Jackson's Death Leaves a Void
Like so many others, I am still in shock over Michael’s Jackson’s death. Throughout the cosmos, the brightest stars often have the shortest life spans, so I have always suspected that we would only have Jackson for a relatively short period of time. Still, I, and so many others, feel a tremendous void now. His music was the soundtrack of our lives, and I identified with the loneliness of his crowded and over-booked existence, as well as the optimism he embodied in a world rife with pessimism and bitterness. His music comforted me. His success buoyed me, and his altruism, activism, and philanthropy uplifted me. No matter how confusing and dismal things got, his artistry, energy, work ethnic, artistic genius, and unsurpassed accomplishments were always there.
Even in the midst of scandal and his often eccentric and inexplicable behavior, much of the music he produced and the performances he rendered bordered on perfection. He was one of a kind, an original that will never grace the earth again, and even though I never met him, I miss him. He gave us 45 years of his brilliance. His impact on the music industry is mind boggling, and he single handedly changed the music video game. It was he who made MTV a household name. He was no doubt tired, however, after entertaining and uplifting millions for so long. I know that he is resting in a more forgiving place now, and I know that he is not alone. I salute you, Michael Jackson, and I thank you for the many gifts that you gave us. You were one of, if not the, greatest entertainer of all time, and your brilliance will echo through the ages.
Arizona Republic
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Arizona Informant
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker is an Associate Professor in the Department of History, and an Affiliate Faculty member of African and African American Studies and the Justice and Social Inquiry Program at Arizona State University in Tempe. He is also the CEO of The Whitaker Group, L.L.C., a consulting firm that specializes in diversity and human relations.