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Nothing Strange about Jackson? Rev. Al Sharpton’s memorial words
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Al Sharpton is a large hearted man, with a heart that's in the right place. He’s someone constantly on the stump for civil rights and ajustice, steadfastly evoking words of positive affirmation in regard to the African American community. At Michael Jackson’s memorial, he generously comforted Jackson’s children by telling them, “There weren't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with.” Which brought the crowd to their feet - it was a genuinely emotional moment, where a smart man skillfully displayed superb diplomacy.
But come on, back to reality.
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How far do Jackson’s apologists have to go before he starts to be put in line for sainthood? To say that there was nothing strange about the way Michael Jackson dealt with his upbringing, environment, pressures and contact with racial prejudice in America is absurd. It was strange how Michael dealt with it. Overwhelmingly strange. Let’s all check our reality meters before we start to float off to Neverland.
Strange. Which doesn’t mean Michael wasn’t also great. Which doesn’t mean he didn’t break down barriers and encourage and entertain and uplift millions of people, many of them African Americans.
But it’s getting to be a little bit like the Emperor’s new clothes here. Denying reality doesn’t do anyone any good, which Reverend Sharpton, a very intelligent man, surely knows. He used an historical moment to be gracious and healing, and no one can fault him for that.
Michael Jackson was great. Michael Jackson was strange. Both things. Get used to the dichotomy of it, get used to it not being black or white. Because that’s the reality of it.
(AP Photo - Rev. Sharpton speaks at Jackson memorial, July 7th, 2007)
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