Jackson Coverage Unveils Class and Cultural Divides
Wednesday July 8, 2009
"So, Michael Jackson's dead," said a friend who rang me on Sunday.
Of course, the pop star had been dead for over a week by the time my friend called, but it was one of the first things she wanted to discuss with me. That's because we hadn't spoken since before Jackson's demise, and she was curious to know my feelings about his death.
In some circles, my friend would have been ridiculed for grieving for the King of Pop a full week after his death. The folks likely to lash out at her are the ones who admitted shock over Jackson's passing on the day or so after it was announced but soon complained that the singer's death was garnering too much media coverage. This coverage, they argued, was detracting from "real news" such as Gov. Sanford's clandestine visit to Argentina, election protests in Iran and other matters of global unrest.
What do the people making these arguments have in common? They're almost exclusively white, American, college-educated and upper middle-class, the type Christian Lander lampoons on his website Stuff White People Like. In all fairness, one black blogger I know of also complained about the amount of coverage Jackson's death was getting. She found herself promptly excoriated by her black reader base.
The individuals objecting to the media coverage are a new breed of elitist. They're likely to do volunteer work and campaign for various causes, including many on behalf of America's oppressed. Yet, their failure to see how Michael Jackson's death is "real news" indicates how wide a gap exists between them and those from different racial and class backgrounds.
To understand why Michael Jackson's death is without a doubt real news is to understand that blacks typically view media differently from whites. I grew up being taught that any black person I saw on television, be they a homeless person on the evening news or an actress in a bit role, mattered, as they reflected me. Because of this mindset, many blacks can name black actors and actresses that remain unknown to mainstream America. Not only can we name the films they've been in, but the children they've mothered or fathered, the romantic relationships they've been in and the names of their hometowns. We know that any given black person on the screen is considered to be a representative of the entire race, so we, in essence, view all blacks in the limelight as extended family.
This is why the loss of Michael Jackson has caused such grief in the black community. Before the mainstream embraced him, Michael Jackson belonged to us. To many, he was like a brother, cousin or son; that's why his death looms larger than Iran, Honduras, Gov. Sanford or Gov. Palin's resignation right now. That's why we can celebrate his life and achievements, despite the disturbing allegations lodged against him in recent years. We support him and the news coverage of his death because he's like a family member, even if one with whom we've lost touch.
This is why when my friend called to ask my feelings about Jackson's death, I was happy to oblige. I told her how I'd been listening to Jackson's music daily and how surprised I was to feel as saddened as I have by his passing. It's also why I find the snarky comments made by hipsters about Jackson's memorial service distasteful. Their intent is to appear cool, but they come across as elitist and emotionally disconnected from the masses. You can't have a conversation about democracy or xenophobia or feminism with just anybody. But you can walk into a roomful of people and drop Michael Jackson's name and get an instant response. Where the conversation will lead, I don't know. But it could set the stage to dig into some of the topics considered "real news."¯
Of course, the pop star had been dead for over a week by the time my friend called, but it was one of the first things she wanted to discuss with me. That's because we hadn't spoken since before Jackson's demise, and she was curious to know my feelings about his death.
In some circles, my friend would have been ridiculed for grieving for the King of Pop a full week after his death. The folks likely to lash out at her are the ones who admitted shock over Jackson's passing on the day or so after it was announced but soon complained that the singer's death was garnering too much media coverage. This coverage, they argued, was detracting from "real news" such as Gov. Sanford's clandestine visit to Argentina, election protests in Iran and other matters of global unrest.
What do the people making these arguments have in common? They're almost exclusively white, American, college-educated and upper middle-class, the type Christian Lander lampoons on his website Stuff White People Like. In all fairness, one black blogger I know of also complained about the amount of coverage Jackson's death was getting. She found herself promptly excoriated by her black reader base.
The individuals objecting to the media coverage are a new breed of elitist. They're likely to do volunteer work and campaign for various causes, including many on behalf of America's oppressed. Yet, their failure to see how Michael Jackson's death is "real news" indicates how wide a gap exists between them and those from different racial and class backgrounds.
To understand why Michael Jackson's death is without a doubt real news is to understand that blacks typically view media differently from whites. I grew up being taught that any black person I saw on television, be they a homeless person on the evening news or an actress in a bit role, mattered, as they reflected me. Because of this mindset, many blacks can name black actors and actresses that remain unknown to mainstream America. Not only can we name the films they've been in, but the children they've mothered or fathered, the romantic relationships they've been in and the names of their hometowns. We know that any given black person on the screen is considered to be a representative of the entire race, so we, in essence, view all blacks in the limelight as extended family.
