Michael Jackson was a true talent, a great dancer and singer who gave the world many years of incredible entertainment. Sadly, during his final years he became known more as a freak than as a musical talent. He changed his skin color, was charged with serious crimes and acted in a very bizarre manner. He surrounded himself with questionable characters and many of them are now trying to profit on his memory.
One person who seems most intent on making a profit is Michael’s father, Joe Jackson. At a BET awards ceremony, only three days after the death of his son, Joe Jackson used his time during a CNN interview to promote a new business venture. He was more intent on making money than in mourning for his son. His shameless self-promotion was not only inappropriate, it was totally classless.
In recent days, Joe Jackson has been appearing with the Reverend Al Sharpton, who tries to use every incident as an excuse to get media coverage. In this case, Sharpton has been very visible and is also trying to capitalize on Jackson’s death. Yesterday, at an event at the Apollo Theater in Harlem that was supposed to be focused on celebrating the music of Michael Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton was photographed grinding a woman on the dance floor. So, the memory of Michael Jackson is being tarnished by the horrific behavior of people like Reverend Sharpton and his own father.
The Jackson story will in the news for months as the media will dissect the issue of his children’s custody, his will and how his assets will be divided. This will be a media field day as erroneous reports will take up plenty of time on the airwaves.
What is the truth?
In the end, this is a story of a very talented artist who succumbed to the temptations of celebrity. He appeared to have abused prescription drugs, paid a settlement for allegations for inappropriately with children and led a weird existence.
His bizarre lifestyle and the inappropriate actions of those trying to profit from his death will tragically overwhelm any reflections on his career as an incredibly gifted artist. What America is now witnessing is a full blown media circus and the further tarnishing of Jackson’s memory.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
While any death is to be mourned, I also think that the death of Michael Jackson is being overdone. The man was blessed by a talent, used by many, including his own family, and then turned to a fantasy world through drugs and surgery to recapture the youth that he lost many years ago through the greed of some who used him. For that I sympathize with and for him but in death he is being made into an idol, a god. That is what is wrong with society today. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/2/2009
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what would you expect from Sharpton (or Jesse Jackson), who brought back Dollar Bill for another term and who helped Nagin get relected to continue to pursue his mission of a chocolate city. M Jackson was indeed talented, but the slugs surrounded him and fed off him and he sank to deep lows also. Written by Noladude
on 7/1/2009
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Michael Jackson was a true talent, a great dancer and singer who gave the world many years of incredible entertainment. Sadly, during his final years he became known more as a freak than as a musical talent. He changed his skin color, was charged with serious crimes and acted in a very bizarre manner. He surrounded himself with questionable characters and many of them are now trying to profit on his memory. 
