Michael Jackson, Black or White?

michael-jacksonT.jpg

News of Michael Jackson's death spread like wildfire across Africa and the world. But do Africans still consider the performer - who spent much of his life attempting to whiten his skin - as a black singer they can identify with?

What do you think?

Michael Jackson, from black to white

Posted on Youtube by Slinktaz9

“My father resents that Michael Jackson whitened his skin”

Papy Deme is an IT engineer in Dakar, Senegal

I'm a huge fan. Bad was the first album my parents got me. Invincible was the first one I bought with my own money.

Everyone here is talking about his death. I heard the news around midnight, a friend called me. My wife was told by text message.

My father resents the fact that Michael whitened his skin, but I don't. Naively, I thought he probably had some kind of medical problem. What I think now is that he was psychologically very fragile, despite his immense musical genius. People here still consider him as one of history's great black singers, though. Most of his greatest hits, like Thriller, date back to when he was still completely black.

In homage, Senegalese web users are spreading around a video of a Jackson 5 concert in Dakar, decades ago."


Posted on Youtube by afscene52
Papy's picture

Papy

  • Senegal
  • IT engineer

“He always tried to hide his blackitude, but at heart his music was black”

Hermann C is an advertiser in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

A friend told me about his death by text message last night. It came as a big surprise because nobody had told us that he was sick. Everybody is talking about it this morning in Abidjan. His music brought together several generations, it was timeless. His passing is a huge loss to the music world.

Michael always tried to hide his "blackitude", but at heart his music was black. What he did in his private life doesn't concern me, I don't judge him on that.

When I came into the office this morning, one of my colleagues greeted me with a white glove. This evening we'll play his CDs and throw a little party in his honour. Events have been organised all around Abidjan."

Hermann C's picture

Hermann C

  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Advertiser

“Like Obama, Michael Jackson helped Africans overcome their frustration”

Claude Akono is a radio journalist in Cameroon.

I heard about Michael Jackson's death when I got up this morning. My colleagues had been airing a special all night when I came in.

Michael Jackson was a model for people in Cameroon. I remember in the 1990's, a lot of young people dressed like him. Jackson look-alikes went on television all the time.

Like Obama, Michael Jackson helped black Americans overcome their frustration. After slavery, segregation, having such geniuses to look up to is a source of pride. Of course we discuss the fact that he whitened his skin, but we've gotten used to it. In any case, Michael Jackson sings soul, a kind of music that finds its roots in Africa. So we're very clear about the fact that he's a black singer.

We also talked, about his more questionable acts, of course. But for many, the scandal around his perversions was grossly overplayed by the Western media."

Claude Akono's picture

Claude Akono

  • Cameroon
  • Radio presenter and journalist

Michael Jackson parody: “Am I black or white?”

Posted on Youtube by Shavonnda07

Comments

Michael Jackson. Black or White ?

I believe Africans know of the rigours of racism and its effect. They should therefore understand that Michael Jackson image change came about because of his observance of how the black man is treated and accepted coupled with his father's allegedly negative comments and beatings of him over the years. He was a tormented soul. He wanted to be a perfectionist but he was already perfect. His looks, talent, etc. He 'just couldn't stop till he get enough.' He was driven to the extremeties and he went beyond.

I still love and accept you unconditionally Michael.

MGM

Unregistered user

Skin-problems :

My sister just told me, that Michael Jackson suffered from the same skin-problem she is suffering from : white stains on the darker skin, more and more whitening. My sister in law has the same, she looks like black and white, on the other way than Michael.
Why did they never explain this to all of us ?
Mickael Jackson had too many surgery to change his face, thats a fact, but he not not whiten his skin, or very little, just not to have these "stains" my sister and sister in law are suffering from.
I didn't know until a few days ago.
RIP Michael, we miss you already so much !

Unregistered user

MJ the King of Pop / the victim of racism / the pray of spongers

When I was a kid I heard MJ was forced to look more Whitish for showbiz.
It's statically proven that more whiter you are, the easier you get successful in North America.
Sadly the racism still exists in people's hearts even though the public hides it now.
In 70s and 80s, the racism would've been more obvious and omnipresent than now I guess and MJ for sure suffered from it as no exception and he got too insecure about his looks (not to mention his own dad picked on his nose), which made him think that he needed to do something about it to be loved and accepted.
Then he lost his way somewhere on the line but I think someone like shrinks or girlfriends or friends or even some kids could have saved him from loneliness, insecureness and body dysphoric disorder.
Looking at some interviews with him taken when he was in 20s surprised me for how sweet and kind he was. But he self-destucted because he was sooo fragile, sensitive, insecure and incredibly humble for his fame and talent and not tough enough to beat all the media/white-washed beauty (yet it became kinda global standard of beauty though) and I think searched for a hope in children who don't know about racism or what's right or wrong or what's beautiful or ugly.
And greedy parents of some kids sure as hell took advantage of his gentleness to swindle millions out of him.
MJ was outstandingly talented genius but he was only human with sensitive heart and insecureness just like everybody else.
I feel sad that he couldn't overcome his weakenss.

