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A Death Foretold
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Brutalized and demeaned from an early age, Michael Jackson was doomed to seek his lost childhood in ways that invited scandal and tragedy, says Gerald Posner.
The news came from a Starbucks barista in Miami Beach as she ran up to the counter and screamed, “Michael Jackson is dead!”
Her mother had just heard it on the radio. About two dozen of us in the café responded to the news by flipping out cellphones and checking news sites, Facebook, and Twitter.
“He’s only been taken to the hospital,” said a German tourist, in heavily accented English.
“TMZ says he’s dead,” said a teenage girl, who was crying.
Joe used a whip to ensure that no one strayed off note or flubbed a dance step. And he was especially hard on Michael, chastising him publicly as dumb, ugly, and awkward.
The news of someone famous dying young is always startling. But for me, having spent four years researching and writing a book about the Motown record label—MOTOWN: Music, Money, Sex, and Power—it was somehow not surprising. It felt as if I had been waiting years for the day when this news would arrive. Despite his incredible talent and astonishing achievements, watching Jackson’s life was like being a helpless witness to a train wreck played out in slow motion, knowing that the ending was fatal.
Everyone knows about his record sales numbers with the album Thriller and his invention of the moonwalk. Many can recite a litany of his odd behaviors over the past decade. But the images of Michael burned in my memory are the ones I heard from his friends from the early days, right after Motown impresario Berry Gordy signed the 9-year-old and his four brothers as the Jackson Five in 1969.
“Michael was a strange and lovely child,” recalled Smokey Robinson. “I always saw him as an old soul in the body of a boy.”
What Smokey and the others at Motown didn’t know then was that Michael had been driven by his father, Joe, at a brutal pace for years in order to become a star. Joe tried his hardest to banish the outside world from their household in working-class Gary, Indiana, forbidding all the Jackson children from talking to neighbors and beating them for the slightest infractions. Joe used everything from belts to wire hangers, rulers, and razor straps. Sometimes, the children bore the results to school—bruises or a crusty, bloodied nose. On occasion, some of the boys were knocked unconscious.
Once, 4-year-old Michael went into the bathroom only to discover his 6-year-old sister, La Toya, laying on the tile floor, crying and bloodied, after being beaten by her father because of a poor report card. Michael, terrified that if he said anything he might be beaten, too, just stepped over his sister, washed his hands at the sink, and then returned to the dinner table.
Joe was also merciless with his taunts, particularly directed at the frail and shy Michael. He called the boys sissies for not fighting when he hit them, and often made them feel worthless. At times he seemed to relish terrifying them. Sometimes, he burst out of a closet wielding a kitchen knife and wearing a grotesque latex mask—the louder they screamed, the more uncontrollable his laughter. When he arrived home each day, there was a palpable fear among the children about whether he was in a good mood or not.
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Gerald Posner is The Daily Beast's Chief Investigative Reporter. He's the award-winning author of 10 investigative nonfiction bestsellers, ranging from political assassinations, to Nazi war criminals, to 9/11, to terrorism. His latest book, Miami Babylon: Crime, Wealth and Power—A Dispatch from the Beach, was published in October. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife, the author Trisha Posner.
Not gonna lie. I had to share a few tears for MJ.
His music was the soundtrack of my youth through my adult life. .
His songs bring back memories through my 39 years of life including my first day in Kindergarten.
When I danced in the Kitchen to Dancing Machine and I swear you could not tell me I was not Michael Jackson.
Afro and all. .
As my Mother laughed hysterically and told me in a quiet voice.
Son. You have no rhythm.
I was crushed.
I swore I had a mean spin move.
Rest In Peace.
To the Greatest Entertainer of my Lifetime.
R.I.P. MJ. As a child, when we knew you were going to perform on TV it was an event in our household. Yes, we felt the pride, joy and pure entertainment that you showed for decades. Sorry, we could not be there for you in your pain. You will always be that "FIRST" in my life. The doors you opened, the records you broke, the lives you saved will be recorded forever. God Bless your family!! Psalms 127
why didn't the mother step in and stop JOe Jackson for brutalizing her children? She should have threatened to walk out or call the police. I have no time for mothers who don't protect their children, especially from their fathers.
hi ohnotagain,
as i sit here watching the live from bucharest concert, i can't explain it but i almost feel like he's finally at peace.he was so talented and it wasn't because of that b---ard father of his. michael had it in him from day one.
the thought of him not being to show all his doubters that he was truly the king kills me.HE WAS IN GREAT FORM AND READY TO SHOW ALL THAT HE WAS TRULY STILL ON TOP!!!!!!!!!!
Sad story, but sometimes we have to rise above the bad cards that we were dealt. It's a shame how deep emotional scars run. As a side note, does Gerald Posner have as little credability as Martin Bashir. In his book on the Kennedy Assasination, he chose to ignore many facts to prove his point, just a thought. RIP Michael
MARTIN BASHIR IS A COMPLETE A--HOLE.WHY DID MICHAEL EVEN LET HIM INTERVIEW HIM?HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A JOURNALIST, WHAT DID HE HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TRY TO STOMP MICHAEL DOWN??????? WORDS FAIL ME WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH I'M GOING TO MISS SEEING THE RISE OF MJ ONCE AGAIN I HOPE BASHIR REGRETS THE DAY HE EVER MET THAT CARING AND GIVEING MICHAEL JACKSON
Without doubt, Michael Jackson's story is one of terrible dichotomy.
