7:15 PM CST – On Flight 2287, Memphis to Houston
It’s 45 minutes before my 6:35pm flight, and I’m anxiously fiddling while standing in line for security at Memphis airport. TSA personnel suddenly begin looking tense and speaking into the collars of their shirts, in that way that makes you think they believe they’re being discrete but would probably be shot quickly in a spy film. They are suspiciously eyeing the gentleman in front of me, who is holding a little black device to his ear, an antennae conspicuously protruding 8 inches from the top, and frowning. Finally, one of the blue-uniformed officers approaches the man and asks him about the device. He looks up, points it towards him, me, and the rest of the security personnel and says incredulously “Michael Jackson just died.”
To say that Michael Jackson was a big part of my childhood would be an underwhelming statement. His creative journey spanned generations, genres, stereotypes, and racial boundaries. His position as a controversial figure made him a mainstay in the media and, especially, the tabloids. His music inspired and entertained millions and, for many, served as the acoustic backdrop for much of the last 20-30 years. He was the undisputed King of Pop, a living legend, and the inspiration for much of the music and talent created since he arrived on the scene. To see him go is to see a part of my inner child go with him.
All you have to do is listen to “Have You Seen My Childhood” and “Tabloid Junkie” to realize that this was a man who was very misunderstood, often ridiculed, and sadly villainized. I’ve already heard sentiments that “our kids are safer without him”, which sadden me indescribably – I don’t believe Michael was ever a malicious person, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that to be different is to provoke the full gamut of negative human reactions, from fear to hatred… and I’ll be the first to admit that he was certainly different. Regardless, the fact remains that Michael Jackson enriched our lives, and did so with a zeal, charm, and naivete that the world may only witness once in a lifetime.
As I sit here on my flight listening to the haunting tones of “Little Susie”, I can’t help but wonder about Michael as one of the most interesting social experiments of the century. He is purely a product of modern society, a life spent in an inescapable limelight from an early age, and a society which simultaneously loved him and loved to hate him. He was a modern superhero, not in the traditional sense, but more a la The Watchmen. As someone who gave himself over fully to the world through his creative pursuits – as a prolific singer, a masterful dancer, and someone who basically invented the modern music video – his success ultimately turned on him, taking its toll mentally, physically, and financially. In the end, it would appear Michael gave up his childhood to entertain millions of ours.
Whether or not that’s a trade he’d make again, I guess we’ll never know. Either way, we thank you Michael – you will be missed.
/eh
“People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
For the Childhood
I've never known...”
‘Childhood’ – Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009)
It’s 45 minutes before my 6:35pm flight, and I’m anxiously fiddling while standing in line for security at Memphis airport. TSA personnel suddenly begin looking tense and speaking into the collars of their shirts, in that way that makes you think they believe they’re being discrete but would probably be shot quickly in a spy film. They are suspiciously eyeing the gentleman in front of me, who is holding a little black device to his ear, an antennae conspicuously protruding 8 inches from the top, and frowning. Finally, one of the blue-uniformed officers approaches the man and asks him about the device. He looks up, points it towards him, me, and the rest of the security personnel and says incredulously “Michael Jackson just died.”
To say that Michael Jackson was a big part of my childhood would be an underwhelming statement. His creative journey spanned generations, genres, stereotypes, and racial boundaries. His position as a controversial figure made him a mainstay in the media and, especially, the tabloids. His music inspired and entertained millions and, for many, served as the acoustic backdrop for much of the last 20-30 years. He was the undisputed King of Pop, a living legend, and the inspiration for much of the music and talent created since he arrived on the scene. To see him go is to see a part of my inner child go with him.All you have to do is listen to “Have You Seen My Childhood” and “Tabloid Junkie” to realize that this was a man who was very misunderstood, often ridiculed, and sadly villainized. I’ve already heard sentiments that “our kids are safer without him”, which sadden me indescribably – I don’t believe Michael was ever a malicious person, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that to be different is to provoke the full gamut of negative human reactions, from fear to hatred… and I’ll be the first to admit that he was certainly different. Regardless, the fact remains that Michael Jackson enriched our lives, and did so with a zeal, charm, and naivete that the world may only witness once in a lifetime.
As I sit here on my flight listening to the haunting tones of “Little Susie”, I can’t help but wonder about Michael as one of the most interesting social experiments of the century. He is purely a product of modern society, a life spent in an inescapable limelight from an early age, and a society which simultaneously loved him and loved to hate him. He was a modern superhero, not in the traditional sense, but more a la The Watchmen. As someone who gave himself over fully to the world through his creative pursuits – as a prolific singer, a masterful dancer, and someone who basically invented the modern music video – his success ultimately turned on him, taking its toll mentally, physically, and financially. In the end, it would appear Michael gave up his childhood to entertain millions of ours.
Whether or not that’s a trade he’d make again, I guess we’ll never know. Either way, we thank you Michael – you will be missed.
/eh
“People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
For the Childhood
I've never known...”
‘Childhood’ – Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009)