Unregistered user

Michael Jackson Color

We the Black know that Michael Had a disease that caused his color to change. We did not care that his color changed. He was still Michael Jackson and his heart was black. We did not judge him by the color of his skin but as a great black ICON.

Unregistered user

Honestly he looked like he

Honestly he looked like he was manufactured in China,slave labor no doubt.

Unregistered user

Well ding dong the king of

Well ding dong the king of Pedophilia is dead. I call him the king because paying a kid 30 million dollars not to file charges has to be a record.

I was never a fan of the king of grabbing his nuts and perfecting feminine sounds. I do feel sorry for his family they had to love him no matter what he did. All those years of picking up his nose and watching his skin change like the pantone color chart. Really it's amazing his father didn't have a heart attack first.

I read about a hundred posts on the event and it was about 50/50 between people that hated him and those that idolized him.

Well there ain't much to say. Karma caught up and grabbed him by the heart and squeezed...hard. Now Michael you got some splaining to do and this guy won't take money for a deal.

I'm sure I'll catch some flack for this one but so be it. Michael Jackson is dead and I don't give a rats ass. OhWooo chica bang chica dig...Ugg I'm dead. OhHoo, Oh Shit Honest God those kids fell on my dick I just tried to help the off it. Have you seen my nose?

Unregistered user

What about 72 virgin boys

What about 72 virgin boys .... in paradise???

Unregistered user

One less peadophile in the

One less peadophile in the world.

Unregistered user

reply

Must be one of of the uneducated white men on the planet.so uneducated he has'nt got a name even.ps remeber 13 counts of not guilty,i suppose, what will you know ,you are ignorant and uneducated .

Unregistered user

Being a filthy racist with a

Being a filthy racist with a poor argument will win you no points

Unregistered user

MICHEAL JACKSON, BLACK OR WHITE

bring us your proof if you indeed speak the truth

Unregistered user

I think a grown man sleeping

I think a grown man sleeping with little boys is enough?

Unregistered user

smallboys

Michael Jackson was proven not guilty by the court of Law. It appeared to me that you are saying that you are a grown man sleeping with little boys. Verify that statement. Oh WOW. Have you gone to court to prove that you are not guilty? Pick and choose your words.

Unregistered user

He did not whiten his skin - he suffered from vitiligo!!!

Michael did not try to whiten his skin, he suffered from a disease vitiligo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo

Unregistered user

MICHEAL JACKSON DEAD

DEATH, BE WORTH IT

When or where life started I know not
How and why it ends, confuses me more
Now I am here, alive, aware and fully conscious
This much I know, a nobody I wish not to be
For my existence I want registered too
So Death, be worth it

Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad
An impact on history all have made
Gandhi, Malcolm X, Sardauna and Mandela
Are some more in the Record Books II
Is it possible I could be next in queue?
Oh death, be worth it

What must I do to qualify?
Who must I see to know how?
Where must I go to certify?
Why must I be another passerby?
When would come this hidden time?
Please death, be worth it

To die unsung I do not want
A “Living Shmoo” I must not be
Dead within, coward without
Infamous, that’s not my league
Evil was their trade, so their end
Why death, be worth it

I want to be remembered, currencied
But all that glitters is usually not gold
At my burial let stand a million souls
Lamenting my passing to a greater beyond
And yet may it be known, here indeed lies a Man
Yes death, be worth it.

……By Poetic Tee (“Here, Take A Sip”)(C)2003 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

***************************************

BLACK OR WHITE, DOES IT MATTER NOW?
WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WAS THE BODY (MOONWALKING AND ALL).
WHAT TOUCHED US ALL WAS THE SOUL.
AND WHAT COLOR WAS IT, CAN ANYONE TELL US FOR SURE?
MICHEAL JACKSON CAME HUMAN AND LIVED IT.
IS HIS DEATH WORTH IT FOR HIS LIFE'S JOURNEY?
FROM THE POEM ABOVE, KINDLY JUDGE FOR YOURSELF .....tee2djay

Unregistered user

i understand it's very hard

i understand it's very hard 4 me to i never new about mike but when i saw him on the news and everywhere and hz pics and videos i waz like....................................................................................................................................
i missed alot to much not LITTLE TO MUCH TO MUCH

Unregistered user