
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

To be "honest", its the focus on race which causes racism.

Michael is special. People know he's black, of course, but its a non-factor when it comes to him, a physical fact and nothing more, they don't even notice. People don't care, because what Michael is and what he represnets is so far beyond that sh*t, that it doesn't matter to them, he isn't anything to them but a human being with a grand gift, and that's why his impact and person is so far reaching. He truly trancsends race and other, man-made, social devides.

I'm done with this conversation.
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

soso def said:
no, U are a contradiction. J5 wasn't a socially black group that brought any social issues to light. sorry but 'i want u back' had nothing to do w/ the civil rights issues going on.

as far as breaking down barriers...mj did that b/c the society at the time didn't want black voices on white radios, black faces on white music channels, or black faces on their magazines. he was so damn good that they HAD to have him on or risk losing customers.

as far as the 'THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE' rant...a bit too late. he knew this THEN. he knew it when he was the undisputed kop...now when his word meant nothing, when they didn't think too highly of him, and when he hadn't really been too predominate in the black community...since his image and his music was geared for EVERYONE, no one took him seriously.

if "bad" Michael had done that speech or even "dangerous' michael, people would've taken it seriously. this is a dude who took over the protest, shocked the rev. and made it personal and about him.

next.
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SoSi, you will never understand the impact the time. It doesn't matter what they were singing. it mattered that they were there, representing and doing the things that was NEVER done before by a black group. They were so GOOD that they couldn't be ignored and the WHOLE WORLD stood up and took notice.
It was a time of black pride and every young black person believed they could do something because of the Jacksons. Yes, it was a social statememt. You should have heard Ian Wright, one of the greatest british black footballer speak about them in a BBC documentary. 'Let me show you the way to go', was exactly what they were doing and they did it well. Many young blacks were inspired by them and went on to be somebody. Solo Michael took it international, which was what martin Luther King was trying to do but failed when they killed him. Yes, MJ breakdown barriers and he fills me with black pride.
He shows you that if you have the will and the motivation you can make it despite the odds. It is not about getting handouts and feeling sorry for yourself. it is about taking what you have and working with it and making the best of life.:D
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

I don't understand why people group artists in group of black and white? I see Michael and I don't think if he's white or black. He is an artists and it doesn't matter what race he has. Maybe it was important in past.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

as far as the 'THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE' rant...a bit too late. he knew this THEN.he knew it when he was the undisputed kop.
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Isn't it fair enough to say that the issue hadn't yet impacted him in such a personal way...where for the first time, it was staring him in the face head-on..and he confronted it head-on. Who of us responds passionately to issues until they impact us personally? Many times we are interested in something that doesn't impact us personally but when it gets personal it gets to another level.

..now when his word meant nothing, when they didn't think too highly of him, and when he hadn't really been too predominate in the black communitysince his image and his music was geared for EVERYONE, no one took him seriously.
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If no one took him seriously it may have been because the way he went about it seemed incongruent with his style of communication and behavior, I don't feel it was because he'd reached out to a larger audience.

Michael had reached out to a larger audience and was hailed the undisputed KOP long before 2001. By 2001 he found himself fighting something very personally directed at his livlihood and well-being, which is another thing the public at large found very hard to accept, believe and understand, which is also why they may not have taken it seriously.

We can see now that his word meant plenty because people still think very highly of him to this day, - - minus Sony.

Michael standing on his own as an industry icon and a force to be reckoned with, proves that.

wannabestartinsomthin21 said:
To be "honest", its the focus on race which causes racism.
Click to expand...

No truer words have ever been spoken.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Michael opened the door for black musician,he showed that if you are good enought there are NO LIMITS!
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

by 2001 the world thought of him as a pedophile. going on a bus bashing mattolla and then making a pc about him and his issues instead of focusing on what was at hand. sorry but mike dealt w/ the issues blacks face in the industry. he was just making hella money and was on the top so i don't think he cared too much about shedding light on it.

timmy, i could kiss u for those links....note that bob's mother said he came into the world light, almost looking like he was mixed or could even pass for a white man b/c if he wasn't, no one would have listened to what he was preaching. my favorite is CRAZY BALDHEADS....guess who he's talking about in that one.

