Unexpectedly, tears came to my eyes many times during the Michael Jackson memorial. Alone, I had cried a few times in the days immediately following Jackson's death: listening over and over again to the music of my 70's childhood. I was mourning an artist who gave me so much.
But as I settled in and watched Michael Jackson's shining casket being brought in, I knew the tone would be just right; not the garish, disjointed concert fest I had feared.
There were many wonderful moments. Almost every one of the performances and testimonials hit the right notes of celebration, honor and loss. But there were a few that really stood out for me in terms of creating a final and cathartic, "Goodbye." ...
Michael Jackson Memorial
Brooke Shields (L), Janet Jackson (2nd L), Prince Michael Jackson II (3rd L), La Toya Jackson (C), and Paris Jackson (3rd R) join with others in singing during the memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles July 7, 2009. REUTERS/Mark J. Terrill/Pool (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY)
Reuters
Singer Jermaine Jackson performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center in Los Angeles July 7, 2009. A Gospel choir singing "We're going to see the king" launched an emotional public memorial for Michael Jackson on Tuesday as the music world and thousands of fans bade farewell to the singer known as the "King of Pop." REUTERS/ Kevork Djansezian/Pool (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Jermaine Jackson performs during the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, the iconic pop star, died at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Wally Skalij-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jermaine Jackson
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Actress Brooke Shields speaks at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, the iconic pop star, died at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brooke Shields
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Actress Brooke Shields speaks at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, the iconic pop star, died at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brooke Shields
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Paris Katherine Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, leans on Janet Jackson, sister of the late pop star, at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center in Los Angeles July 7, 2009. Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Usher led an emotional public memorial for Michael Jackson on Tuesday as the music world, the Jackson family and thousands of fans bade farewell to the "King of Pop." Siblings Randy Jackson and La Toya Jackson stand together with son of Michael Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson II (or Blanket). REUTERS/ Kevork Djansezian/Pool (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY)
Reuters
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Singer Shaheen Jafargholi performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaheen Jafargholi
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Singer Shaheen Jafargholi performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaheen Jafargholi
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 07: Actress Brooke Shields speaks at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, the iconic pop star, died at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brooke Shields
Getty Images
Vendors selling t-shirst and soda hustle their wares outside the Staples Center as the Michael Jackson Memorial Service is held on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles. Michael Jackson died on June 25 at the age of 50. AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
+ VIDEOS: Michael Jackson Memorial Service
My favorite testimonial was given by Al Sharpton. Say what you will about other aspects of him. Sharpton's devotion to Michael Jackson is fierce and his clarity around Jackson's contribution to American culture crystal clear.
He created a comfort level, where people that felt they were separate became interconnected with his music. ... Those young kids grew up from being teenage, comfortable fans of Michael's to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America. Michael did that. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other." - The Rev. Al Sharpton. via Associated Press
And then Sharpton spoke directly to Michael's beautiful children. Saying aloud what many of us have wondered about before:
"Wasn't nothing strange about your daddy, what was strange was what he had to deal with."
Lionel Ritchie laid it down with "Jesus is love." Stevie Wonder began with his 1971 song, "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" and then switched into "They Won't Go When I Go." Queen Latifah read Dr. Maya Angelou's "We had him."
Jennifer Hudson was a lovely vision in white. John Mayer made is guitar strings sing out "Human Nature." Brooke Shields' shared open and down to earth reminiscences of how she and her friend loved to laugh together. Coretta Scott King's children spoke of how Michael Jackson called and cheered their ailing mother. Big brother Jermaine sang his little brother's favorite song, "Smile."
What wrecked me every time, was when the guests would walk off stage and hug each grieving family member. I felt that. And finally, perhaps the most astonishing heart pull was when Michael Jackson's 11 year old daughter, Paris, stepped up to the mic and declared her love for her father:
"I just wanted to say ... ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father ... you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him ... so much."
And like so many other barriers Michael Jackson demolished, now the world has experienced a traditionally African American "homegoing" service.
Comments: (48)
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By: Jen on 7/07/2009 6:13PM
Are you Black? Consider yourself lucky. Are you White? You don’t know what you’re missing.
I gotta tell ya it S-O-O GOOD to be Black. This tribute was Poignant, Classy and Loving from a group of Resolved people, standing in Solidarity.
See to be Black means to be part of a community that always has your back, never wavering, never judging, just simple unadulterated, unconditional Love. I am so honored to be one of you PEOPLE. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
God bless Al Sharpton for standing up of Michael. White folks hate him because he holds up the mirror to their face, and most of the time they don’t like what they see, so they yell at him.
