Michael Jackson's parents blame racism

[tommer]

try the new BBC documentary Michael Jackson's Boys... here's the torrent

[DownOnRodeo]

Originally Posted by greatdarkwing

His parents need a clue and Michael needs to be hanged.

Hang the parents while you're at it. They created Frankenstein's monster!

[irishgrl]

THINK about it! his parents are crazy like FOXES! JURY SELECTION starts MONDAY! if his lawyers are as good at getting blacks on the jury as OJ's lawyers were. hes gonna WALK!!! Declaring "racism" now will get a knee jerk reaction out of the black population and any blacks on the jury will be bound and determined to let him GO....just like OJ. All I can say is, I hope the prosecution does a better job at presenting evidence than in OJ's trial...they had a slam dunk case and botched it anyway. Such a shame. IF he walks in the criminal trial, I hope the victims go the Civil Route the same way Nicole's parents did. Hit em in the pocket book....AND: since everyone thinks hes a nutcase anyway, he's going to be pretty much ostracized in the US, and he may as well move outside the US like daddy Joe sez. and GOOD RIDDANCE to him.

[HomerMcvie]

Tru Dat!! What she said!

[GateandGarden]

Maybe this is just where I live, but their desperate attempt seems to make a bit of a point to me. Of course it's ridiculous to say that the whole of America believes he is guilty because he's black (which, as y'all said, he hardly appears to be, but ) There are always going to be people out there who would've believed his insistence that he's innocent had he been born white. And some people do it unconsciously. They would never admit that they are more inclined to believe that he's guilty because he's black because that line of thinking is looked down upon. I know people down here who would be more likely to say that he really wouldn't harm a child if he was a white person. I've seen that that mindset is still a sad reality for some. So, I see where the parents are coming from in a sense, but to declare that all of America subscribes to that prejudice is preposterous to me.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Maybe this is just where I live, but their desperate attempt seems to make a bit of a point to me. Of course it's ridiculous to say that the whole of America believes he is guilty because he's black (which, as y'all said, he hardly appears to be, but ) There are always going to be people out there who would've believed his insistence that he's innocent had he been born white. And some people do it unconsciously. They would never admit that they are more inclined to believe that he's guilty because he's black because that line of thinking is looked down upon. I know people down here who would be more likely to say that he really wouldn't harm a child if he was a white person. I've seen that that mindset is still a sad reality for some. So, I see where the parents are coming from in a sense, but to declare that all of America subscribes to that prejudice is preposterous to me.

The FIRST time allegations surfaced, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I figured it was some fortune hunter trying to attack a vulnerable man. I DID think it was weird that the boy was able to accurately describe Michael's penis but I thought for sure if it went to trial he would be exonerated. HOWEVER: he bought that family's silence and THAT made me wonder. Now, allegations are surfacing AGAIN, and after all the physical evidence that turned up, the matching fingerprints (boy's AND Michael's) on the semen-sticky pages of porno mags, the oh-so-weird "panic room" cameras recording from various rooms (why? unless to spy on his "guests") and on and on. Nosir, for me, it has nothing to do with color and everything to do with the fact that this person seems to have an unnatural attraction to little boys. White men are just as likely to prey on children as any other man. Pedophilia cares not a whit for a person's skin. He needs help and he needs to quit being in denial. and Daddy Joe probably bears the most blame for the way Michael turned out. By all accounts, he was an incredibly abusive man and it could be that during the trial Joe's past behavior will come out as well. I feel sorry for his mom, tho, because she gets the double whammy if my suspicions are right...

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

The FIRST time allegations surfaced, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I figured it was some fortune hunter trying to attack a vulnerable man. I DID think it was weird that the boy was able to accurately describe Michael's penis but I thought for sure if it went to trial he would be exonerated. HOWEVER: he bought that family's silence and THAT made me wonder. Now, allegations are surfacing AGAIN, and after all the physical evidence that turned up, the matching fingerprints (boy's AND Michael's) on the semen-sticky pages of porno mags, the oh-so-weird "panic room" cameras recording from various rooms (why? unless to spy on his "guests") and on and on. Nosir, for me, it has nothing to do with color and everything to do with the fact that this person seems to have an unnatural attraction to little boys. White men are just as likely to prey on children as any other man. Pedophilia cares not a whit for a person's skin...

Of course. You're clear-minded and have a more accurate idea of what's going on than lots of the narrow-minded rednecks I've run across who will pin anything on the black guy before they'll venture to pin it on a white guy. I think all of us on here know how horrible that is. Your logic and reasoning don't do much for some people who will never learn. Are there even enough of those people to warrant Jackson's parents making that comment? I don't know; I certainly hope not.

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Of course. You're clear-minded and have a more accurate idea of what's going on than lots of the narrow-minded rednecks I've run across who will pin anything on the black guy before they'll venture to pin it on a white guy. I think all of us on here know how horrible that is. Your logic and reasoning don't do much for some people who will never learn. Are there even enough of those people to warrant Jackson's parents making that comment? I don't know; I certainly hope not.

I grew up in a metropolitan area and actually I was the minority for most of my life. I was even the victim of reverse racism at one point so I have some sympathy for the oppressed. In addition, I am female so I know there is also that to contend with even tho our society has come a long way, I see warning signs all around that there is a push to return women to second class status...but back to the topic: I grew up listening to the Jackson 5, and later, Michael Jackson solo. I have tremendous respect for the man's talent (he is incredibly talented!) and I, along with everyone else, was very surprised when glimpses of his WEIRD behavior (Neverland? Bubbles the Chimp? a mask on his face? a GLOVE? and those marriages and his children, oh my...) became public. it seemed like he just got weirder and weirder. its too bad really...

