[BC] Michael Jackson, R.I.P.

[Chuck Dube]

Donna:

Thanks for your thoughtful and considerate post re: Jackson.
He's been an easy target for so long, and this isn't going to change.
We tend to forget that this guy raised tons of money for charities;
supporting over 39 of them- the most of any pop star I understand.

And I hope anyone involved in R&B and the rap business
doesn't forget that Jackson put his career on the line- threatening to 
withdraw his hugely successful
music videos from MTV at a time when MTV was just about all-white all of the 
time

Michael's life was unconventional to say the least, but he never lived in 
"our" world.
I find it hard to believe that, as misguided as some of his decisions may 
have been, he meant
any harm to anyone. As for the behavior of celebrities (including a few talk 
show hosts), I can think of worse.

Requiescat MJ, FF and EM.

Chuck Dube
Am'erst, MA

Message: 29
From: Donna Halper <dlh at donnahalper.com>
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I knew Michael's manager, when I was still in radio full-time, and we
had several conversations about what Michael was really like.  His
manager made the comment that if Michael were a girl and he liked to
play with toys and play with kids, people would have said "she'll
make a wonderful kindergarten teacher."  But when Michael did those
things, people said he was a pervert.  Sadly, Michael had no
childhood.  The downside of being a child pop star is you are never
permitted to be a kid yourself.......