by BAR columnist michael hureaux perezThe King of Pop is dead, and “you can hear the scavengers gnawing on bones all the way to the bank from any vantage point where you stand.” Michael Jackson succumbed to a peculiar Amurridan syndrome: TMTS, Too Much Too Soon. “In United States capitalist culture, performing artists have to deal with a public pillorying that actually ought to be reserved for the war criminals and thieves who have always run and owned this society.”
Eshu’s blues: Michael Jackson dies of Amurrika at 50
by BAR columnist michael hureaux perez
“Jackson was able to surpass someone else’s moves with his own, and surpass his own moves with someone else’s.”
Michael Jackson is dead, and we are told the cause of his death is a mystery. But there’s no mystery. This enormously gifted and sad man died of a lethal Amurrikan disease many call TMTS (Too Much Too Soon), and the terminal qualities of his chronic disorder began to manifest long before he actually passed. Many who denied the immensity of the man’s talent will cry crocodile tears now, and many of those folks are people who, just a week ago, were more than eager to castigate his outwardly bizarre behavior, which, even at a glance from this far away, was clearly a symptom of an isolated emotional and mental illness which went untreated all the man’s days.
But that’s Amurrika. Amurrika has always set up its idols for a moment, only to make a public spectacle of their human frailty when Amurrika believes it can sell enough trash magazines and other forms of cultural offal. Michael Jackson, like Freddie Prinze, John Belushi, Janis Joplin, and many others before him, fell into the workings of TMTS, and got ground up in the gears of the machine. Not that the machine really cares. You can hear the scavengers gnawing on bones all the way to the bank from any vantage point where you stand.
There are those who tell us that Michael’s fate came to him because he was just too powerful a figure on the cultural scene and too black to be allowed such power in Amurrika. There’s no denying the importance of these cultural factors, but they weren’t decisive in the end. The fact of the matter is that Jackson, while at the top of his game as a performer, was as brilliant a talent as anyone who ever stood center stage in Amurrika. A lot of the artist’s most brilliant work with his brothers as lead for the Jackson 5, Off the Wall,Thriller, Bad, were bones in the throat of his most bile-ridden Amurrikan critics, and that’s why they hated him so. “Whacko Jacko,” as the New York Post called him, my ass. Many people familiar with that style of journalism know what’s actually whack, jack.
“A lot of the artist’s most brilliant work were bones in the throat of his most bile-ridden Amurrikan critics.”
Jackson’s original contributions to choreography and dance were substantial. As is said of any prominent athlete, Michael Jackson was able to surpass someone else’s moves with his own, and surpass his own moves with someone else’s. We won’t see his like again for a long time.
By the same token, it must be remembered that for a brief period, Michael Jackson really tried to play the Amurrikan game of “superstar” and cultural impresario, and it turned and devoured him. His pettier efforts, from the attempt to own all of the work of the Beatles to his efforts to shut down talents like Terence Trent Darby, were pathetic and created a lot of resentment towards him. But he had a lot of money and power, and I think it was Bob Dylan who said that sometimes, when you’ve got a lot of knives and forks, you’ve just got to cut something. And face it, that’s how success is defined in Amurrika, having just for the sake of having. No rhyme, no reason.
There are some with far fewer abilities than Michael Jackson had who can thrive in such a place, because their stupidity allows them to believe they personally created sex or dance or the Kabala or Frida Kahlo or whichever human energy they’re trying to purchase this week. Michael Jackson wasn’t stupid, but he never really had a childhood, and at some level, never figured out what his own reasons were for exploring the androgynous dimensions of dance that he pioneered and embraced, so he jumped through a window in his own head quite some time ago. The arts pose some peculiar crossroads, and the Vaslav Nijinskis and the Michael Jacksons of this world often get jammed up in their experiments with form.
“Both Jackson and Presley were manipulated by their personal ambitions, the drive of others around them, and the toxins of the Amurrikan spotlight.”
It was never surprising that Michael Jackson married into the Elvis Presley clan for a brief period, for there is no other figure in the history of pop culture whose career he so inversely mirrored. Both men were manipulated by their personal ambitions, the drive of others around them, and the toxins of the Amurrikan spotlight. Presley was tormented by the ghost of his mother, Jackson was tormented by the living spirit of his father. Presley was never comfortable in his own skin, and was haunted by both the outward and the hidden injuries of southern rural class and race, in that order. Michael Jackson was never comfortable in his own skin, and was haunted by both the outward and the hidden injuries of northern urban race and class, in that order. Both men knew enormous success early in life dwelling in a revolutionary transformation of a popular music that would be irreversibly impacted by African American motif, changes that were much larger than either was allowed by circumstance to develop any holistic reckoning with. And both men were haunted by the bitter memory of what once could have been.
In United States capitalist culture, performing artists have to deal with a public pillorying that actually ought to be reserved for the war criminals and thieves who have always run and owned this society. But it’s not like that, only established forms of full-blown, batshit insanity are allowed license in Amurrika, the last few national elections and their immediate aftermath being the clearest proof of the game.
