America's Love/Hate Relationship with Michael Jackson

As a kid I loved bopping along to Rockin Robin, as a teenager, I wanted to see him in concert and to be able to dance like him. As an adult I watched as he went to trial for allegedly molesting children. No matter what your opinions on Michael Jackson, you gotta admit, he has captured our hearts. From his allegedly abusive father to all his court battles, to his longing to live a childhood he never had, he made us all look differently at the world that these child stars grow up in. I am not taking any sides in this article. I am not imposing any opinions on anyone either. I just would like to hear others people's perspectives on anything Michael Jackson. May he rest in peace.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born August 29, 1958 in Gary Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children in a working-class family. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Jackson, was a steel mill worker. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother Brandon, died shortly after birth. Jackson had a troublesome relationship with his father. His father acknowledged in 2003 that he regularly whipped Jackson as a boy. Jackson admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that his father beat him and abused him mentally. He admitted that he had often cried from loneliness and he would vomit on the sight of his father. He said his father would make fun of his physical appearance. Is that what lead to Michael's numerous plastic surgeries?

Some people say the song Ben was written after Michael's father killed his pet mouse, but the info I found pointed in a different direction. It looks like it was written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name (the sequel to the 1971 killer rat film Willard). It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits.

Those awkward years!

The Teenage Years...

Michael's teenage years were busy, he was still in the Jackson Five at first but then started to venture out for some opportunities of his own.

1976- the band left Motown and signed with Epic Records and changed their group's name to 'The Jacksons', they released several successful albums including "Destiny", and "Triumph".

1978- Michael ventured into acting with a role as the scarecrow in a musical produced by Quincy Jones entitled "The Wiz". He co'starred with his friend Diana Ross.

1979- Michael's collaborated again with Quincy Jones in 1979, when he produced 'Off the Wall', a ollection of ldance songs and ballads.This album went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide and Michael received a Grammy award for 'Don't Stop Till' You Get Enough'.

1983- Michael performed with his brothers on 'Motown 25.' After his brothers left the stage, Michael brought everyone to their feet with a gravity defying rendition of 'Billie Jean'. It was during this performance that he unveiled the 'Moonwalk'.

1984- , Michael was burned during the filming of a Pepsi Cola commercial when pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson's hair on fire. He suffered second-degree burns to his scalp. Jackson underwent treatment to hide the scars on his scalp, and he also had his third rhinoplasty shortly thereafter. Jackson never recovered from this injury. Pepsi settled out of court, and Jackson donated his $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, California.

1987- He released his album "Bad." It became the first album in history to have five #1 singles. Michael undertook his first solo world tour in support of the album

1991- Michael premiered the short film 'Black or White.' This video was shown simultaneously around the world and an estimated 500 million viewers. The 'Dangerous' album debutted at #1, where it remained for 4 weeks and went on to sell over 7 million copies in the US alone.

1993- Jackson gave a 90-minute interview to Oprah Winfrey. . He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man, slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, stating for the first time that he had vitiligo.

1993- In the summer of 1993, Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler and his father, Dr. Evan Chandler, a dentist. The Chandler family demanded payment from Jackson, and the singer initially refused. They strip searched Michael finding that the child fave conflicting statements. The investigation was inconclusive and no charges were ever filed. Jackson described the search in an emotional public statement, stating his innocence.

1994- Jackson's insurance settled with the Chandlers out of court for $22 million. A Santa Barbara County grand jury and a Los Angeles County grand jury disbanded on May 2, 1994 without indicting Jackson. After which time the Chandlers stopped co-operating with the criminal investigation. The out-of-court settlement's documentation specifically stated Jackson admitted no wrongdoing and no liability; the Chandlers and their family lawyer Larry Feldman signed it without contest.

1995- The release of "History" was preceded by the space age short film for 'Scream', a duet between Michael and his sister Janet.

1995- History - Past, Present and Future, Book 1, was released.The double disc set contained fifteen remastered greatest hits and fifteen entirely new songs including "Scream" and "They Don't Care About Us."

1994- Michael married Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of Elvis Presley) in the Dominican Republic.

1996- Michael and Lisa filed for divorce but remained friends.

1996- He married Deborah Rowe.

1997- Michael's dream to have a child finally came true with the birth of his first son, Prince Michael Jackson Jr. Also Sony released Michael's next album "Blood on the Dancefloor"

1999- A daughter, Paris Michael Katherine, was born.