He was unable to conquer his personal demons.
He was unable to deal with the challenges and pressures of fame.
He was unable to overcome dreadful emotional sickness.
Those things hurt him and countless others.
He was also a entertainment genius, who defined popular culture and popular music for decades.
Maybe now he will find peace.
God bless his children, who will have this to deal with for the rest of their lives.
Maybe they will have healthier lives than their father.
He told Barbara Walters
That he never saw a hotel lobby.
He had to enter through the kitchen
All his life because of the way he was
Hounded by fans and paparazzi.
As adults the Jackson children should have confronted Joe about the past brutality.Maybe Michael could have dealt with his demons then.So sad,loved by millions but lonely.
But Michael,Thanks for the music.RIP.
KATHERINE JACKSON COULDN'T EVEN CONFRONT JOE ABOUT NOT EVEN LETTING HIS OWN KIDS CALL HIM DADDY.ALL THOSE KIDS CALL HIM JOESEPH ALL THE CHEATING HE DID ALONG WITH BEATING THE KIDS ESPECIALLY MICHAEL AT LAST HE HAS AWAKENED TO THE DREAM OF LIFE R.I P MICHAEL NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET YOU
A monster talent - certainly one of the greatest entertainers ever, as well as one of the most culturally influential. But, Jackson's seemed a sad and lonely life - devoid of any real intimates.
We should consider ourselves lucky to have lived and enjoyed Michael's music and dancing - the like we'll never experience live again. To say he was terrific on stage is a big understatement. What a super mega talent.
One can't help but wonder how MJ's father feels right now.
This is the best synopsis of the reasons behind the dysfunction that I've read. Thanks.
I wish he'd been healthy enough in his later years to continue to be creative. I think we all missed out on a lot because he was so sick.
Great article Posner, this will be the way I'll always remember MJ. MJ forever will be the kid who grew up from the toughest of childhoods with talent too immense to hold down.
I feel so blessed to have lived during his era but I also feel so guilty about how the world treated him. He gave so much love and lived though so much pain. God is so lucky to have you in heaven now. Rest in peace Michael. The world will never be the same.
I once saw a documentery about him on Vh1 the saddest thing I ever saw. For all his fame and talent he was a very doomed person.
Knowing all we do about Michael's father.... why does the press even listen to Joe? Why is he able to insist now that there be a second autopsy, and still control Michael's affairs even after death? And would we really want MJ's children to go to his mother, who did not protect her own kids from Michael's father?
Fantastic piece of writing and insight into Michael Jackson.
Couldn't have said it better, kmeccat
This comment is a response to a news report i saw on t.v. two nights ago .I am responding to Gerald Posners report on Michael Jackson .It was mentioned that Michaels body will not be viewed by the public ,because of her belief as one of Jehovahs Witnesses .I myself am one of Jehovahs Witnesses,and wish to use the scriptures to help others understand ,what we believe the soul is.Genesis2;7;JehovahGod proceeded to form the man out dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life,and the man came to be a living soul.please note ,it doesnt say that he was given a soul ,it says that he became a soul,a LIVING person.We can see too at1Corinthian15 ;45 It is written;The first man Adam became a living soul.Also on 1Peter3;20 it reads ;In Noahs daysa few people,that is eight souls ,were carried safely through the water.My point in sharing this info ,is because Michael Jackson was a living soul .there is nothing spooky or weird about the dead ,it is as if they are in deep sleep ,and like his mother and millions of other we believe with All our hearts that there will absolutely be ressurection of all those who are in Jehovahs memory .They ,according to these wonderful promises from God ,as written in Revelation 21;3,4and Isaiah 25;8 .please read these and be assured Michael was well aware and taught these beautiful verses in his youth ,and i can assure you when you are taught by Jehovah these TRUTHS from Gods word the Bible you will never ever forget them! We who loved Micheal from a far and close up ,lone for the day when the dead will wake up just as Lazarus did !!!!!And when Michael does wake from his deepest sleep ,he will live on a paradise,earth ,not ruled by humans anymore ,no more lies corruption ,sickness,pills pain or abuse.why no more of these hurtful things ?Because the former things have passed away ,and this earth will be ruled by non other than Christ Jesus ,through his father Jehovah our God !!!We grive depply when someone dies especially so unexpectedly .but we have such a wonderful future here on a cleansed new earth ,this will be where Michael and his 3 beautiful innocent childeren will find true LOVE ,and lasting happiness .I write this with so much love for him in my heart ,if anyone wants to email me about this please feel free .Leelamar2003@yahoo.comAnd thank you so much for letting me comment.Leela
Posner is writing the best pieces on the various aspects of this social debacle.
What's astonishing to me is that people are hating Debbie Rowe for the possibility that she might take the kids away from this horrible disfunctional family.
What a disgrace the whole story is!!!!!!
yes they are a disfunctional bunch and just maybe that's why jermaine was all over larry king saying that he was michael's rock. i believe michael needed someone to be his rock but it wasn't jermaine or that rabbi who's going to write a book about personal conversations that he had with mj, it's so sad that so many people are cashing in on his death.God Bless You MICHAEL
Thank you.
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