mj had his chance in ebony to say something positive about obama....he chose to say he was taught not to think about it. didn't he perform at clinton's inaug? didn't he hang out w/ nasty ass ronald r? cop out if u ask me
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

by 2001 the world thought of him as a pedophile
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I think the world had pretty much forgotten about the allegations of 93 in 2001 until the new sh!t hit the fan in after the Bashir interview 2003.
Sorry a bit ot but I had to say it.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

soso def said:
timmy, i could kiss u for those links....note that bob's mother said he came into the world light, almost looking like he was mixed or could even pass for a white man b/c if he wasn't, no one would have listened to what he was preaching. my favorite is CRAZY BALDHEADS....guess who he's talking about in that one.
Click to expand...

:D Thanx, Kate... yeah I just heard "Crazy Baldheads", like YESTERDAY! :D
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

soso def said:
by 2001 the world thought of him as a pedophile. going on a bus bashing mattolla and then making a pc about him and his issues instead of focusing on what was at hand. sorry but mike dealt w/ the issues blacks face in the industry. he was just making hella money and was on the top so i don't think he cared too much about shedding light on it.

timmy, i could kiss u for those links....note that bob's mother said he came into the world light, almost looking like he was mixed or could even pass for a white man b/c if he wasn't, no one would have listened to what he was preaching. my favorite is CRAZY BALDHEADS....guess who he's talking about in that one.

mj had his chance in ebony to say something positive about obama....he chose to say he was taught not to think about it. didn't he perform at clinton's inaug? didn't he hang out w/ nasty ass ronald r? cop out if u ask me
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First of all Michael Jackson as far back when he was with the Jacksons during the mid to late 70's and early eighties BEFORE he ever made mega-stardom with Thriller, always talked about his Black heritage, his Black pride, racism as well as Black entertainers before his time failed to get the recognition they deserved. What he said at that press conference with Al Sharpton was not new nor was it some new revelation slapping him in the face because of his experience with Sony. Michael always felt that way. I'm old enough to remember that. That's why I get a little irked with people--especially Black people--who has this attitude that Michael 'left home and didn't come back home until he needs us'. Or other nonsense such as "right message; but WRONG messenger"--which many of our people were spewing out against Michael during that Sony ruckus.

Second of all, Michael's 'Blackness' was never really questioned UNTIL he got extremly popular with Thriller-mania and crossed over. Then Black people started making snide remarks questioning his Black awareness and his sensibilities of 'the struggle'. I remember it when it was yesterday. This was during the 80's when Michael was still a brown-skinned brotha with no trace of lightness and certainly when the thought of accusing him of pedophilia was never even mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Jackson--he was considered a harmless lovable Peter Pan or Pide Piper.

Michael's black awareness being doubted or questioned by our people is not new nor did it began or end with him. That mess always happens to our entertainers who are able to appeal to not only Blacks but Whites and other races too. Whitney Houston got 'the treatment' from some of us too when she got mainstream appeal.

Thirdly, in that Ebony interview, Michael Jackson said he had no comment not only regarding Barak Obama running for president, but also regarding Hillary Clinton also (she's white isn't she?) He made a valid point as to why--regardless of whether anyone agrees with him or not--All of the world's problems that are happening are TOO MUCH for mere humans to solve or to handle. If that wasn't the case, considering the various governments and regiments and people in power that have come during these hundreds and even thousands of years, we still have wars, hunger, poverty, sickness AND no peace. If people were had the ability to rid the earth of such things, WHY are things ills still plaguing out earth? Like I said, whether people agree with him or not, call it a cop out if you want there's strong in your face evidence what he said has merit.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Time for me to go off topic since people love to argue:

The Beast
Warning: explicit lyrics

Warn the town, the beast is loose
(A-AH, A-AH! Word 'em up, yo)
Warn the town, the beast is loose
(A-AH, A-AH! Come on...)

