When we find ourselves having produced one of the most

powerful and influential entertainment history leaders, it

is ironic we render ourselves silent in the face of

assault—not the assault of an industry, but the assault of

the mere idea that a man of African descent can be a master

of Black images and obtain massive wealth in the process.

Michael Jackson is a smokescreen in a continuous media

machine to reduce our image to the distortion normally

displayed by the news media. Michael has taken the Black

image and given it the dignity and prominence it had not

seen in years. (Forget about his current skin color:

Remember the African images in the “Remember The Time”

video, which was released during Black History Month?

Remember the multicultural focus and rage expressed in the

“Black or White” video?)

People have been mesmerized by the soap opera of

non-information. What is at fault is an industry created for

the development of mediocre talent, at best. What has not

been called into question—with the notable exception of the

Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP—is the lack of

journalistic responsibility in transmitting, for the most

part, tales of gossip.

Too often we forget that the aim of the mass media is to

influence public opinion. On the 6 o’clock news, we witness

a daily bloodletting of those of African descent being

sacrificed to maintain the image of purity.

The artist is involved in creative processes which fosters

independent thought and action. He or she is feared by those

who have no command of those processes.

Within Corporate America, the self-esteem, humanistic spirit

and aspirations of African-Americans are being controlled,

suppressed and altered every day. Too often, Black workers’

earnings are used as a barometer for others who are rewarded

when they surpass it.

With this in mind, the media assault against Michael Jackson

has created money to be spent, new personalities to be

quoted, and increases in audiences for tabloid TV shows and

rags that would not normally be doing this well in an

unstable economy. (I am reminded of the photographers that

nearly crushed the Jackson women while trying to get a shot

of the men during a 1984 “Victory Tour” press conference in

New York City.)

Why is it that these accusations have mostly been carried in

news pages, but when Jackson receives a standing ovation at

the recent NAACP Image Awards, it’s just a small item in the

entertainment sections?

Isn’t there a historical pattern of using Blacks to react to

a depressed economy? These accusations could have come years ago; so why have they come now, in the wake of urban

rebellions, the downsizing of Corporate America and the

general lackluster of today’s media events?

The problem is between those who control the creative

process and those who control the money. The latter would

rather destroy the former than co-exist.

MICHAEL JACKSON: VICTIM OF MEDIA MONEY MACHINE II

Jealousy is behind the Michael Jackson media assault.

Adults have removed a figure that has supplied three

generations of children with rhyme, lyric and image to cope

with the cynicism of adulthood. The children are the

victims, the psychological casualties of this mass media war

for power and of greed.

For an entire industry to react so singularly, so

irresponsibly, is frightening. Why? It was knowing the power

and enormous wealth of a 35-year-old man. Many are working

overtime to figure out how to tie up his money or get as

much of it as possible. This is particularly true of those

who not only have no clue to how the creative process works,

but openly resent those who obtain such power. Those who

can’t put the King in check knock all of the pieces off the

table.

However, we have a clue on the level of a mother’s

anguish—Katherine Jackson’s anguish—of watching her child

absorb such negative energy.

It is an indictment of the mass media that they have not

interviewed the mothers of every child who allegedly had a

negative interaction with Michael Jackson.

Where are the adults in this crisis? Where were they during

these alleged incidents? Why aren’t ALL the adults

undergoing the same media character assassination as is

Michael Jackson? If something did happen, then ALL the

adults are responsible.

If Michael Jackson is guilty of anything, it’s of not listening

to his one sincere guide—his mother, Katherine. She has

demonstrated the strength of the African mother. She has to,

because no entertainment family has had to endure the public

assault hers have.

It’s time for the African village to become loud, demanding

and supportive of our cultural contributors. We must never

be allowed to look back and see that we participated, by

omission, in the destruction of one of our greatest cultural

diplomats just because the media saw nothing happening of

note recently in Buckingham Palace!

As for Michael Jackson, he must purge those who are disloyal

to him in order to avoid a repeat of this situation.

He must also take his creative energy and channel it into

his art. It will only lead to his greatest work.

His creativity will lead to his healing. In the struggle,

any warrior must focus on his or her strengths. His or her

relationship to the village is to absorb, share and inspire.

This process ensures victory.