作為The Jacksons樂隊充滿活力，魅力非凡的核心人物，Michael Jackson 1984年的勝利之旅巡迴演唱會吸引了娛樂業有史以來最多的觀眾，賣出了迄今為止最多的門票。Michael Jackson是一個不尋常人物，其影響力已超越種族。
盡管他才華卓越，在演藝舞臺上已經打拼20年，這位26歲的歌手、創作家、舞者以及演員直到他的《Thriller》專輯成為有史以來最暢銷的LP之後，才被公認為一位頂尖的超級巨星。從那時開始，關於他的報道寫了很多，但是這位披著超級巨星光環的人物卻仍然是一個謎，一個媒體無法理解的謎。
白人媒體，通常是通過閑談，謠傳，誇張甚至是誹謗來描述Michael Jackson的，這不是那個我曾經關注過，報道過的Michael，不是那個在1970年從摩爾多瓦的鋼鐵城——加里的蕓蕓眾生中脫穎而出的Michael，那個Michael Jackson，那個不為人知的Michael Jackson：熱心、敏感、充滿活力、對生活的神奇和對孩子的天賦與魔力有著敏銳的感知。幾個月前他對我說，他厭倦了白人媒體的謊言報道。他在一次記者招待會上通過其經紀人Frank Dileo所發布的非同尋常的、啟人深思的聲明正反映了這些：
“一段時間以來，我問我的良心，我是否應該對那些廣為流傳的關於我的謊言做出公開的反應。由於那些武斷言論相當地不公正，那些喜歡我的人所正因此承受著深重的傷害，我決定做出這樣的聲明：
“我非常幸運地得到了人們對我成就的贊譽與祝福，這樣的贊譽也賦予了我對全世界愛慕者的一種責任感。演藝人員應該始終為年輕人樹立一個榜樣。但是很多人實際上卻相信了那些當今流行的不實指控，這讓我非常傷心。
“該結束了。我真的認為該結束了——” “沒有！我從未通過注射荷爾蒙來保持我的高音。”
“沒有！我從未通過任何方法來改變我的頰骨。”
“沒有！我從未在我的眼睛上做過任何的整容手術。”
“是的！！在將來的某一天我打算結婚，並擁有一個家庭。任何與此相反的指控都是不實的。自此以後，只要再刊登不切實際的猜想，我會建議我的私人律師按我的要求提起法律訴訟，並對所有的不實行為在法律的最大限度內進行告發。”
“正如之前所提到的，我喜歡孩子。我們都知道孩子非常地敏感，也因此非常容易受這些謊言的影響。我確信一些孩子已經受到了這些可怕誹謗的傷害。在他們的愛戴之下，我會繼續為他們的敬佩而努力。”
Michael Joseph Jackson，他名字的中名正是他父親的前名，他通過老式的方式贏取敬重，也通過同樣的方式獲得了“世界上最偉大的娛樂人”的頭銜。
他的《Thriller》專輯，售出了3500萬張（譯者注：數據截至寫稿時間，以下同），而且仍在銷售之中。他從每張專輯的批發價5美元中賺取大約2美元，從世界範圍的熱銷中，他已經將7000萬美元賺入了口袋。
他組織了一些公司來管理他的演藝事務，並成為這些公司的首領。這些公司包括：管理他的專輯和視頻版權收入的“Michael Jackson有限公司”，研發新的錄制技術的“聲學實驗室”，以及製作他的音樂視頻和其他歌手唱片的視頻版本的“Optimum製作部”。
作為專輯和音樂錄影獎的最大贏家，他空前地獲得了美國音樂頒獎典禮頒發的8個獎項，破紀錄的8個葛萊美音樂大獎和MTV錄影獎項。
26年前（1958年8月29日），作為6個天資聰慧的孩子中的老五，他誕生在印第安納州加里市的Joseph和Katherine Jackson夫婦的家中。他是一個積極的思想者，一個深深關注全人類，堅定不渝地愛著自己事業的富有創造力的藝術家。他對那些成為他的仰慕者的歌迷的關愛，也許算得上是無人能敵。
是愛，讓Michael承受住了他生涯中最有壓力的一次巡演。盡管The Jacksons的勝利之旅世界巡演的預期收入為7000萬美元，他並不是因為喜歡賺錢才參加演出的。他說他是因為對家庭的愛、對歌迷的愛、以及為了他最喜歡的慈善機構而參與演出的。盡管計劃中指出，和拳擊經紀人唐 金一起合作的Jackson父母，每人可獲得500萬美元的收入，而Jackson兄弟每人可收入750萬美元，Michael卻宣佈巡演利潤中他的那一部分將捐給三個有意義的機構：全美聯合黑人學院基金、為晚期病患兒童成立的“好時光夏令營”以及為白血病和癌癥籌款的T. J. Martell基金。
他還把一張特別專輯《Let's Beat It》的收入捐給了慈善團體。他說這樣做是因為，是孩子啟發他寫出了這樣一首沖擊性的單曲，“Beat It”。“不管做什麼，孩子都是我最大的靈感，” Michael告訴筆者，“我喜歡孩子——為他們瘋狂。我想要寫一首歌，那種我想要……想要孩子們真正喜歡的搖滾歌曲，包括中小學的孩子，以及上大學的孩子。”這位敏感的作曲者說道，他最喜歡的兩首樂章是柴可夫斯基的《胡桃夾子》和《彼得和狼》。
他談到了一首叫做“Be Not Always”的歌曲，在寫這首歌的過程中獲得了他兄弟Marlon的小小幫助。在將這首敏銳、傷感的歌曲灌制到The Jacksons的《Victory》專輯中時，Michael做出了一個感人肺腑的呼籲，呼籲大家改變這個“母親哭泣，孩子在懷抱中無助地死去……”的世界。他發現所有的兄弟對孩子都有同樣的感受，不僅僅是他。
回想起他所喜愛的已故超級巨星Josephine Baker，她擁有一個由她所領養的孩子所組成的兒童聯合王國，Michael大咧咧地笑了，並肯定地說道：
“我將擁有自己的小孩，我也將盡自己可能地領養許多種族的小孩。這些是我想要做的。我喜歡孩子，像Emmanuel Lewis（TV的Webster系列中一個瘦小的12歲童星），他真是充滿靈性。”然而，沒有事情能比他的家庭和他的歌迷更能激勵這位自豪的表演家。在報紙廣為流傳地報道說他被《Thriller》大碟的成功和不斷增長的音樂頒獎（其中包括EBONY美國黑人成就獎）所寵壞之後，他談到了這些：