(Lauryn)
Conflicts with night sticks
Illegal sales districts
Hand-picked lunatics keep poli-TRICK-cians rich
Heretics push narcoctics amidst its risks and frisks
Cool cliques hit bricks but seldom hit targets
Private-DIC sells hits, like porno flicks do chicks
The 666 cut W.I.C. like Newt Gingrich SUCKS ****

(Wyclef)
Meanwhile the government brings Star Wars from glocks to glockers
C.O.P. has an APB out on Chewbacca
Mista Mayor, can I say something in your honor
Yesterday in Central Park they got the Jogger
Okay, okay
Let's get the confusion straight in ghetto Gotham
The man behind the mask you thought was Batman is Bill Clinton
Who soon retire, the roof is on fire
Connie Chung brung the bomb as it comes from Oklahoma
Things are getting serious, Kumbaya
On a mountain Satan offered me, Manhattan help me Jah Jah

(Wyclef)
You can't search me without probable cause
On that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion
Listen I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction
You planted seeds in my seat when I wasn't looking
Now they wanna ask me for my license/registration
"WHAT THE F**K" is my name?
"WHAT THE F**K" is my occupation?
Well I'm an emcee, I'm down with the Fugees
Mother Mary caught a flashback like Rodney now the cops got Lolly

(Lauryn)
The subconscious psychology that you use against me
If I lose control will send me to the penetentiary
Such as Alcatraz, or shot up like El-Hadj Malik Shabazz
High class get bypassed while my ass get harassed
And the fuzz treat bruhs like they manhood never was
And if you too powerful, you get bugged like Peter Tosh and Marley was
And my word does nothing against the Feds
So my eyes stay red as I chase crazy baldheads, word up

(Chorus)
Warn the town, the beast is loose (Ah-AH, Ah-AH! Word 'em up, yo)
Warn the town, the beast is loose (Ah-AH, Ah-AH!)

(Wyclef)
The chase is on and I feel like the bad guy
Fifth gear 125 like New Jersey drive
Looked in my rear view mirror
Police was gettin' closer
Heard a roar in the sky
Looked up and saw the Blue Thunder
My inner conscious says throw your handkerchief and surrender
But TO WHO?
The star-spangled banner
Oh say can't you see cops more crooked than we?
By the dawn's early light robbin' n****s for kis
Easy low key crooked military
Pay taxes out my ass but they still harass me

(Pras)
The streets of corruption got me bustlin' and cussin' in this concrete jungle
Thoughts being dribbled like that tall kid Mutumbo
Handled by Hannibal
Soon I'm gonna be a fugitive like Dr. Kimble

(Wyclef)
Hey yo should I slow down?

(Pras)
Nah kid, go faster
'Cause even with a badge, they can still be impostors
Probable cause, got flaws like dirty draws
Meet me at the corner store so we can start the street wars

(Chorus)
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

I think most things have been said. To answer the question I think MJ is socially aware and it comes from a genuine place, $300 million is hardly playin around. The brother has contributed.

I totally agree with what Katie says, and it's an unpopular view with fans and I can see that side of it. Socially aware yes but Michael plays the game and has played the game when it comes to his image.

Personally, I looked at Michael up on that bus and thought it was a bit too late in the piece to start protesting now. Like Katie says, you gonna protest when the chips are down or protest when you are the KOP. In the late 80s early 90s that was a pretty good time to be MikeJack wasn't it? So where was the talks then? Where was the truth then? Why wasn't he telling arenas not to "walk out of here and forget". Well it's simple, he played the game, dude needs longevity, who wants to be a Bono right? Why turn yourself into a flight risk so you get shut down.

So yeah he will go the Clinton thing when he is the star of the show, he'll go to the White House when he is a black man getting his awards and praise. But he isn't going to request any meetings and use his unprecendented global fame to help Africa. No, MJ don't talk politics because then the media, the fans, the world and box him and his success is that he cannot be boxed.

The last thing i will say is, obviously the trial killed any plans he had but in more recent times MJ, in my opinion, has talked the talk but no action. He doesn't wanna turn into that guy...and i hope he does goto Africa and start showing how much it means to him.

