December 28 - Spike Lee released the official music video for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" yesterday on his website, 40acres.com. The video prominently features Michael Jackson's childhood home in Gary, Indiana, a blue-collar town in the midwest, where the Jackson family lived until their music career started to take off.
"I don't think one can truly understand what Mr. Joe Jackson and Mrs. Katherine Jackson did until you see this home -- a very humble home, three-bedroom house," explains Lee, referring to the fact that the Jacksons raised nine children and started the family's entertainment career in this modest home. Michael Jackson lived in Gary until he was 11 years old. The Jackson 5 and Joe Jackson first moved to Los Angeles in 1969, with the rest of the family following in 1970.
Gary, Indiana has become synonymous with Michael Jackson. Ever since the Jackson 5 became famous in the early 1970s, they put Gary, Indiana on the map. Spike Lee says he hopes the home is turned into a national monument because "it shows you the humble roots which the greatest family in entertainment ever arose from" which will inspire other people to follow their dreams.
Watch Spike Lee and others talking about Gary, Indiana below
The Jacksons released an album and song called "2300 Jackson Street" in 1989 paying tribute to their childhood roots. All of the Jackson siblings, except La Toya who was estranged from the family at the time, appear on the song. The album cover features the Jackson Brothers (Tito, Jackie, Randy and Jermaine) standing in front of their former Gary, Indiana home.
Watch the "This Is It" music video
Related articles:
Michael Jackson famous sites and locations in Hollywood and Los Angeles
Michael Jackson preserved in Madame Tussauds wax museums around the world (photos)
Famous photographer shares exclusive photos of Michael Jackson at Neverland Ranch
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Comments
I'm really excited to watch it..
Lets see how humble MJ's former hause is..
MJ really did come from humble beginnings...I visited his home in Gary a few months ago and it's so tiny hard to believe so many of them lived in it.
Marlon was NOT in 2300 Jackson Street. Guess you never watched it! lol
great video, made me cry
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