“因為我靠《Off The Wall》專輯打破了好多項記錄，我又是領唱時間最長的主音歌手，而現在的《Thriller》專輯，成為了有史以來最成功的專輯，並成就了這一系列的事情。但我並不準備離開，”他所指的是一則說他將在巡演後離開The Jacksons團體的謠言。“他們是我的兄弟（Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marion和Randy），我深深地愛著他們，我想傳媒想要尋找一些讓他們報紙好賣的東西，他們於是製造謠言、歪曲事實。”
[編者注：但由於巡演承辦機構不力，人員選用不當，給“Victory”巡演帶來了許多麻煩，讓Michael不堪其擾，最終Michael還是決定在該次巡演後不再與兄弟同臺。但原因並非謠傳中說的那樣：Michael是因為自大而離開了兄弟]
Michael在巡演的開始說道：“我是為巡演的歡樂、家族的完整、和那些購買我專輯的孩子而演出的。我對舞臺上癮，我不得不在臺上。”一次在他加利福尼亞的家中進行采訪，那時他仍和他的父母以及姐姐LaToya住在一起，Michael說，“我希望你引用這些話：‘我之所以這麼熱愛我的事業是因為那些仰慕者。我愛歌迷。當我演出的時候，我看到歌迷在那裏舞蹈、尖叫、興奮不已。我們給他們帶來了歡樂，這是我所最喜歡的，這是世界上最棒的感覺。你站在臺上，你給他們力量，給他們愛，他們也把這一切返還給你。太棒了。這些是我最愛的：舞臺和使歌迷們快樂的能力’。”隨著采訪的進行，Michael談論了許多話題，來揭示在媒體的流言蜚語中關於他的好些已被忽略了的事情。以下是他的一些觀點：
EBONY：你不得不應付娛樂事業中許多的壓力。人們總是向你提出各種的要求，建議從四面八方而來，你是怎麼應對這些壓力的？
MICHAEL：我只從一定程度上來應付這些壓力。我從不把自己當成耶穌，因為我永遠也無法從這樣一個高度來看待自己。但我將之比作耶穌，因為神賜予他的總有原因，他廣為布教，人們向他而來，他卻並不慍怒，也並不把人們推開，只說“離我遠點，我沒時間”。
EBONY：但是你也得忍受一些給你壓力、讓你惱火的歌迷。
MICHAEL：我有時的確也會生氣，因為有些人會以最壞的態度來到你的面前，並對你說，“坐下，給我孩子簽名。”他們會把東西扔給你。我會問：“你有筆嗎？”“你沒有筆？好吧，去拿一支來。”他們通常會這樣對我說。……我真為這些人感到吃驚。他們認為他們擁有你。他們會這樣對你說：“聽著，是我們讓你成就非凡。”我會說：“等等，你買專輯並不是因為你想要幫我，而是因為你真的喜歡它。”
EBONY：人們把你看作是行為榜樣。一次你出現在芝加哥的公眾圖書館，鼓勵年輕人和成年人讀書，並且分發了一種印有你的話語的書簽紀念品。你仍然喜歡閱讀嗎？
MICHAEL：我熱愛閱讀，我希望自己能勸告更多的人讀書。書中有另外一個完整的世界。如果你無法旅行，你可以通過閱讀在精神上旅行。通過閱讀，你可以看到你想到看到的任何事物，你可以到達任何一個你想要去的地方。
EBONY：你讀過一些關于黑人經歷，或者換句話說，關于黑人歷史的書嗎？
MICHAEL：噢，是的！我非常感謝[John H.] Johnson先生通過Johnson出版社所發行的書籍……這些書中展示了我們黑人在各方面對世界的貢獻，我想這非常好。很多人卻認為，我們無所貢獻。
EBONY：你是怎樣跟上當今黑人的做事方式，說話方式和思考方式的？除了你的家庭成員和親密夥伴之外，有哪些人影響過你的思想？
MICHAEL：我喜歡[John H.] Johnson運作他組織的方式。每個人看上去都非常舒服。我相信也會有一些爭吵，也會有一些事情，但每個人的感覺都很美好……而且對年輕人也會有很好的影響。人們的生活以《JET》和《EBONY》為準則。我的意思是，他們通過這兩個雜志來獲取資訊，小孩也是這樣。我會問，你們從什麼地方讀到這些的？我們在《JET》上讀到的。他們通過關注《JET》和《EBONY》上發生的事來緊跟時代。我覺得這太奇妙了……天，我仰慕像Johnson和迪士尼這樣的人。我認為他們成就非凡。
EBONY：你談到了書和人對你生活的影響。那麼旅行對於塑造你的生活態度和見解起了什麼作用呢？
MICHAEL：我覺得任何人在結婚之前，都應該盡他們所能去旅遊這個世界。這是我接受過的最難以置信的教育。我想這是一種感知。我的意思是去看看不同文化背景的人，不同的面孔，和不同的人聊天，去看，去學……當我旅遊的時候我非常地驚訝。當我第一次到瑞士的時候我幾乎哭了，真的。
EBONY：那次旅行中是什麼樣的觸動導致了你這樣的情緒反映？
MICHAEL：美景。噢，老天！簡直讓人想要對天驚呼。這是個難以置信的國家，它促使我看到了那些美景——那些山脈。瑞士遠遠不止圖片中所看到那樣。還有荷蘭和法國。唉！他們同樣地讓人難以置信！
EBONY：很顯然，當你旅行的時候，你不僅僅是一個旅行者，你還是一個觀察者。
MICHAEL：是的，許多人在旅行的時候僅僅呆在城市裏面。他們應該走出來看看真實的國土。不管你走到哪里，人造的事物僅僅是人造的，你應該走出來看看上帝創造的美景。
EBONY：在你的旅遊中，哪些國家給你的印象最深？
MICHAEL：對於這樣一個問題我願意舉手作答。我會這樣說，我總是認為黑人在藝術方面，是一個相當有天賦的種族。但是當我到達非洲的時候，對此我更加確信無疑。他們在那片國土上（西非國家，包括塞內加爾）做出了一些難以置信的事情。我們來到一個地方，在那裏的一塊平地上，所有的非洲人都在賣他們的手藝，各種各樣的東西。我來到一個小棚屋，那個傢伙正在雕刻一些難以置信的東西……他拿著一塊木頭和一把短柄斧似的東西就開始砍鑿開來，我坐在那裏，驚呆了。他雕刻出了一張很大的臉……把它浸在水裏面，再晾乾，然後他把它給了我，我付了賬。
EBONY：看來你對非洲的藝術印象很深，那麼非洲的音樂和舞蹈呢？