(Imma get mah head bit off)
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

MJ was awarded by an African group in 2003 for his contribution to charity for Africa.
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

quote]by 2001 the world thought of him as a pedophile [/quote]


Quote:

I think the world had pretty much forgotten about the allegations of 93 in 2001 until the new sh!t hit the fan in after the Bashir interview 2003.
Sorry a bit ot but I had to say it.
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No, you took the words right out of my mouth; its the truth - The world did not think of him as a pedophile in 2001. That was the whole probelem. The plan had failed! The purpose of having the INSURANCE cover that matter was served in terms of removing that mess from public consciousness and so did his 'other' PR moves - by 2001 Michael had moved on and so did the world.


enlightenu said:
First of all Michael Jackson as far back when he was with the Jacksons during the mid to late 70's and early eighties BEFORE he ever made mega-stardom with Thriller, always talked about his Black heritage, his Black pride, racism as well as Black entertainers before his time failed to get the recognition they deserved. What he said at that press conference with Al Sharpton was not new nor was it some new revelation slapping him in the face because of his experience with Sony. Michael always felt that way. I'm old enough to remember that. That's why I get a little irked with people--especially Black people--who has this attitude that Michael 'left home and didn't come back home until he needs us'. Or other nonsense such as "right message; but WRONG messenger"--which many of our people were spewing out against Michael during that Sony ruckus.

Second of all, Michael's 'Blackness' was never really questioned UNTIL he got extremly popular with Thriller-mania and crossed over. Then Black people started making snide remarks questioning his Black awareness and his sensibilities of 'the struggle'. I remember it when it was yesterday. This was during the 80's when Michael was still a brown-skinned brotha with no trace of lightness and certainly when the thought of accusing him of pedophilia was never even mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Jackson--he was considered a harmless lovable Peter Pan or Pide Piper.

Michael's black awareness being doubted or questioned by our people is not new nor did it began or end with him. That mess always happens to our entertainers who are able to appeal to not only Blacks but Whites and other races too. Whitney Houston got 'the treatment' from some of us too when she got mainstream appeal.

Thirdly, in that Ebony interview, Michael Jackson said he had no comment not only regarding Barak Obama running for president, but also regarding Hillary Clinton also (she's white isn't she?) He made a valid point as to why--regardless of whether anyone agrees with him or not--All of the world's problems that are happening are TOO MUCH for mere humans to solve or to handle. If that wasn't the case, considering the various governments and regiments and people in power that have come during these hundreds and even thousands of years, we still have wars, hunger, poverty, sickness AND no peace. If people were had the ability to rid the earth of such things, WHY are things ills still plaguing out earth? Like I said, whether people agree with him or not, call it a cop out if you want there's strong in your face evidence what he said has merit.
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Thank you! Very true! And for the moment I'd forgotten about the fact that back in the day he certainly did often mention the way the great African American artists were abused by the music industry. That is an excellent point. I also feel that when it impacted him as personally as it did he became motivated to do the things that he otherwise might not have. Everything in this post is so very well stated - thank you very much!

As far as this "Barak" question - I find it fascinating that some people are so upset that Michael didn't support their personal politcal agenda. That is very interesting to me and I do not understand that sense of entitlement while not being willing to allow Michael the same entitlement to his own freedom of speech and freedom of choice.

Michael was exercising his own personal civil/religious/human right not to comment on that and he explained in his own words that in the religion of his upbringing he learned that until God's kingdom comes, and God's will is DONE on earth, as it is in Heaven, the world will still be under satanic influence - even if the prices of medicine and gasoline DO come down or whatever else are the problems of the day - there will be old age and death until God fixes it, meanwhile MJ chooses what he's going to care for as much as he can - this ought to tell people that he is committed to God as a personal value deep within whether he continues with the rituals, practices and chapter&verse doctrines of the religion of his upbringing - or not - and that he does his part to making this world a better place, regardless to what the "candidates" are (saying they're) going to do.

didn't he perform at clinton's inaug?
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Just because he sang at Clinton's inaugural does not mean he's going to fulfill some peoples' fantasies that he'd begin waving banners for all the democrats of America.

didn't he hang out w/ nasty ass ronald r?
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No. Regan was the President at the time that Michael was at the center of the world's attention and Ragen (imho) used it as an opportunity to 'enhance' his wife's 'anti-drug' agenda while at the same time commend Michael for his positive contribution and influence on youth in our society and did it very publicly.

NO, I don't believe they went to the movies, Disneyland or the arcade together..
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

rickd said:
I think most things have been said. To answer the question I think MJ is socially aware and it comes from a genuine place, $300 million is hardly playin around. The brother has contributed.

I totally agree with what Katie says, and it's an unpopular view with fans and I can see that side of it. Socially aware yes but Michael plays the game and has played the game when it comes to his image.

