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Im sure JT would have found success regardless of MJ's obvious influence. Everyone's so hot to discount his success because he's white and is enjoying fame performing music that is obviously black-influenced but no one criticized Usher or other black artists who bite MJ's style. People need to stop hating. If you don't like his music don't listen but stop trying to stifle others' appreciation for it. Piven's just trying to kiss up to black folks to get some street cred.

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Skin color will always be a major issue wherever "white skin" has colonized or been in control of people with darker hued skin. White skin becomes a signature for power, beauty, intelligence and all that is "good". Look at countries colonized by Americans, the British, Italians etc. The legacy of the mixed race in any one of these countries has signified how privilege follows the lighter skin.

Gwen

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Mrs. Jackson,

May I start by apologizing to you....and your family for the injustice of the invasion of your lives since you became known to the world? It saddens me to see what sadistic role the media and other critics have forced your family to endure through agitated attacks on your character and every move. It is without question to me who played a major role in your son's recent demise. It has always puzzled me how easily a vast majority of people find it necessary to thrive from information on celebrities' activities, who's dating who, who's pregnant, what the baby's name is, what their financial status is,etc. I won't for the life of me ever understand what value there is in that type of knowledge. I don't pretend to understand what daily life is for you and your family, but I imagine it isn't a lot of fun being watched and critiqued all the time by people who somehow believe they are the model of perfection at its best.

It appalls me to watch how even in Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson's death it has become a race with media fanatics to find out every intimate detail of your son's life, even where his final resting place might be. I can only hope that there is someway that your family never reveal where that place exists. I think Mr. Jackson deserves to have that peace as he has already lived in the center ring of a cruel circus act so many years of his existence. I'm sure he found confidence on the stage, but to never have that freedom most of us take for granted when we step outside our homes seems one of the cruelest jokes life played on him. For that I am sincerely sorry. Just know, Mrs. Jackson, that even though you have seen monstrous accusations thrown at your son and people trying desperately to disfigure his human character, there are some who exist that never bought in to all the craziness that circulated about him.....some like me. Of course, I never met Michael physically, but I didn't really ever have to because I believe I met him through his music. Certainly, he was a gifted young man, but somehow it comes down to more than that for me. I've always enjoyed being in the company of real genuine people, and that is something that is not easily accessible, but they do exist. I think I' m right when I say that I believe Mr. Michael J. Jackson was one of those people. I believe what you saw was what he was....just a very sensitive being with a thirst to quench the world's need to feel good. I think what became complex to others about him was really the simpleness of him. It was too far out of the box for people to think someone could be so genuinely pure in nature....the people who are just too caught up in finding a new fix, even if that fix is at the expense of another.

I know you'll come through this as "Time" can be your best friend. Do forgive all of the critics who have attacked you and your family. It is just that they don't really know the severity of their words and actions because it is my experience that when you know better, you do better! One day they will know, but until then.....let me apologize on their behalf. Be strong.....you are not alone!

Veemee
NYC

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"Can't we all just, yadacity, get along?"

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