MICHAEL：當我們在非洲[塞內加爾首都達喀爾]下飛機時，我們受到了一長隊非洲舞者的歡迎。他們的聲音，他們的鼓響，載著韻律充斥在空氣中。我簡直瘋狂了起來，我開始尖叫。我說，‘太棒了！’他們踩著節拍，他們隨著韻律……我對整件事情相當地開心。就是這裏，我說道，這裏就是我起源的地方，我的根……
EBONY：顯然你對你的音樂起源印象深刻，那麼你認為非洲是在哪里獲得他們的音樂影響的？
MICHAEL：音樂來自天性。音樂是天生的。鳥兒產生音樂，海洋產生音樂，風也產生音樂，任何自然的聲音都是音樂。這就是音樂開始的地方……你看，我們只是在復制自然，那些我們在外面所聽到的聲音。
EBONY：那麼你的旅遊經歷影響了你對不同種族的人的看法嗎？
MICHAEL：我最討厭的事情就是無知，比如美國的偏見問題。我知道在其他一些國家情況更糟糕。但是我真的希望，我能把像委內瑞拉和特立尼達島這些國家裏人們對“色盲人士”（無種族偏見者）的那種真實關愛搬到美國來。
EBONY：你在做一個感情強烈的觀察報告，請繼續。
MICHAEL：我對無知有所偏見，這是我最主要的偏見，也只有無知。這是教育所致，因為這絕非遺傳。那些國家的小孩毫無偏見。我也願意為你列舉這些東西。我絕非是個有偏見的人。我覺得人們應該多想想上帝和造化。……看看人類身體中的那麼多奇跡吧——不同顏色的器官，不同顏色的血液——所有這些不同的顏色在人類身體中分擔著不同的功能。這是世界上最難以置信的系統；它構成了一具難以置信的營造物，人類。如果這些能在人體中發生，那麼為什麼我們人類不能辦到呢？這就是我的感受。這也是為什麼我希望這個世界能有更多的作為。這也是我唯一所不喜歡的，真的是這樣。
EBONY：你剛剛所說的不僅僅富有同情而且令人信服。然而你並未在公眾論壇亮相來詮釋你的觀點，那麼你該如何交流這些感受呢？
MICHAEL：我試著寫出來，寫成歌。融入舞蹈。放在心裏以教化世人。如果政治家們做不到，我想去實現它。我們需要這樣做。藝術家們，把它放在畫作中。詩人們，把它放在詩歌和小說中。這是我們所要做的，我覺得拯救這個世界非常重要。
EBONY：Stevie Wonder顯然和你有同樣的感受，從他的音樂中的一些資訊可以看出這點。
MICHAEL：這也是為什麼我喜歡Stevie Wonder的最高銷量專輯《Songs in The Key Of Life》的原因。他這張專輯中有首歌叫做“Black Man”（“黑人”）。……當我聽到這首歌的時候，我跳著尖叫了起來，因為他向世人展示了黑人所做的一切，以及其他人種所做的一切。通過引入其他種族的人和他們所做的事，他平衡得非常好。然後他闡述了黑人所做的一切。他將之命名為“黑人”而非其他名字，這也是我所喜歡的……這是引入事實的最好方式，通過歌曲。這是我所喜歡的。
EBONY：看上去只要音樂中的訊息是積極的，你就不會有任何的異議。與其他藝術家不同，你的音樂與贊美毒品的字句劃清界限。但是，毒品卻是事實。你怎麼看待這個問題？
MICHAEL：在我所在的領域，有很多這樣的東西，一直以來也有人向我提供。人們甚至乾脆……放到你的兜裏然後直接走掉。那麼，如果這是一樣好東西，他們決不會這樣做……我的意思是，會有人把一種美妙的東西放到我的兜裏然後走掉嗎？但是我不想與任何的這些東西有任何的關系。我的意思是，有句話雖然有些陳腐過時了，但它仍是我真正所堅信的：自然高度是世界上最高的高度……誰願意注射一些東西，然後在注射（毒品）之後成天無所事事，不知道自己是誰，不知道自己在做什麼，身處何處？接受一些能激勵你在世界上做出更好事情的東西吧。
EBONY：你將上帝和信仰放在追求自然高度的過程中嗎？
MICHAEL：噢，是的，上帝，真的。我信仰《聖經》並且努力遵循《聖經》。我知道自己並非是一個完美的人……我不把自己當作天使（譯者注：天使在英文中的另一個意思是完善可愛的人。）因為我並不是天使，當然我也不是魔鬼。我努力做到最好，我努力實現那些自己認為是正確的事情。就如此簡單。我真的相信上帝。
EBONY：祈禱和禱告在你生命中重要嗎？
MICHAEL：我每晚都會祈禱。不僅僅是晚上，我會在一天中不同的時間祈禱。當我看到美好的東西時，只要我看到漂亮的風景——比如當我坐飛機的時候或者其他類似的時候——我會說，噢，上帝啊，這太美麗了。我整天都會說一些這樣的小小祈福。我喜歡美麗。
EBONY：談到美麗，你在公眾場合總和許多美麗的人聯系在一起，包括你漂亮的姐妹，LaToya，Rebbie和Janet，而且還有Diana Ross、Tatum O'Neal和波姬 小絲。人們喜歡把你和後面二者浪漫地聯系在一起。有人說你和Tatum有許多共同點：你們的父母對你們都呵護備至——她是爸爸（Ryan O'Neal）的好女兒，你是媽媽（Katherine Jackson）的乖孩子。
MICHAEL：我想要所有閱讀《JET》和《EBONY》的朋友知道，我們是很好的朋友，這是最主要的。我認為，對于男孩，女孩是最好的朋友，而對于女孩，男孩是最好的朋友……
EBONY：你和波姬小絲的關系怎樣呢？你們是什麼時候認識的？關系有所發展嗎？
MICHAEL：我們在奧斯卡頒獎晚會上認識的。因為我沒有邀請她，她便主動來邀我跳舞。你知道，我非常害羞，容易局促不安。她於是對我說，“今晚我要和你跳舞。””我說，好啊。於是我們一起走進舞池開始跳舞。那時放的是懷舊的Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey的音樂，沒有什麼舞曲節奏。開始時，所有禿頭的老年人在舞池中慢舞，伴著那種Lawrence Welk音樂。我們實在無法融入，於是我們就開始聊天，慢慢地瞭解對方。我們交換了電話號碼，有空就電話閒聊，然後漸漸地我們就成了真正的好朋友
EBONY：這是否意味著波姬小絲取代了Tatum成為了你的一個特殊朋友？