Personally, I looked at Michael up on that bus and thought it was a bit too late in the piece to start protesting now. Like Katie says, you gonna protest when the chips are down or protest when you are the KOP. In the late 80s early 90s that was a pretty good time to be MikeJack wasn't it? So where was the talks then? Where was the truth then? Why wasn't he telling arenas not to "walk out of here and forget". Well it's simple, he played the game, dude needs longevity, who wants to be a Bono right? Why turn yourself into a flight risk so you get shut down.

So yeah he will go the Clinton thing when he is the star of the show, he'll go to the White House when he is a black man getting his awards and praise. But he isn't going to request any meetings and use his unprecendented global fame to help Africa. No, MJ don't talk politics because then the media, the fans, the world and box him and his success is that he cannot be boxed.

The last thing i will say is, obviously the trial killed any plans he had but in more recent times MJ, in my opinion, has talked the talk but no action. He doesn't wanna turn into that guy...and i hope he does goto Africa and start showing how much it means to him.

(Imma get mah head bit off)
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I'm not gonna bite cha head off. But I will disagree. What's with this 'he never tried to help Africa' or 'he don't go to Africa' business? as someone said earlier, Michael was crowned an honorary King in Africa back in 1992 and that was amidst false rumors that tried to make him look like a snob when he was visiting there. What was the purpose in creating those rumors I wonder? Hmmmm! He visited an orphanages and donated to that orphanage I believe. Ebony and Jet magazine were the only media that were invited to accompany Michael and his team to Africa--which was a good thing because the media was trying to turn his trip into a public-relations disaster AND some of the ill-informed Black media fell for it too. When Ebony and Jet did a full cover story on Michael's trip, many people who had so much criticsism didn't say a word after that. Michael Jackson was welcomed with open arms in the land of his ancestors--full-blooded Africans who know their tribes and heritage first hand. Many of us here in the States (including myself) have no idea what African tribe we descended from and some of us have the nerve to throw a 'Blacker than thou' attitude towards Michael Jackson because he doesn't show enough(to our satisfaction) how 'down' he is with his people?

And Michael Jackson has been to Africa MANY times--during the Afro era and during the Jheri Curl era and down through the lace-front era. One time he and his family went to an African country--were he was being honored and Lisa Marie and her two kids were with him--after she filed for divorce by the way. Over the years some of his trips were caught by the media, others trips were not. Same thing with his charity work. Michael Jackson has always contributed to Africa and also to many causes for African Americans, he just doesn't ALWAYS feel the need to SHOW and PROVE that he does to appease those who say 'What did he ever do for his people?'

If there are Blacks that need to be questioned on their solidarity with their people, it's the ones who make babies and abandon them; those who profit from the destruction of their community by selling drugs and using and recruiting our young and impressionable ones to follow in their footsteps--and not being honest with them about how their lives would be messed up if they took up with that lifestyle; those-through their attitudes and actions--make a mockery of the struggles, sacrifices and persecution generations of our people before us went through just to get a good education and to be considered just as good and equal; those, who despite the painful history behind the 'N word will call each other the N word and make lame allowances for it (so what if it's with a 'gga'!) as well as calling and referring to their women as 'b**ch's and 'ho's-whether on the street, amidst four walls or in a song where other races hear it and wonder why they can't say it if we say it. Those are the Blacks that should be questioned about their Black pride and their Black awareness--not Michael Jackson.

Also no matter WHEN Michael Jackson made a protest--especially during and after the Thriller hype--it would still garner some flack and even snickers from people--sadly including some of our own. Why? 'Cause that's how peeps are!
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

rickd said:
I think most things have been said. To answer the question I think MJ is socially aware and it comes from a genuine place, $300 million is hardly playin around. The brother has contributed.

I totally agree with what Katie says, and it's an unpopular view with fans and I can see that side of it. Socially aware yes but Michael plays the game and has played the game when it comes to his image.

Personally, I looked at Michael up on that bus and thought it was a bit too late in the piece to start protesting now. Like Katie says, you gonna protest when the chips are down or protest when you are the KOP. In the late 80s early 90s that was a pretty good time to be MikeJack wasn't it? So where was the talks then? Where was the truth then? Why wasn't he telling arenas not to "walk out of here and forget". Well it's simple, he played the game, dude needs longevity, who wants to be a Bono right? Why turn yourself into a flight risk so you get shut down.