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

I grew up in a metropolitan area and actually I was the minority for most of my life. I was even the victim of reverse racism at one point so I have some sympathy for the oppressed. In addition, I am female so I know there is also that to contend with even tho our society has come a long way, I see warning signs all around that there is a push to return women to second class status

I feel like I know what you mean. I sympathize with minorities in a general sense and I try so hard not to inadvertently say or do something offensive. Being gay has a way of humbling people I think, and I find myself spending more time considering how it must feel to be in some other minority group. I don't feel like I can say that life's any easier for any other group. And, as you said, one doesn't have to be gay to feel the oppression; she only has to be female.

Originally Posted by irishgrl

...but back to the topic: I grew up listening to the Jackson 5, and later, Michael Jackson solo. I have tremendous respect for the man's talent (he is incredibly talented!) and I, along with everyone else, was very surprised when glimpses of his WEIRD behavior (Neverland? Bubbles the Chimp? a mask on his face? a GLOVE? and those marriages and his children, oh my...) became public. it seemed like he just got weirder and weirder. its too bad really...

I know. It's mind-boggling to me, too. He was the first singer I was ever interested in. I think he is extremely talented. I was buying ringtones for my phone a few weeks ago and I was very tempted to get "The Way You Make Me Feel" but I talked myself out of it because I feel that I can't listen to his music if he really did those things. I don't expect people to be perfect at all (the Mac members don't appear to be), but this is beyond a difference of opinions about lifestyle choices and such because he very well may have hurt other people dramatically and permanently. That makes me loath to enjoy his music.

[catinthedark]

Er... wouldn't one be able to argue that in fact it's Michael Jackson who is racist? Against his own race? Is it not he who had his nose reshaped and butchered until it was "more like a White person's" and altered his cheek bones to the same end? And, um, last time I looked, he was whiter than little old WASPy me. That's a man who didn't want to be Black in my opinion. If I were Black, I'd be truly and deeply offended by his blatent hatred and denial of his own race and history. I don't know - I'm coming at that as a White person. I'd be interested to know how Black people feel about that.

[CrystalVisions]

I watched a program on CBS that featured an interview with Michael's parents, and I was struck by how nervous Michael's mother was...she was especially nervous of what Joe would/was saying. She kept telling him to be quiet and hush up, lol. This was kind-of surprising to me, because I had the impression that Joe probably extended his physical and emotional abuse to her, too, not just the kids. I guess I expected her to be really quiet and meek.

I definitely think that Michael's problems mostly stem from his childhood and his father, and the guy is a talented musician, but he is WAY out there. He needs help, and kept away from children. Can you imagine how horribly damaged his kids are? It's all very sick and very sad.

And I agree, the racism thing...give me a break! How ridiculous.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by catinthedark

Er... wouldn't one be able to argue that in fact it's Michael Jackson who is racist? Against his own race? Is it not he who had his nose reshaped and butchered until it was "more like a White person's" and altered his cheek bones to the same end? And, um, last time I looked, he was whiter than little old WASPy me. That's a man who didn't want to be Black in my opinion. If I were Black, I'd be truly and deeply offended by his blatent hatred and denial of his own race and history. I don't know - I'm coming at that as a White person. I'd be interested to know how Black people feel about that.

I think that's a good point. I wish I'd talked to a black person about this issue on a more serious level. I've talked to some girls who have just joked about the whole thing like "He was really cute back when he was black." I can't help but think that I would be offended by all his efforts (quite successful ones!) to change his appearance if I were black. But, of course, I suppose many of his fans still believe he only had a couple of surgeries at the most.

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I think that's a good point. I wish I'd talked to a black person about this issue on a more serious level. I've talked to some girls who have just joked about the whole thing like "He was really cute back when he was black." I can't help but think that I would be offended by all his efforts (quite successful ones!) to change his appearance if I were black. But, of course, I suppose many of his fans still believe he only had a couple of surgeries at the most.

More than anything, Michael Jackson is the epitome of self-hate. I think a lot of it comes from his own father, who told his repeatedly he was ugly and his nose was too big.

I gave Michael Jackson the benefit of the doubt for a long time. But when I heard him say it was acceptable for a grown man to share a bed with children, that was the last straw. As I said before, the Jackson family should have stepped in and gotten him some help.

[irishgrl]

whoever it was above that made the point about Michael hating himself may be right on the money...and I DO think Joe is to blame.
As for Michael's appearance, I remember him stating (or maybe it was from an interview he did) that Diana Ross was his Idol and he tried to get his features to match hers: the shape of his eyes/eyebrows cheekbones/chin...his nose was a work in progress, I think he wanted to take it slow but by the last few alterations, there was so little cartilage left it is basically disintegrating. As for his skin color, I seem to recall him saying he had some sort of patchy skin disorder where his skin color wasnt uniform. I dont know how true that is, but if so, maybe he tried bleaching his skin to match? just a thot...

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

whoever it was above that made the point about Michael hating himself may be right on the money...and I DO think Joe is to blame.
As for Michael's appearance, I remember him stating (or maybe it was from an interview he did) that Diana Ross was his Idol and he tried to get his features to match hers: the shape of his eyes/eyebrows cheekbones/chin...his nose was a work in progress, I think he wanted to take it slow but by the last few alterations, there was so little cartilage left it is basically disintegrating.

That is more than a little creepy. Shudder.