MICHAEL：Tatum一直以來都打電話給我，我希望她能讀到這篇報道，因為我實在無法接到她的每一個電話。但她仍是我一個極好的朋友。
EBONY：Tatum和小絲都是傑出的演員，你在電影《The Wiz》中也做得很好。未來你在電影方面有什麼計劃？
MICHAEL：對於我將要做的，對於電影方面的安排以及如此之類的事情，我非常地興奮。我真的不能再等了……自《The Wiz》以來，難以計數的契機出現在我眼前，事情仍在進行之中……
EBONY：你曾經說過下一個角色你會小心選擇，以防再次出現扮演定型角色的情況。你說自從《The Wiz》之後，一些人因為你在其中的扮演的角色而仍然叫你“稻草人”。
MICHAEL：無論扮演什麼角色，人們都會把它和你的本人聯系在一起。但是這是表演，你在刻畫另一個人物……但我不喜歡將之稱為表演，因為我真的不喜歡表演的人，我是指，我不喜歡表演這個詞。
EBONY：請詳細闡述。
MICHAEL：我不認為演出就得表演。演出，如果你在表演，你在模仿現實。你應該創造現實。應該稱之為確信。你看，當我想到表演的時候我總是持反對態度。我不想看到一個表演者，我想看到一個相信者。我不想看到有人去模仿事實，這樣就談不上真實。我想看到的是有人去相信事實……這樣才能感動觀眾。
EBONY：你希望有人問你什麼問題，但是卻從未有人問起過？
MICHAEL：這個問題很好。或許是關于孩子的，或者是寫作的，或者是剛剛我談及到的……當人們把錯誤的事情放在歌詞裏面，把錯誤的觀點表現在舞臺上，以及出現諸如此類的做法時，我們就無法構造一個更好的精神世界。這非常重要，我覺得這樣做會導致許多人誤入歧途，因為一個藝術家在其生涯中被塑造得如此重要，他的做法和想法都會因他的巨大影響力而改變這個世界。人們對他們的聽任超過了總統和其他重要政治家。你必須得小心。他們能通過他們的說法和做法來改變人們的生活方式。這也是為什麼發揚愛心非常重要的原因，這也是為什麼我喜歡自己所從事的行業的原因……當Marvin Gaye推出專輯《What's Going On》的時候，如此之多的黑人包括白人（當然主要是黑人）都受其感染。“醒來吧，發生什麼了？醒來吧。”我是指那些不通過看新聞讀報紙來提升人文深度的人。發生什麼了？醒來吧。
EBONY：曾經有過一些運動來反對某些流行樂隊的骯臟歌詞。對於那些樂隊和他們的歌詞，你有什麼看法？
MICHAEL：有時他們太過了。他們不留下一點想像的餘地。如果我赤裸裸地來到舞臺上，這樣就沒有想像力了。當然我不會讓他們猜想我不穿衣服是什麼樣子。但是你看，他們太過了……我們需要留下想像的空間。有時人們做得太過火了。我覺得樹立正確的榜樣非常重要，因為很多小孩都向我們看齊。
當他娛樂生涯中最多產的歲月結束時，他的才能為他賺來了總共大約一億美元，Michael並不願停留在他的桂冠和戰利品上。他所面臨的未來以兩方面的觀察為向導。他所做的兩方面的觀察分別是：“我對創造一條路徑非常感興趣，而非遵循別人的蹤跡，這是我在生命中想要做到的——每一件事都要這樣，”Michael在1979年7月13日的采訪中這樣告訴記者。
他所做的另一個觀察源於他在《The Wiz》中扮演的角色稻草人，這部影片中他和他最親愛的朋友——Diana Ross一起聯合演出。
在這部影片快要結尾的時候，Michael通過他扮演的角色稻草人說出了這樣的話：“成功，名利，財富——這些都是幻覺，所有這些，真正真實的只是我們所能共同分享的友誼。”這些，便是Michael Jackson不為人知的想法。
(邁克爾·傑克遜中國網 2007年11月5日 )
The Michael Jackson Nobody Knows (Ebony, 1984)
As the kinetic and magnetic leader of The Jacksons, whose 1984 Victory Tour attracted the largest concert crowds and sold the most tickets in the history of show business, Michael Jackson is an extraordinary human being who is beyond category.
Although he has been out front and outstanding for 20 years, the 26-year-old singer/songwriter/dancer and actor was not recognized as a super-super-star until his ‘Thriller’ album became the best-selling LP of all time. Since then, much has been written about him, but the man behind the superstar is still a mystery and a media enigma.
