Meeting Michael Jackson/Jehovah's Witness primer

June 27, 9:37 AMCharlotte Episcopal ExaminerAngela Boatright-Spencer

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Grammy-winning singer/composer Richard L. Spencer, Jr. of the Winstons singing group was in his 20's when a young newcomer, Michael Jackson, appeared on the scene in the fall of 1969.  Michael was part of an act then called "The Jackson Family."  The Winstons' record, "Color Him Father," had just been declared a million seller, and the group was co-starring at the Uptown Theatre in Philadelphia with Junior Walker and the All Stars when Spencer met the Jacksons.

What comes to mind first when you remember Michael?

How professional he was for such a young man.  He handled himself so well. He had all the moves, the confidence that you need -- stage presence, it's called.  The other thing I noticed about [The Jackons]: they only had one set of uniforms. They didn't have a record out at that time,so they were not the stars that we know now.

What about Michael, personally, aside from his performance?

There was something about Michael that all of us noticed. I'm not sure what you would call it.  He seemed more honest and more authentic than the rest of his brothers and sisters.  He was the kind of kid you wanted to kind of protect -- the "little brother" thing.  When he and Germaine would come downstairs where we "stars" were, and ask if we wanted them to go across the street and get us some food, we most certainly would want Michael to do it, cause, first of all, he's going to bring your change back and he genuinely looked hungry.  Wasn't like he was trying to get ice cream or something.  

There was something else I remember about Michael: he liked to sit in your lap or get real close to you, which is kind of unusual for kids who don't know you.  He'd get right in your face with that smile you always see on television when he was a little boy. 

What  do you think that meant? Why did he need the closeness?

It was just the kind of person he was.  I don't think he was afraid of closeness to people. I don't think he hesitated to just give you himself.  He wasn't trying to present you with anything, just him.  He'd just get right up in your face and smile.  He wasn't trying to hustle you -- that was very obvious.  But everybody in the show just loved him...the oldtimers.  And Germaine, too, but Michael was the favorite.  He was my favorite.  I didn't pay much attention to kids at that time because I was still pretty much a kid myself, and just having left Carolina, I was kinda glad not to be around them 'cause I had a whole lot of brothers and sisters. [He is the oldest of 8.]  It's not like I hadn't been around children-groups, like the Five Stair Steps, 'cause before the record, I played orchestra in theatres as a sideman, and I was around the Five Stair Steps a lot...nice kids, talented.  But none of them stand out ...They were very talented, but I just don't remember them as I remember Michael.

I don't think he realized what a talent he was, or how effective he was, especially with the children. They loved him, and he didn't seem to be that affected by it, maybe because he was only about 10 years old. [Jackson was born in 1958]

A lot has been said about abuse he suffered as a child; Michael himself has described being beaten by his father.  Did you see any evidence of mistreatment... did he seem unhappy?

Of course, I couldn't speak to what went on in private, with the family.  But when he came off stage, he was just another 10-year-old boy.  He played in the alley behind the theatre...cowboys and Indians..stuff like that.  The older boys, of course, were chasing the girls, but Michael and the other boys wre running up and down the alley playing ball. After a couple of days, a lot of the kids who were coming to the shows would come around in the alley and join them.  They were the opening act, so they had a lot of time on their hands.  They'd do their little ten minutes then, while the rest of the show was going on, they'd go around back and play.  

Michael and his family were Jehovah's Witnesses.*  Did their religion influence the way they approached show business?

I didn't see it, but I heard that before they performed, they had to go out and hand out the booklet...

They went out in the audience?

No, in the neighborhood.  It may have just been talk, but I heard that they went door-to-door, the family, giving out copies of the Watchtower.  I never saw them do it, though.  I think they were just very well trained by a very strict father and, from what I understood at the time, a very religious mother. She sat at the top of the stairs by the dressing room all day and never said a word. 

Did Michael ever talk to you about his religion?

No.  He was just a normal genius kid!

 * WHAT DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE?   Here is some information from the official website:

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Bible as the Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspired and historically accurate.  What is commonly called the New Testament they refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures, and the Old Testament they call the Hebrew Scriptures. They rely on both of these, the Gre  ek and the Hebrew Scriptures, and take them literally except where the expressions or settings obviously indicate that they are figurative or symbolic. They understand that many of the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled, others are in the course of fulfillment, and still others await fulfillment.

The Scriptural account that Jehovah's Witnesses draw on for their name is in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah's side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour."—Isaiah 43:10, 11, American Standard Version.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Almighty God, Jehovah, Creator of the heavens and the earth. The very existence of the intricately designed wonders in the universe surrounding us reasonably argues that a supremely intelligent and powerful Creator produced it all. Just as the works of men and women reflect their qualities, so do those of Jehovah God. The Bible tells us that "his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made." Also, without voice or words, "the heavens are declaring the glory of God."—Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-4.

Jehovah made the earth for a purpose, as he stated to the first human pair: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth . . . , have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28) Because they became disobedient, this couple failed to fill the earth with righteous families who would lovingly care for the earth and its plants and animals. But their failure does not make Jehovah's purpose fail.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the earth will remain forever and that all people, living and dead, who will fit in with Jehovah's purpose for a beautified, inhabited earth may live on it forever. All mankind inherited imperfection from Adam and Eve and, hence, are sinners. (Romans 5:12) The Bible tells us: "The wages sin pays is death." "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." "The soul that is sinning—it itself will die." (Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Ezekiel 18:4, 20) Then how can they live again to share in the earthly blessings? Only through the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus, for he said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life." "All those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."—John 5:28, 29; 11:25; Matthew 20:28.
 

For more information, please see The Watchtower.  The above quotations are excerpts from the official website.

 Related article: Death, near-death and Michael Jackson

 The author is married to Richard L. Spencer, Jr.