With due respect to ...

[blamebrampton]

... those of you who are mourning him, I am probably going to bite the next person who tells me that Michael Jackson was a revolutionary figure in the fight for equality by African Americans. I hasten to add that this has so far been three in real life and double the number of media foik: my flist has been a bastion of sanity.

Aesthetic irony aside, it belittles genuine revolutionary figures. And I am not even talking about political giants like Dr King; there were many entertainers who walked a far more difficult path earlier and with more grace and charity, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Sammy Davis Jnr and Nina Simone.

I'm all for people loving the heroes they choose, but I would love a bit of perspective at times like these. And perhaps a little sense of history.

Flistees who are just missing the singing and dancing, I apologise for intruding on your sad day. 

Comments

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

huh. really? i haven't seen posts like that [yet] and it's a bit surprising b/c i've never seen him as being revolutionary in terms of racial equality.

i DO think he was revolutionary in the field of pop music and dance though, and i'm mourning his loss for that. he was the first celebrity/musician i ever became a fan of, and i have tons of memories associated with his work from my primary, secondary and even post-secondary days. hell, some of my earliest memories [from when i was 3 or so] are associated with his music :/

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No, not posts, LJ people are being the sanest people. Mainstream news media, including the Washington Post, and some people at my publishing house, the ninnies.

And yes, pop music wise he was an important influence, public policy influence wise, not so much.

I was always more of a Joy Division girl ...

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

heh i was too young when joy division became popular and i somehow missed that bus even after growing up.

speaking of which, i should really read femme's h/d fic..