The White media’s Michael Jackson, portrayed mostly through gossip, rumors, hype, and sometimes slander, is not the Michael I have watched and reported on since he emerged from the anonymity of the steel town of Gary, Indiana in 1970. That Michael Jackson — the Michael Jackson nobody knows — is warm, sensitive, vibrant, keenly aware of the mysteries of life and the wonder and magic of children. Several months ago he told me that he was tired of the wave of lies in the White press. What he said then was reflected in the extraordinary and revealing statement he issued at a press conference through his manager, Frank Dileo:
“For some time now, I have been searching my conscience as to whether or not I should publicly react to the many falsehoods that have been spread about me. I have decided to make this statement based on the injustice of these allegations and the far-reaching trauma those who feel close to me are suffering.
“I feel very fortunate to have been blessed with recognition for my efforts. This recognition also brings with it a responsibility to one’s admirers throughout the world. Performers should always serve as role models who set an example for young people. It saddens me that many may actually believe the present flurry of false accusations.”
“To that end, and I do mean END —
“No! I’ve never taken hormones to maintain my high voice.”
“No! I’ve never had my cheekbones altered in any way.”
“No! I’ve never had cosmetic surgery on my eyes.”
“Yes!! One day in the future I plan to get married and have a family. Any statements to the contrary are simply untrue.”
“Henceforth, as new fantasies are printed, I have advised my attorneys of my willingness to institute legal action and subsequently prosecute all guilty to the fullest extent of the law.”
“As noted earlier, I love children. We all know that kids are very impressionable and therefore susceptible to such stories. I’m certain that some have already been hurt by this terrible slander. In addition to their admiration, I would like to continue to keep their respect.”
Michael Joseph Jackson, whose middle name is his father’s first, earned respect the old-fashioned way — the same way he earned the title “The World’s Greatest Entertainer”.
His ‘Thriller’ album has sold over 35 million copies and is still selling. He earns an estimated $2 from the album’s $5 wholesale price and has pocketed some $70 million from worldwide sales.
He organized and now heads corporations that handle his business affairs, including Michael Jackson, Inc., which handles profits from his album and video royalties; Experiments In Sound, which deals with new techniques in recording; and Optimum Productions, which produces his music videos and video versions of records of other artists.
