Celebrating Life
Posted by Saint | Filed under Culture
Photo Credit: Kai Avent-deLeon
Music: Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
My mind is rambled right now with thoughts and words, but I’m going to figure how to arrange them coherently as I write this.
“The same sword they knight you, they gonna good night you with/sh*t, that’s only half if they like you/that ain’t even the half of what they might do/don’t believe me, ask Michael…”
These words would cross my mind as I read countless text messages and watched various media outlets report the news on Michael Jackson yesterday. I use the word “report” loosely, because it felt more like “promote.” It seemed like everyone was more concerned with being the first to report his death, than actually praying for him to pull it through. I can only imagine how it felt to be one of his immediate loved ones, wishing for him to fight his way back but knowing the world was stating otherwise.
I for one believe in the power of the universe. I want to believe otherwise. I tried to get friends and colleagues to pray for him and stop promoting his death when it hadn’t been confirmed, but the power of the media is overwhelming. Even when it was confirmed, I didn’t want to concur with reality. Even as I write this, I’m trying not to use the words “died,” “dead,” and/or “death.” But it’s hard not to, as I try to convey my thoughts on the matter.
I was left to wonder what is the fascination with death, when there is still so much to be understood about life. Could Michael have made it through if everyone was in good faith about the situation, instead of trying to pronounce him dead? Did we contribute to his death as his friends, family, fans, followers, etc.? and even the most controversial and skeptical of questions such as, did he really die?
After being overwhelmed with all this negative commentary and energy on the situation at hand. I would go on Twitter and share with my followers what I felt they were missing:
“I dont know what yall talkin bout, but the big homie is more alive today than he was yesterday….im celebrating LIFE”
The events of yesterday seemed to awaken a lot of people, including me, on the impact this man has had on the world and our lives individually. We would then proceed throughout the rest of the day blasting his catalogue of music out our apartment windows and cars, reminisce on when we did our first moonwalk, discuss his epic videos that felt like movies, and the countless boundaries he broke. The man was pop culture. Excuse me, he is Pop Culture.
Michael Jackson gave his generation, my generation and the generations to come many memories, countless lessons through his achievements, countless lessons through his mishaps, and a body of work to be studied and cherished for years to come. He was the extreme. Loved and respected as well as criticized and misunderstood. It would be an injustice for us to dwell on his death, when he lives on through us and his work.
So with that said, I’m celebrating life…We’re celebrating his life, for it’s just begun.
Michael Jackson
2009 – Infinity
Legends Never Die
“We Do This For The Culture”
Tags: Jay-Z, Kai Avent-deLeon, Lisa Marie Presley, Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson, Twitter