1999- Michael and Debbie filed for divorce after three years of marriage.

2001- The new single "You Rock My World" was released to the radio stations.

2003- British journalist Martin Bashir interviewed Jackson. A young boy is shown holding hands with Jackson and resting his head on his shoulder. Later at a trial, the boy testified that Jackson initiated the hand-holding, but that he had put his head on Jackson's shoulder because he was "really close to Jackson" and Jackson was his "best friend". Later he and Jackson would testify that they had slept in the same room, but not in the same bed.

2003- On December 18, 2003, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, in order to commit that felony, in February and March 2003, all regarding the same boy under 14. The felony complaint stated that Jackson had, on seven occasions, "willfully, unlawfully and lewdly committed a lewd and lascivious act upon, and with, the boy's body and certain parts and members thereof, with the intent of arousing, appealing to and gratifying the lust, passions and sexual desires" of Jackson and the boy and that this sexual conduct had been "substantial." Also that, on two of these occasions, Jackson had administered to the boy an intoxicating agent with intent thereby to enable and assist himself to carry out the previously mentioned act. Jackson denied these allegations and said that the sleepovers were non-sexual. He still described the boy on whose statements the accusations were based as "a sweet child"; he said the boy was manipulated by greedy parents.

2005- In June the jury reached a verdict of not guilty on all counts and all lesser offenses for those counts.

2009- Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication on June 25, 2009 after suffering from cardiac arrest. The physician, Dr Conrad Murray, is on trial as I write this.

Michaels House

In 1988 Michael Jackson bought "Sycomore Valley Ranch" in the same neighbourhood to Ronald and Nancy Reagan. He renamed it Neverland Valley Ranch, a name he got from the book Peter Pan. Michael made the ranch into an amusement park with different rides and a big Ferris Wheel.

The area is a beautiful park with thousands of flowers, statues, little forests and lakes. He had a zoo with many animals like monkeys, lions, tigers, elephants and cats. He had a private film theater also. Many people think that making his home so childlike, was his way of compensating for his own lost childhood. Michael was very generous and giving and opened the doors to his park every three weeks the for ill or underprivelidged children.

Michael Joseph Jackson Jr or otherwise know as Prince, was born on February 13, 1997 and his sister Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson was born a year later on April 3, 1998 to Michael Jackson and Deb Rowe. The couple divorced in 1999, and Jackson got full custody of the children. The divorce was relatively friendly, but a subsequent custody suit was not settled until 2006. In 2002 Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II otherwise know as Blanket, was born. The mother's identity is unknown. Michael has said the child was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm.

In a total lapse of judgement, Jackson took little Blanket, his newborn son onto the balcony of his room at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin, as fans stood below, holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby's face. The baby was briefly extended over a railing, four stories above ground level. Of course this caused widespread criticism in the media. Jackson later apologized for the incident, calling it a mistake.

Michael was also under fire for constantly making the children wear masks outside the home, and keeping them secluded. He stated that it was his way of protecting them from the media.

I don't think anyone will ever forget Paris's speech at Michael's funeral saying, "Ever since I was born, my Daddy has been the best Father you can imagine, and I love him very much."

On June 25, 2009, Jackson died while in his bed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles. Dr Conrad Murray and the Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics tried to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. He was reportedly not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued en route to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and for an hour after getting there. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 local time.

Right away Dr Murray came under question. First why was Michael Jackson being given Profonol at home? This was an anethetic used only in hospitals for surgeries. Why did he leave Jackson alone while it was being administered. Why did Dr Murray ask people to clean up certain items on the scene? The toxicity reports showed that Michael had midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine in his blood. Also Dr Murraycame under scrutiny for giving Michael CPR while his body was on the bed.

His memorial service was broadcast live around the world, attracting a global audience of up to one billion people. Although it was publicly announced there would be no procession afterwards, that was a ruse to reduce the number of people lining the roads and freeways. The LAPD blocked all traffic as the Michael Jackson motorcade proceeded from Forest Lawn to the Staples Center. Michael Jackson was buried on September 3rd at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Michael Jackson was interred in Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum, in a crypt in the Holly Terrace section. Michael Jackson was buried with his trademark white glove, pearl beads, a large gold belt, and sunglasses.

Eventually Dr Murray was arrested for Michael's death and is on trial as I type this.