The top winner of record and video awards, he received an unprecedented eight American Music Awards, a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards, and the MTV Video Award.
Born the fifth of six talented sons of Joseph and Katherine Jackson in Gary , Indiana , 26 years ago (August 29, 1958), he is a positive thinker and a creative artist who is motivated by a deep concern for all of humankind and an unyielding love for his profession. His love for fans who have become admirers is, perhaps, without parallel.
Love is what made Michael endure one of the most pressure-filled concert tours of his career. Even though The Jacksons Victory Tour is expected to gross over $70 million, he didn’t perform for the love of money. He said he did it for the love of family, fans, and favorite charities. Although it was projected that his parents, who organized the tour with boxing impresario Don King, could each earn $5 million and each brother pocket about $7.5 million, Michael announced that his share of the concert earnings would go to three worthy causes. They are the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Camp Good Times for terminally ill children, and the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer research.
He is also giving earnings from a special album called ‘Let’s Beat It’, to charity. He is doing it, he says, because children inspired him to write the hit single, ‘Beat It’, “Children are my biggest inspiration in anything I do,” Michael told this writer. “I adore children — crazy about them. I wanted to write a song, the type of rock song that I would buy…. I wanted the kids to really enjoy it, the school kids, as well as the college kids,” said the sensitive songwriter whose two favorite songs are Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Peter and the Wolf.
He spoke of the song, ‘Be Not Always’, which he wrote with a little help from his brother, Marlon. In the sensitive, sentimental song recorded in The Jacksons’ Victory album, Michael makes a tearful plea to change a world in which “mothers cry, babies die helplessly in arms…” He observed that all of his brothers feel the same way about children, “not just me.”
Recalling that the late superstar Josephine Baker, an entertainer he admired, had a United Nations of children that she had adopted, Michael smiled broadly and said with assurance:
“I’m going to have children of my own, but I’m going to adopt as many races as I can. That is what I’m going to do. I love children. Like Emmanuel Lewis (tiny, 12-year-old star of TV’s Webster series), he’s a real inspiration.”
Nothing, however, inspires the proud performer more than his family and fans. He talked about this shortly after newspapers circulated reports that he had been spoiled by the success of his ‘Thriller’ LP and the proliferation of music awards, which included EBONY’s American Black Achievement Award.
“Because I have achieved a lot of broken records with ‘Off The Wall’ [album] and I’ve been the lead singer for the longest and now with ‘Thriller’, which is the all-time best and everything, I’m not planning on leaving,” he said of a rumor that he plans to leave the Jacksons after the tour. “They are my brothers [Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and Randy] and I love them all dearly and I think the media begin to look for something to sell papers and they make up things and they twist them.”
Michael said at the beginning of the tour, “I’m doing it for the joy of touring and the family as a whole, and for the kids out there who bought the records. I’m a stage addict. I have to be on the stage.” Once during an interview at his California home, where he still resides with his parents and sister, LaToya, Michael said, “I would like you to put this in quotations: ‘My main love for what I do is the admirers. I love the fans. Like when I’m doing a show and I see the fans out there dancing and screaming, excited, and we’re bringing that joy to them, that’s what I love most. And it’s just the greatest feeling in the world. You’re up there and you’re giving them that energy and that love and they’re just throwing it right back at you. And it’s great. And that’s my main love, the stage and making those admirers happy.’”
As the interview continues, Michael talks of many subjects that reveal things about him that have been overlooked in the media’s rush for rumors. Here are some of his views:
Ebony: You have to cope with a lot of stress and pressure in the entertainment business. People make all kinds of requests of you and propositions come from all directions. How do you cope with these stresses and pressures?
Michael: I cope with it in a way and I’m not calling myself Jesus because I would never even look at myself on the same level, but I’m comparing it to Jesus because what God gave to him was for a reason and he preached and people came about him and he didn’t get angry and push them aside and say leave me alone, I ain’t got time.
Ebony: But you must encounter some fans who pressure you and provoke you.
Michael: I do get angry at times because there are those who will come up to you with the worst attitude and will say to you, ‘Sit down, sign my baby’s paper.’ They’ll throw it at you. I’ll say, ‘Do you have a pen?’ ‘You don’t have a pen? Well, go get one.’ That’s what they’ll actually tell me…. I’m amazed by some of the people. They think they own you. And they’ll say to you, ‘Listen, I made you what you are.’ I say, ‘Wait a minute. You didn’t just buy it [album] to help me. You bought it because you like it and that’s true.’
Ebony: You are looked upon as a role model. You once appeared at the Chicago Public Library to encourage young people and adults to read, and a book marker souvenir was distributed with a quotation from you. Do you still enjoy reading?
Michael: I love to read. I wish I could advise more people to read. There’s a whole other world in books. If you can’t afford to travel, you travel mentally through reading. You can see anything and go any place you want to in reading.
Ebony: Have you had a chance to do any reading related to the Black experience or in terms of Black history?
Michael: Oh, yes! I’m really thankful for what Mr. [John H.] Johnson has done in bringing books through Johnson Publications…. I think it’s good to show we are contributing to the world in many ways. That’s what a lot of people think — that we haven’t.