So yeah he will go the Clinton thing when he is the star of the show, he'll go to the White House when he is a black man getting his awards and praise. But he isn't going to request any meetings and use his unprecendented global fame to help Africa. No, MJ don't talk politics because then the media, the fans, the world and box him and his success is that he cannot be boxed.

The last thing i will say is, obviously the trial killed any plans he had but in more recent times MJ, in my opinion, has talked the talk but no action. He doesn't wanna turn into that guy...and i hope he does goto Africa and start showing how much it means to him.

(Imma get mah head bit off)
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:yes: But I think everyone knows Mike is socially aware. He did donate to nearly 40 charitable foundations and ish. But I agree that if he wanted, he could do more. I think a lot of issues have gotten in the way of him actually doing what he's talked about for years but was too busy with professional aspects to really pay attention.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

I could say the one song Mike was showing his "black awareness" was "The Young Folks" but that seemed to be about, as James Brown said, "long-hair Whites and Afro Blacks".

The Young Folks

You better make way for the young folks
Here we come (here we come)
And we're so alive
We're here for business, buddy
And don't want no jive (don't want no jive)
Brighter tomorrows are in our eyes

You better make way for the young folks, ooh yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
We say "yes" (we say "yes") and you say "no"
We ask you why and you close the door (and you close the door)
Well, my friend, I thought you knew by now, yeah
You can't do that to the young folks, oh no-no, no-no

You might not like it but I gotta tell you
(You may not like it but I gotta tell you)
I gotta tell you, oh yeah-yeah-yeah

You better make way for the young folks, ooh yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
We're marching with signs, we're standing in line, yeah, yeah
Protesting your right to turn out the lights in our lives

Here's the deal (here's the deal)
Accept it if you will
We're coming on strong, yeah (coming on strong)
It's our time to live (our time to live)
My friend, I thought you knew by now yeah
You better make way for the young folks
Ooh yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah

You may not like it but I gotta tell you
(You may not like it but I gotta tell you)
Oh yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah

You better make way
You better make way
You gotta make way for the young folks, yeah, yeah
Ah!
Ah!
Yeah!
Ooooooh!

You may not like it but I gotta tell you, I gotta tell you
(You may not like it but I gotta tell you)
Oh now, now, now, you gotta make way
You gotta make way, you gotta make way for the young folks, yeah, yeah
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
(Fade)

(C) 1970 Motown Records, LP.

Also recorded a year earlier before the J5 by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

STATEofSHOCK said:
quote]by 2001 the world thought of him as a pedophile
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No, you took the words right out of my mouth; its the truth - The world did not think of him as a pedophile in 2001. That was the whole probelem. The plan had failed! The purpose of having the INSURANCE cover that matter was served in terms of removing that mess from public consciousness and so did his 'other' PR moves - by 2001 Michael had moved on and so did the world.



[/quote]

whoa u are so out of it...like totally. so the world thought of mj as a NORMAL person in 2001? r u serious? was this before or after his bus fun w/ the loudphone and the mattolla bashing? r u serious?

as for insurance, u act as if he wanted them to settle. he didn't want to...feldman knew that a simple 'negligence' was the best way to have someone OTHER THAN MJ pay the family off....he was right.

rickd, u get it....AS USUAL and timmy...more more more more

datsy...it doesn't matter what award he was given....actions again, speak louder than words. u can throw money at anyone and everyone, doesn't mean u feel strongly towards anything. he's a 'humanitarian' right?

by 2001 nothing faded from anyone's damn mind. they still made fun of him and still made references of him w/ kids. jokes taking the piss out of what he was doing. like speaking at oxford...about CHILDREN....haha mike jackson and children...or did we all forget about tht negative press?

funny, some fans have selective memories or would like to believe the world sees the way they do.

i could care less about who he 'votes' for or doesn't vote for or support...the fact is, since he's a 'humanitarian' shouldn't he back the best candidate that says they'll do the most for the world? performing at an inaguration does show some sort of support. it's not like he did it for the fun of it.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

whoa u are so out of it...like totally. so the world thought of mj as a NORMAL person in 2001? r u serious?
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- I didn't say the world thought of him as a 'normal' person - I said the world did not think of him as a pedophile - as a matter of fact, the people who presently claim to think of him that way, are using the (faulty) reasoning that it is because he was accused TWICE

