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Gmahogany777 · (#1 (**permalink**))

LadyDay alluded to this somehwhat,in another thread.......

I am becoming increasingly incensed at a theme/narrative I've seen developing over the last few days, in both the mainstream media, and among some white people in general. The theme/narrative is: African-Americans are embracing Michael Jackson in death,after turning their backs on him in life, or why are African Americans embracing/claiming Michael Jackson when he was trying to be white? What's with that? Are they trying to Jimi Hendrix Mike? remove him from the Black tradition he came out of? Probably. To Michael's credit, unlike Hendrix,he always gave credit to/shined the light on James Brown/Jackie Wilson etc, and the tradition that produced/informed him. So it will be difficult to do. Plus, we're not having it.........

First of all, as you all should already know,cause I've said it before on other topics, I'm always annoyed when white people stick their noses in Black folks business. I'm not talking about white people who respectfully add their input on topics that pertain to AA's but know the limits/boundaries. I'm talking about the disrespectful, condescending, nosy a**, sh*t stirring,author of chaos,discord,confusion, I don't really give a damn about MJ or Black people, I just like to see ya'll at each other's throat, way it USUALLY manifests.

Second of all, the assertion is a flat out lie. Black folks supported the WHOLE Jackson family for YEARS, long before Thriller. Through the J-5 years, through Dancing Machine, Enjoy Yourself, Destiny,Heartbreak Hotel, Jermaine's first solo album, My Name is Jemaine,(my aunt had that,lol). After Thriller, Black radio STAYED playing MJ's music when mainstream,read white radio media had long before written Jackson off as a joke and worse. Plenty of regular Black folks bought Dangerous, Invincible, History,etc. Black rappers continued to mention MJ positively in their songs,work with him, as did the most current Black producers.

When Michael showed up at Black award shows he was ALWAYS received with love, and usually PANDEMONIUM, like when he unexpectedly showed up at the BET Awards when Mr. James Brown was being honored, a couple of years ago.

Even AFTER the sexual abuse allegations, most of us supported him, and many of us defended him, and refused to believe them.

No matter how pale or weird he was looking, we always treated him like the Michael we knew and loved. Just because someone has started to act in a way that take issue with, or you just can't mess with them in the same way you once did, or you don't cosign their behavior, doesn't mean you've turned your back on them or don't love them. If anything, the case can be made that Michael TRIED to distance himself from Black folks at certain points in time (and came back when it was expedient),of course it didn't work,it never does.......

That's why I was angry at MJ for a point in time, because to me he was putting himself in a position where his accomplishments/brilliance/legacy were going to dimished or flat out taken from him, and it's always smart to dance with the one that brung ya, as the old saying goes.

I don't feel that this recurring theme narrative is coincidental, and that's why I'm glad Sharpton jumped out the box ,ready, by making his initial statements at the Apollo when Michael passed. Sharpton already knew what was coming. That's why I dig him.