Ebony: How do you keep up with what Black people today are doing, saying, and thinking? And who are some of the people, other than your family and close associates, who influence your thinking?
Michael: I love the way [John H.] Johnson runs his organization. Seems like everybody’s really nice. I’m sure there are quarrels and things, but everybody’s very nice… and have such an influence on the young. People rule their lives by JET and EBONY. I mean, they get their information from those two magazines and the young kids, too. I’ll say, where did you read it? I read it in JET. And they keep up with what’s happening in JET and EBONY. And I think that’s wonderful… God, I admire people like Johnson and [Walt] Disney. I think they’re phenomenal.
Ebony: You talk of the influence of books and people in your life. What part does travel play in shaping your attitudes and outlook on life?
Michael: I think before anybody gets married, they should really travel the world if they can. It’s the most incredible education I’ve ever had. I think it’s phenomenal. I mean just to see the different cultures of people, the different faces, to talk to people and just to learn and see…. When I traveled I was amazed. When we first went to Switzerland , I almost started crying. I really did.
Ebony: What touched you about that trip to bring about that emotional response?
Michael: The beauty. It’s like, oh, God, it’s crying out in the sky. It’s an incredible country and it inspires me to see these things — the mountains. The pictures don’t do justice to Switzerland . Then there’s the Netherlands and France . Gosh, they’re incredible, too!
Ebony: Obviously, when you travel, you are more than a tourist, you are an observer.
Michael: Well, a lot of people just stay in the cities when they travel. They should get out and see the real country. Wherever you go, man-made things are man-made, but you gotta get out and see God’s beauty.
Ebony: In your travels, what were some of the countries that impressed you most?
Michael: I’m gonna raise my hand on this one. I’ll say this. I always thought that the Blacks, as far as artistry, were a talented race of people. But when I went to Africa , I was even more convinced. They did some incredible things over there. [West African countries, including Senegal ]. We went to one place out in the flatlands where all these Africans sell their crafts and everything. I went to this one hut where this guy made incredible carvings…. He took a piece of wood and a hatchet-like thing and started chopping and I just sat there amazed. He carved a big face… dipped it in some water… dried it off and he gave it to me and I paid for it.
Ebony: You seem impressed by African art but what about African music and dance?
Michael: When we came off the plane in [ Dakar , Senegal ] Africa , we were greeted by a long line of African dancers. Their drums and sounds filled the air with rhythm. I was going crazy, I was screaming. I said, ‘All right!’ They got the beat and they got the rhythm…. I just was so glad about the whole thing. This is it, I said. This is where I come from. The origin….
Ebony: You were obviously impressed by your musical roots, so where do you think the Africans derived their musical influence?
Michael: Music started with nature. Music is nature. Birds make music. Oceans make music. Wind makes music. Any natural sound is music. And that’s where it started…. You see, we’re just making a replica of nature, which is the sounds we hear outside.
Ebony: Did your travels have any influence on the way you think about races of people?
Michael: The main thing that I hate most is ignorance, like the prejudice problems of America . I know it is worse in some other countries. But I wish I could borrow, like from Venezuela or Trinidad, the real love of color-blind people and bring it to America ….
Ebony: You are making some observations with intense feelings. Please continue.
Michael: I’m prejudiced against ignorance. That’s what I’m mainly prejudiced against. It’s only ignorance and it’s taught because it’s not genetic at all. The little children in those [countries] aren’t prejudiced. I would like for you to put this in quotes, too. I’m really not a prejudiced person at all. I believe that people should think about God more and creation…. Look at the many wonders inside the human body — the different colors of organs, colors of blood — and all these different colors do a different thing in the human body. It’s the most incredible system in the world; it makes an incredible building, the human being. And if this can happen with the human body, why can’t we do it as people? And that’s how I feel. And that’s why I wish the world could do more. That’s the only thing I hate. I really do.
Ebony: What you have just said is not only compassionate but compelling. How do you communicate such feelings since you don’t make public appearances to express your views in public forums?
Michael: I try to write, put it in song. Put it in dance. Put it in my art to teach the world. If politicians can’t do it, I want to do it. We have to do it. Artists, put it in paintings. Poets, put it in poems, novels. That’s what we have to do. And I think it’s so important to save the world.
Ebony: Stevie Wonder apparently shares similar feelings, judging by some of his musical messages.
Michael: That’s why I love Stevie Wonder’s biggest-selling album called ‘Songs in the Key of Life’. He has a song on that album called ‘Black Man’ [read the lyrics]…. I just jumped up screaming when I heard that record because he’s showing the world what the Black man has done and what other races have done, and he balanced it beautifully by putting other races in there, what they have done. Then he brings out what the Black Man has done. Instead of naming it another thing, he named it Black Man. That’s what I loved about it…. And that’s the best way to bring about the truth, through song. And that’s what I love about it.
Ebony: You don’t seem to have any objections to messages in music as long as the messages are positive. Your music, unlike some artists, stays clear of messages glorifying drugs. But drugs are a reality. How do you view it?
Michael: In the field I’m in, there is a lot of that and it gets offered to me all the time. People even go as far as to just… stick it in your pocket and walk off. Now, if it was a good thing, they wouldn’t do that…. I mean, would somebody drop something beautiful in my pocket and just walk off? But I don’t want to have anything to do with any of that. I mean, as corny as it sounds, but this is how I really believe: Natural highs are the greatest highs in the world…. Who wants to take something and just sit around for the rest of the day after you take it [drugs], and don’t know who you are, what you’re doing, where you are? Take in something that’s gonna inspire you to do greater things in the world.
