Written by Fang, 2021 Cohort
As we were looking into the BHM celebration in February, I decided to zoom in on one of my favourite black artists for my weekly entry. Maybe this piece will resonate with you, too.
When I was in middle school, I loved doing my homework while listening to classic English songs on tapes. One of the songs named “Heal the world” from Michael Jackson moved me deeply. The amazing melodies and passionate lyrics of that song made me believe that there was still hope in this world full of injustice and sins. However, Jackson’s personal life and behaviour drew much criticism, making him one of the most controversial stars in history.
Michael Jackson was born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana, U.S. He was the seventh child in his family, a music-loving family where he was nurtured in music since childhood. Michael had great talents in music and dance. Aside from 13 Grammy Awards and 26 American Music Awards, his singing is fresh and natural to me because he sang from the heart. Every time I watch Jackson’s videos on Youtube, I will be amazed at his unique and contagious performance. As the creator of the famous moonwalk routine, he brought black dance styles into the mainstream and also inspired people to dance.
Additionally, Michael Jackson had passion for public welfare and charity, and has held many charity activities, visited impoverished areas and refugees, and donated money. However, there has been a lot of negative news about him, from the moment he became famous until after his death. To be honest, I cannot tell what is right and what is wrong from all the news and rumours since I believe it’s very hard for us to know the truth.
Personally, I never chase stars since I think every star is flawed as a human being. Therefore, I can simply appreciate Michael Jackson’s marvellous artwork in music and dance as well as his generous contribution to philanthropy, despite lots of controversial public opinions about him.