This is why the loss of Michael Jackson has caused such grief in the black community. Before the mainstream embraced him, Michael Jackson belonged to us. To many, he was like a brother, cousin or son; that's why his death looms larger than Iran, Honduras, Gov. Sanford or Gov. Palin's resignation right now. That's why we can celebrate his life and achievements, despite the disturbing allegations lodged against him in recent years. We support him and the news coverage of his death because he's like a family member, even if one with whom we've lost touch.
This is why when my friend called to ask my feelings about Jackson's death, I was happy to oblige. I told her how I'd been listening to Jackson's music daily and how surprised I was to feel as saddened as I have by his passing. It's also why I find the snarky comments made by hipsters about Jackson's memorial service distasteful. Their intent is to appear cool, but they come across as elitist and emotionally disconnected from the masses. You can't have a conversation about democracy or xenophobia or feminism with just anybody. But you can walk into a roomful of people and drop Michael Jackson's name and get an instant response. Where the conversation will lead, I don't know. But it could set the stage to dig into some of the topics considered "real news."¯
This is the most insightful piece I have seen to date on the Jackson phenomenon.
Very insightful comments… I have debated with several people, all white, about not only the “excessive” media coverage, but Michael’s impact upon the world. Only Michael Jackson could cause Twitter to crash. Only Michael Jackson could cause the entire world to stop, and both celebrate his life, and mourn his passing. Only Michael Jackson could spark these kinds of debates, and rouse the emotions of many.
Michael’s passing hit me harder than I ever could have imagined. His music was a part of my life before I was born. The Jackson 5 smash “Never Can Say Goodbye” reminded my Mother of her pregnancy with me. There is no other musical artist, or group, I have such of a lengthy relationship with. My connection with MJ’s music went from elementary school with “Off the Wall”, on to junior high with the masive explosion of “Thriller”, to being a junior in high school when “Bad” was released, to being in college when “Remember The Time” became a top 10 hit.
The music of Michael Jackson has always been there, in the midst of my life. I treasure and cherish that relationship, that connection, more than ever, and I am fiercy proud of it. When need be, and when I feel led to do so, I will continue to speak the truth on his behalf. He may be gone, but his fans most certainly are not.
Again, thanks for your article.
I had some Canadians discussing the coverage on my FaceBook. I spent a summer in Canada visiting some long lost relatives and we compared notes. It was SO interesting. Canada didn’t have Jim Crow! If you can wrap your head around that, you can imagine how different they have evolved since slavery.
So, they’re ranting about why he’s getting so much attention….more than the veterans dying in the war. (as a Gulf War vet, I have NO idea why the two are even remotely relevant.)
I had the worst time trying to explain the early 70s to them. The first black cartoon, Soul Train, baby dolls that looked like me….
They just don’t have that point of reference, so they don’t get the whole MJ thing.
White people seem to always fail to recognize that the media covers everything culturally White 24/7. Can you name a TV show that has a Black cast right now? and is on the major networks?
So much of my youth was celebrated with Michael’s music. Graduations, dances, summers with friends. I have no connection to Elvis or John Lennon. Michael’s music was my American music which turned out the popular music around the world for my generation.
The coverage I don’t like is the negative but oh well..
Shame on you,grow up.You feel that all you need is a justification for something to support it.IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A GOOD JUSTIFICATION.
Frank Sinatra was my favorite singer …all my life & he still is.I said good riddance when he died, because of his life=long mafia associations & his embarrassing public temper tantrums.
I still have his music but screw Sinatra.
You are exactly the black who would effuse over O j simpson.How’s that worked out for ya?
Your narcissism & self pity will lead you to an unfulfilling life. TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST .GROW UP GROW UP
Geez, al, if anyone needs to grow up, it’s you. At least she isn’t yelling at people on a blog because they don’t feel the same way she does. Getting mad at others for not having the exact same emotions as you is what is truly childish.
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I am white (and young), and I will admit that I don’t understand how important Michael Jackson’s death is to a lot of people. But over the last couple of weeks, I have seen how effected some of my black friends are and it really made me think twice about that. One of my (white, middle class, male – but you could have probably guessed that already, huh?) acquaintances made a snide comment about how Jackson’s death would hurt the Iranians by taking the spotlight off of them (or something stupid like that) and I took him to task for it. It doesn’t hurt anyone to mourn him, or to allow others to mourn him. I’m sad for those like yourself, Nadra, who have lost such an important icon for them.
Oh please. No one’s arguing that blacks and whites see the world exactly the same.
But the people sick of Michael Jackson coverage are sick of it for the same reasons they got tired of Anna Nicole coverage when she died, not because of some bias against coverage of black news.
You can call it elitist all you want, but I’m yet to hear a convincing explanation of how putting Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King under the same umbrella isn’t in reality an insult to the true meaning of the civil rights movement.