Truth is we are a collectivistic society & white folks don’t get that because the are an individualistic society. They are perplexed why we are morning Michael. I just know they will never understand. Love like that is foreign to them. That’s why they believe Michael must be a pedophile for loving children they way he did. That’s also why they call Orphan a lesbian for that sisterly love she has for Gail. They just don’t get it; therefore something’s got to be wrong.
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Legend.
Peter King s@ck on that!
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By: ebony on 7/08/2009 5:36PM
Yes, the mmorial ws ovey! Truly fit for a king! I feel I mus comment on a few things...Michael was about equality, and his message was love. Let's not take this to anoter level...RACE! I now tht a lot o people did not understand him, but Ialso know of a lot of african americans ho did not stand by him duing his trials and tribulations. Being african american myself I can speak on this from personal experince..many in the black communit spoke ill of him also...regrding his ever changing light skin,,,his hoiceto have white cildren..a well as well as white wives...this is ot about race...I kee hearing everyone seak of all the racial barriers he boke...what good is tht if we as fans are putting them backup? Jen, I respect your opinion, but let' not forget that michael had fans of all colors, not only the black cmmunity is mourning, that is what is so amazin about michael.
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By: bs on 7/08/2009 5:03PM
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT.THOSE PEOPLE WILL NEVER NEVER UNDERSTAND BLACK LOVE.
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By: david wendell on 7/08/2009 6:46PM
ih im david my hart poors out foro the family and to paris i cryd when she did i love michael jackson im a big fan of his he made me happy when i down in the dumps i love his music im going to miss him love david wendell
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By: LINDA on 7/08/2009 8:19PM
jen i agree with ebony micheal jackson was loved by every race.we alway's want to say white people are quick to pull the race card but you my black sista just did.micheal jackson was a careing,shareing,loveing humanbing in this whole world he did not look at the color of skin.that is what made him a special person he loved every one and every one red,yellow,white,brown,black blue or green.he was also loved by the youngest to the oldest i watched the memorail service to my fav was.usher 'gone to soon'mariah carrie 'i'll be there' and when they sang my fav song 'we are the world' and many more 'hell'i loved it all.micheal jackson did not be long to us black people he be long to god.and now he is resting in peace with the will king 'god all mighty' r.i.p micheal joseph jackson love you for ever.
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By: CIndy B. on 7/09/2009 4:34PM
Black or white...makes no never mind. We are all God's children. He made us in his image. Michael loved all..I get it...I am white, raised in the south and saw the hate. I know my heart is filled with love for my fellow man, no matter the color of his skin. We need to love each other and not pick at what we believe to be untruths. Michael, if he could speak would want us to grive and go forward and love one another. I believe that God in his infinite wisdom knew that Michael's journey on this concert tour would have destroyed his health and he might have been a failure. So God came for his son. He knew the world would celebrate Michael like none other. Michal now has his "celebration" tour, so to speak. Thank you Michael.
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By: LaTosha Stanfield on 7/08/2009 10:10PM
As an internet veteran, I hat to reply to blog messages and posts. But what you said so real. I sure appreciate it. I notice when the whites start making crude and judgmental comments, their spelling us utterly horrible.
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By: Danquole Robinson on 7/17/2009 1:00AM
I want you to know that you took the words write out my mouth. It gave me a great rereif to know that there are people out the there that understands life. And that PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS IGNORTANT to the things THEY dont understand. If u have never loved you will never understand it. Micheal made a impact on lifes and made a difference. And I was glad to see that they sent him home in style.
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By: Bonnie Hurt on 7/07/2009 6:13PM
I'M SO VERY SORRY ABOUT THE LOSS OF MICHEAL. HE WAS A GREAT PEFORMER BOTHER SON AND FATHER HE WILL BE MISSED BY EVERYONE MICHEAL(RIP)
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By: brigittenrich on 7/07/2009 9:17PM
I too watched the Memorial service and I was happy that it went so well. I did not expect anything else, because I know the fans are the kind of people who would show respect and love for the family of Michael.
I told myself I would not cry, but when John Mayer played that song on the guitar, I broke down; it was so beautifully played on his guitar. I have never heard him play alone like that, with such feeling. But you know what! The song was a Michael Jackson song! So it was probably that, that made it so beautiful!!
I am in Washington State, and I called my sister in St. Louis, and she was doing exactly the same thing that I was doing, crying over that song played so beautifully on guitar. We talked and shared our memories of Michael and The Jackson 5, because you see, I was born the day before Michael, in St. Louis Mo. and we grew up watching him from his first day on national television. Long life the King of Pop.
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