- but, by 2001 no, maybe some people here & there did - but in terms of the collective consciousness of the public - the world had basically moved on - they may have been wondering what was up with all that, with a question mark in their minds about him, but since it was widely publicized that he desputed it - and since the heart of the world loved Michael since he was a boy bringing light and life to them - - nobody wanted to think that of him as a pedophile - so like the 'sheep' that the public are - they became easily destracted - there were other factors they focused on that gave the public an enigmatic sense of "weirdness" about him in general

the public focus became his two 'awkward' marraiges, whether they were stunts or what - his children - wondering whether they were his or not - his face - wondering how many surgeries he'd had - his alleged drug addiction(s) - his 'odd' choice of friends - wondering why he hangs out with people like Schmuly Boteach, Uri Geller, Liz Taylor - his music - why even though they liked Invincible it didn't seem to be off the chain in publicity - but no the world did not think of Michael Jackson AS a "pedophile" like you seem to would like to think and like some people claim to insist upon thinking (I don't believe they really believe that - I think they're just trying to justify their envy) even after he's been acquitted of BOTH allegations (Michael got a 2 in 1 strike thanks to 1108) - I'm not saying that NOBODY thought of him as that - I'm talking about what was in public consciousness about him - the fact that SOMEBODY (anybody) thought of him as that is obviously what "unfinished business" was all about - which was of course dealt with in 2005.

was this before or after his bus fun w/ the loudphone and the mattolla bashing? r u serious?
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Some people saw that as you did and some people saw that as I did but that's beside the point.

as for insurance, u act as if he wanted them to settle.
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I'm not 'acting' like anything - I'm pointing out to you that that is how it was handled - and that is all I said (although I will add that it wasn't as if Micahel "paid the boy off" like some people who like to hang on to this "pedophile" conversation also keep insinuating)

he didn't want to...feldman knew that a simple 'negligence' was the best way to have someone OTHER THAN MJ pay the family off....he was right
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Regardless to what Feldman CLAIMS was the reason, Insurance made the most sense, since MJ was NOT GUILTY and MONEY was ALL those people wanted.

by 2001 nothing faded from anyone's damn mind.
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There had been enough distractions created by 2001 that nobody was focused on 1993 and other things became the focus, and just as when you focus a camera - yes other things FADED into the background. It wasn't thought of in public consciousness again until the 2003 allegations and it was a good thing it was brought BACK to light - so it could give the 1993 accuser a chance to stand up for the (then) current (so-called) victim AND himself - BOTH of which he DECLINED - he just let that duck die - - - in the water - - floating on its belly.

they still made fun of him and still made references of him w/ kids.
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They spent more time talking about his face, his marraiges, his photographs, his friendship with Liz Taylor and stuff like that - only after the 2005 ACQUITTAL did SOME people insist on THINKING of him as a pedophile because that is what they wanted to think. They were holding on to their jokes and their prejudice for dear life.

jokes taking the piss out of what he was doing. like speaking at oxford...about CHILDREN....haha mike jackson and children...or did we all forget about tht negative press?
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Nobody is saying there wasn't "negative press" - but again, there had been far too many distractions created from 1993 to 2001 for anyone to be stuck on that.

funny, some fans have selective memories or would like to believe the world sees the way they do.
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Ya know, funny you say that because I was thinking the exact same thing - it amazes me how 'selective' memory can cause people to also become interestingly creative.

i could care less about who he 'votes' for or doesn't vote for or support...the fact is, since he's a 'humanitarian' shouldn't he back the best candidate that says they'll do the most for the world? performing at an inaguration does show some sort of support. it's not like he did it for the fun of it.
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It seems as though people, especially those who support Michael, ought to at the very least, be able to respect his personal freedoms.
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

Second of all, Michael's 'Blackness' was never really questioned UNTIL he got extremly popular with Thriller-mania and crossed over. Then Black people started making snide remarks questioning his Black awareness and his sensibilities of 'the struggle'. I remember it when it was yesterday. This was during the 80's when Michael was still a brown-skinned brotha with no trace of lightness and certainly when the thought of accusing him of pedophilia was never even mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Jackson--he was considered a harmless lovable Peter Pan or Pide Piper.

