I’m a Black American; I am proud of my race…I am proud of who I am.
One of the items I unfortunately used to wonder about was the media’s assertion that Michael wanted to be white. Vindicatemj recently did a piece on this and it sparked a desire in me to put my two cents worth in.
When I first noticed Michael’s lightening skin color, I could think of no other explanation other than he chose to do that – although I could not imagine why – not when he was so handsome naturally. But, as is often the case, many people who change an aspect of their appearance do so because it really bothers them – even if it is something that seems insignificant, or sometimes even attractive to everyone else.
In 1991, when his ‘Black or White’ song came out I was puzzled by the rap line:
In 1991, when his ‘Black or White’ song came out I was puzzled by the rap line:
“I’m not gonna spend my life being a color”
It wasn’t one of the lines Michael sang – although he does lip synch to it with the kids in the short film as per the above picture. But was this his way of explaining why his skin was getting lighter?
Two years later, on the Oprah show, he would provide the first official explanation for what was going on – that he suffered from vitiligo. Oprah’s reaction confused me. At the time I admired her, even related to her in many ways and so set more store in what she had to say that what she deserved. She asked him about bleaching creams immediately after he stated he had vitiligo. I had no idea what vitiligo was back then.
Actually it was only after Michael died and I started my intensive ‘Michaeling’ that I first saw photos of him where his vitiligo blotches were evident. Hell, it was also the first time I saw other vitiligo victims as well and developed a sense of what this disease was all about.
Actually it was only after Michael died and I started my intensive ‘Michaeling’ that I first saw photos of him where his vitiligo blotches were evident. Hell, it was also the first time I saw other vitiligo victims as well and developed a sense of what this disease was all about.
A further two years on from the Oprah interview, Michael appeared with Lisa Marie Presley in an interview the couple gave to Diane Sawyer. Diane asked Michael about his changing appearance and Michael started to say how it was a result of nature. LMP interjected and said:
“And he is constantly re-modifying something, or changing it, or reconstructing it or, you know, working on some imperfection he thinks needs to be worked on. If he sees something he doesn't like he changes it. Period. He re-sculpted himself. He's an artist.”
LMP’s statement, however well intentioned, only served to add to my confusion. To me, it seemed like she was confirming the media’s claim that Michael chose to be white.
When I tried putting myself in Michael’s place I started to realize a couple of things I had not thought of previously. Michael could not fully share his distress over the vitiligo. Imagine if a black man started to complain bitterly about turning white! Instead, he did the only thing he could; proceeding with his career and humanitarian goals in his focused and driven way.
During one of my Michaeling sessions I came across this very significant photo.
Here Michael is getting made up on the Thriller set – his most successful short film ever – and the skin underneath is lighter than that which is being applied or removed!
Here Michael is getting made up on the Thriller set – his most successful short film ever – and the skin underneath is lighter than that which is being applied or removed!
To me, most revealing of all concerns his children. Now I know there are some who are quick to label the MJ3 as ‘white’ kids but I disagree. Below is yet another example of an African American man and a white woman having a child together. Walker, the son of TV actor Taye Diggs and stage actress Idina Menzel looks quite similar to baby Prince Jackson don’t you think?
Some like to cite the fact that Michael married and had children with white women as evidence he didn’t like black women. Further examination of Michael’s attitude towards motherhood reveals no such bias. If anything, one could argue that he preferred black women to mother his children. We know that Michael left custody of his beloved children to his mother and, failing that, Diana Ross – two black women.
Whilst Michael did have multiple women on his nanny staff, Grace Rwaramba – seen below accompanying Michael and Paris
Most telling of all perhaps is who Paris
To my way of thinking, the fact that his little green eyed princess identifies with, and aspires to, these beautiful black women is proof that Michael is not a self hating racist.
His attitude would clearly have rubbed off on his daughter, who worships her Daddy, had he harbored any ill feelings towards his own race.
