Who Michael Jackson Was To Today’s Teens
Posted by meredith on 07-08-2009
Today’s Youth Advisory Board post is from Nina L. who shares her response to the wall-to-wall coverage of Michael Jackson’s death. As always, you can communicate directly with any member of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board by emailing them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com…or just leave a comment below.
Who Michael Jackson Was To Today’s Teens
If you were to ask my little sisters (age 11) what they knew about Michael Jackson other than the fact that he’s dead, their response would probably surprise you. Like most of my generation, to us Michael Jackson was something of a freak. He changed his skin color, rarely went out in public and when he did, MJ wore a mask or some sort of face covering.
We know Thriller from “13 going on 30,” and may have heard Beat it, Billy Jean, or Bad on the radio or on an old CD, but to us Michael Jackson was a mystery. What caused this mega pop star to lead such a sheltered, yet disturbing life? To us he was in the same category as Marilyn Manson. Not in terms of music style, but just plain scary. All I ever heard on the news about him was stories like him holding baby “Blanket” over the rail of a four story balcony or his sexual abuse trial. I think people who were there when he was at his height were able to excuse or even ignore what he had become because of their fond memories of him, but his new image is all my generation was alive to see.
I was never exposed to the better part of Michael Jackson until after he died, when I watched numerous specials on TV including music videos, interviews, and photos. Even though in his death the darker side may live on with allegations of prescription drug abuse, I have been able to find a new respect for Michael Jackson, and what he once was, and I hope that the good side of his legacy is what will be remembered.
About Nina
Nina is a freshman in high school in Washington state. She plays the flute in the school band. Even though she’s not as writing inclined as the other board members, Nina is the youngest of the group and may share an opinion with a younger audience. Nina is very interested in fashion, new technology and teen culture. Having three and a half sisters (an exchange sister for the year) she knows a lot about how teenage girls interact with each other and their parents. Nina ‘s biggest love is music, either classical or contemporary, it doesn’t matter. She cares about all of it.
Categorized under: Movies & Music, Youth Advisory Board
July 19th, 2009 at 3:41 am
Hi Nina. I like your post, but MJ never changed his skin color. He had vitiligo, a disease that causes depigmentation in the skin.
I grew up listening to his music. MJ rest in peace.