Michael's black awareness being doubted or questioned by our people is not new nor did it began or end with him. That mess always happens to our entertainers who are able to appeal to not only Blacks but Whites and other races too. Whitney Houston got 'the treatment' from some of us too when she got mainstream appeal.

Thirdly, in that Ebony interview, Michael Jackson said he had no comment not only regarding Barak Obama running for president, but also regarding Hillary Clinton also (she's white isn't she?) He made a valid point as to why--regardless of whether anyone agrees with him or not--All of the world's problems that are happening are TOO MUCH for mere humans to solve or to handle. If that wasn't the case, considering the various governments and regiments and people in power that have come during these hundreds and even thousands of years, we still have wars, hunger, poverty, sickness AND no peace. If people were had the ability to rid the earth of such things, WHY are things ills still plaguing out earth? Like I said, whether people agree with him or not, call it a cop out if you want there's strong in your face evidence what he said has merit
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Exactly!

Its not up to MJ or any other black celebrity to fix the problems within the black community. It is up to the black community as a whole. All celebrities can do is use their fame to inspire people to take action and contribute time and money to the cause and MJ has done that. AND any socially aware black celebrity knows that they can't be too vocal about their political views. The media is not having any of that.
 
Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

soso def said:
whoa u are so out of it...like totally. so the world thought of mj as a NORMAL person in 2001? r u serious? was this before or after his bus fun w/ the loudphone and the mattolla bashing? r u serious?

as for insurance, u act as if he wanted them to settle. he didn't want to...feldman knew that a simple 'negligence' was the best way to have someone OTHER THAN MJ pay the family off....he was right.

rickd, u get it....AS USUAL and timmy...more more more more

datsy...it doesn't matter what award he was given....actions again, speak louder than words. u can throw money at anyone and everyone, doesn't mean u feel strongly towards anything. he's a 'humanitarian' right?

by 2001 nothing faded from anyone's damn mind. they still made fun of him and still made references of him w/ kids. jokes taking the piss out of what he was doing. like speaking at oxford...about CHILDREN....haha mike jackson and children...or did we all forget about tht negative press?

funny, some fans have selective memories or would like to believe the world sees the way they do.

i could care less about who he 'votes' for or doesn't vote for or support...the fact is, since he's a 'humanitarian' shouldn't he back the best candidate that says they'll do the most for the world? performing at an inaguration does show some sort of support. it's not like he did it for the fun of it.
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I think the real reason why Mike did what he did in 2002 because he was frustrated with what he thought was the doing of Tommy Mottola. He wasn't really doing it for other artists but for the sake of his own career and the way his album was promoted at the time. Plus he felt Tommy disrespected him in a way that he didn't think anyone should disrespect the "King of Pop" so that's when he went on the defense. Al Sharpton & 'em got on his back initially then backed away after Mike called Tommy a racist, lol. People thought Mike lost his marbles then and they still think he's a couple of screws loose. There was no sense that he was deemed "normal" by the public...unless you mean the public is MJ fans, lol. Also Mike was never about politics anyway so in that sense, I don't think he's "socially aware" if we're talking about that. Awareness can mean a lot of different things.
 
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Re: is MJ a Socially aware Black Artist or not to you?

u do realize that even MANY fans don't realize insurance paid the family? there was NO WAY insurance would have paid UNLESS feldman changed the allegations to simple negligence. please don't think it was anything smart or savvy on mj's part...it was all feldman.

and yes, they saw him as a pedophile b/c this is the same man who went on PTL and said he would continue the sleep overs...the same guy who continued to be seen w/ kids (mainly the cascios) and the same dude who they felt was eccentric.

no one here is holding on the pedophile notion...it's just how he was seen. believe what u want but if reality and common sense are present, then parts of ur argument are just faulty.

he's socially aware but doesn't throw it out there like 'im proud to be black' cuz um...he doesn't exude it. u got india arie singing about her hair and the struggles black folks have been through just b/c of it, akon singing about and embracing africa, and common and mos def uplifting us and mike's singing about the break of dawn.

yes, the save the world songs that appear on every album might inspire but it doesn't resonate w/ me.....the line he sang in '2300 j st.' when he said he'd always find his way back home....kind of wishful thinking or song filler imo.

carry on
 
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