Ebony: Do you put God or religion in that process of a natural high?
Michael: Oh, yes, God, really. I believe in the Bible and I try to follow the Bible. I know I’m an imperfect person…. I’m not making myself an angel because I’m not an angel and I’m not a devil either. I try to be the best I can and I try to do what I think is right. It’s that simple. And I do believe in God.
Ebony: Do prayers or praying play a role in your life?
Michael: I pray every night. I don’t just pray at night. I pray at different times during the day. When I see something beautiful, whenever I see beautiful scenery — like when I’m flying or something — I say, oh, God, that’s beautiful. And I always say little prayers like that all through the day. I love beauty.
Ebony: Speaking of beauty, you have been associated in a public way with many beautiful people, including your beautiful sisters, LaToya, Rebbie, and Janet, but also Diana Ross, Tatum O’Neal, and Brooke Shields. You have been linked romantically with the latter two. Someone said you and Tatum had a lot in common: the parents of both of you are protective — she’s a daddy’s [Ryan O’Neal] girl and you’re a momma’s [Katherine Jackson] boy.
Michael: I want all those people who read JET and EBONY to just know that we’re mainly good friends. That’s the main thing. I think for guys, girls make the best friends. And for girls, guys make the best friends.
Ebony: What is your relationship with Brooke? When did you meet and has that relationship developed?
Michael: We met at the Academy Awards. She asked me to dance because I was not going to ask her. You know, I’m really shy and embarrassed. So she says, ‘I got to dance with you tonight.’ I said, great. So we got together on the dance floor and danced. They were playing that old-fashioned Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey music, which wasn’t much of a groove. First, you’ve got all these bald-headed old people on the floor slow dancing, the Lawrence Welk sound. We really couldn’t get into it so we got to talking and got to know each other. We switched numbers and had phone conversations back and forth and we became real good friends.
Ebony: Does this mean that Brooke has replaced Tatum as a special friend?
Michael: Tatum calls me all the time and I hope she reads this interview because I’m sorry I couldn’t get all of her calls. But she’s still a wonderful friend of mine.
Ebony: Both Tatum and Brooke are fine actresses. You did all right in The Wiz. What’s in the future for you now in films?
Michael: I’m very excited about a lot of things that I want to do and that I’m going to do in films and things. I really can’t wait…. Since The Wiz, incredible offers have come to me, things that are still in the making.
Ebony: You once said that you will be careful about choosing your next role so that you won’t be typecast anymore. You said that since The Wiz, some people still call you Scarecrow because of that character role you played.
Michael: Whatever role you play, people link it with your personality. But it’s acting. You’re portraying another person…. I wish it wasn’t called acting because I don’t really like actors. I mean, the word acting.
Ebony: Please elaborate.
Michael: I don’t think acting should be acting. Acting, if you’re acting, you’re imitating realism. You should create realism. It should be called believing. You see, I always was against it when I thought about acting. I don’t want to see an actor. I want to see a believer. I don’t want to see anybody that’s gonna imitate the truths. It’s not real then. I want to see a person that’s gonna believe the truth…. That’s when you move an audience.
Ebony: What kind of questions do you wish you would be asked but nobody ever asks you?
Michael: That’s a good question. Probably about children or writing, or what I just talked about…. You don’t make a better world of minds and things when people put the wrong things in their lyrics and give the wrong views on stage and everything. It’s just so important and I think this can lead so many people astray, because an artist can be built up so big in his career that this could change the whole world by what he does and thinks. They’ll listen to him before the President or any of these big politicians. You have to be careful. They could change these peoples’ way of life by what they say and do. That’s why it’s important to give off love vibes and that’s why I love what I do…. When Marvin Gaye put out the album, ‘What’s Going On’ [read the lyrics], so many Blacks as well as Whites — but mainly Blacks — were educated. ‘Wake up. What’s going on? Wake up.’ I mean the ones that don’t watch the news, don’t read the papers to really dig in the depths of humanism. What’s going on? Wake up.
Ebony: There have been some campaigns against so-called dirty lyrics songs by some popular musical groups. Do you have any views about such groups and their lyrics?
Michael: Sometimes they go too far. They don’t leave anything for the imagination. If I just walked out on stage naked, there’s no imagination. I’m not letting them imagine what I look like without the clothes. But you see, they overdo it…. We got to leave them something to imagine. People go too far at times. I think it’s important to set the right example because there are so many kids who look up to us.
As the most productive year of his entertainment career comes to a close and his talents helped him gross about $100 million, Michael is not content to rest on his laurels or his loot. He faces a future guided by two observations, both of which he made: “I’m interested in making a path instead of following a trail and that’s what I want to do in life — in everything I do,” Michael told this writer in an interview on July 13, 1979.
He made the other observation in his role as Scarecrow in ‘The Wiz’, a movie in which he co-starred with one of his dearest friends — Diana Ross.
In a scene near the end of the film, Michael spoke these words through his Scarecrow character: “Success, fame, fortune — they are all illusions. All there is that is real is the friendship that two can share.”
Those are the thoughts of the Michael Jackson nobody knows.
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