Michael's triumphs greater than his trials
Rev. Al Sharpton/NNPA Columnist
Issue date: 7/5/09 Section: Cover
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(NNPA) - It was the mid-1970s. The nation was fresh off the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War was finally over and people began adjusting to a newly, fully integrated society. Blacks and Whites worked side by side, and women and minorities slowly but surely began to crack open that all too visible glass ceiling in triumphant ways.
As society progressed however, we waited - and yearned - for that one individual who could break the mold in mainstream pop culture and truly make it acceptable to not just speak of equality in all endeavors but transform it into an actuality. We awaited someone who defied racial impediments and institutional barriers, and could finally normalize African-Americans onto television sets and into living rooms across the country. That someone who possessed enough raw talent that even the most discriminatory of individuals could not help but respect and acknowledge his or her sheer gift.
Little did we know then that the youngest member of the Jackson 5 was about to revamp our complete social, political and entertainment structure in unfathomable ways, and in the process, reshape the perception of an entire race on the world stage.
I was a young teenager when I first met Michael. We were both blessed to have known the late great Godfather of soul James Brown, who, in many respects, was like a surrogate father to us both. Throughout the decades, we formed a close kinship that many may never be able to comprehend. During his 1984 Victory Tour, Michael and I began working together as I took on the role of his community relations director. In 2002, the King of Pop came to our National Action Network headquarters in Harlem, and he and I marched together to Sony Music along with hundreds of supporters as we fought for Michael's ownership of his own music catalogue. And during his tough trials and legal bouts throughout the years, I openly supported Michael - and that itself will never change.
I was one of the lucky few to have known this Apollo legend and bear witness to not only an exceptional career, but to a compassionate, determined, driven individual whose greatest qualities are often underscored. A man who dominated the charts with sales of some 50 million copies of his 'Thriller' album alone, but who never forgot his humble roots of Gary, Indiana. He was an incomparable artist, dancer and entertainer who dazzled audiences on every corner of the planet, and still created and participated in countless charities.
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