“Performing artists have to deal with a public pillorying that actually ought to be reserved for the war criminals and thieves.”
Of course there’s no denying that much of what happened to and with Michael Jackson on a personal level was crazy, for want of a much better word. But mental illness is mental illness, it is an internalized disease, a dis-ease. Unfortunately in the United States, you’re supposed to be impervious to old pain, especially if you’re rich and famous. “Success” in Amurrika is a cruel thing. There is no mystery that a culture so steeped in denial of the internal need for emotional and psychic connection above and beyond the definitions imposed by the worship of the commodity is so violent on both a personal and interpersonal level. There is no wonder that it eats so many of its more “successful” children. Or at least there ought not to be any wonder at this sorry point, by god.
Well, Amurrika finished has chewing up the living body of Michael Jackson. It began devouring him inwardly a long time ago, and finally administered the death blow. Now we’ll all be treated to the spectacle of the Beast chewing on the bones of this fallen child-man. There’s money to be made selling off the body parts of the spectacular corpse, and it’s morning in Amurrika.
BAR columnist michael hureaux perez is a writer, musician and teacher who lives in southwest Seattle, Washington. He is a longtime contributor to small and alternative presses around the country and performs his work frequently. Email to: tricksterbirdboy@yahoo.com
Comments
And face it, that’s how
And face it, that’s how success is defined in Amurrika, having just for the sake of having. No rhyme, no reason.
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As a tank, what I do for
As a tank, what I do for tanking him is camp WoW account the fires so I can maximize compte WoW my threat.
Vitiligo and Lupus
I find it so interesting that no one seems to want to report that he had lupus and vitiligo. His use of masks and umbrellas are easily explained. He was suffering from lupus. Everyone was so quick to judge and call him weird instead of seeing what was right infront of their eyes. Explaining to people what lupus and vitiligo are can bring more focus on these diseases. There is no cure for them.
Mystery Man
Michael Jackson was an amazing dancer and musician--absolutely gifted beyond belief--yet his personal agony and self hatred played out for too long in front of us all--no one was willing to speak truth to celebrity--as he disfigured himself and retreated into his own hellish never land--voracious American capitalism was ready to devour him--the illusion of salvation to the hungry immensley talented black boy from a working class home--all clues in the tragic puzzle--but what about the homophobia of the black community? No one talks about that--if he had been accepted by his family and community as gay and brilliant would he be dead today? Perhaps he wanted to be a woman--was transgender?? where was the black community when he was so obviously trying to be free at last?
Garbege
Do you think Elvis could have been gay and had all of those adoring white Southern fans?
Mystery Man, Michael Jackson
edarrow, you make an excellent point; it is the question I keep asking people. IF MICHAEL JACKSON WERE GAY, WOULD WE ALL STILL BE IN MOURNING? Remember, the Jackson family were active Jehovah Witnesses and that denomination is known for being notoriously reactionary, especially when it comes to human sexuality.
If Michael were gay, would Rev. Al and Rev. Jesse still be standing with the family? Would the Apollo host a tribute? With all the lingering questions about his children and how he went about becoming a father, then I fear that 10 to 15 to 20 years from now we may have to face some disturbing truths about Michael; at that point we will have to face ourselves in the mirror and acknowledge that prescription drugs were not the only thing that killed him. OH MY HOW FAR WE SLAVES HAVE COME.
No Tears for MJ Part
No Tears for MJ Part II
Good points in your article, but at some point, the individual shares responsibility with society for his/her destruction. Not every big name celeb subcumbs to society's jackals. Many bask in the glow of the good times, sometimes get caught up in the hype, and then ride off relatively unscathed into the sunset.
Jackson mentally ill? Who knows? The bizarre behaviors kept him in the limelight long after he ceased charting hits. Perhaps his wacko moments were intentional for publicity which in turn maintained his income generating ability. Celebrities plant gossip items and "stage" events (including plastic surgery, marriages, and hook ups) to keep their names in the news all the time. Perhaps he was not so much mentally ill as overwhelmed by ego - a trait shared by most celebrities, be they superstars or C-listers on a reality show.
As for his lack of a childhood, there are millions of people who had hardscrabble childhoods filled with poverty or abuse or personal loss. Again, many survived such and some even became highly successful in life. The pressures of celebrity life and regular Joe just trying to get by life ain't much different - with the celeb having a nice financial cushion to help smooth the waters.
Building up "stars" and tearing them to shreds is what the media has been doing since time began. Those who can't handle this fact need to retire from the spotlight - and especially not go around doing crazy- assed stuff to fan the flames even more. If the spotlight was too much for Michael, he certainly could have left it, scaled back his celebrity-sized need for expensive things, and lived a relatively quiet life somewhere in the world. As for any mental illness, he could certainly afford therapy.
I'm sorry Michael died and my sympathies go to his family. But I can't wag too much of a finger at Amurrika for his troubles. He was a big participant in the madness.
P.S. I've seen old clips of James Brown in his heyday. He and Michael in a dance off? JB wins hands down all day long - and he didn't even have to touch his crotch.
M.Jackson
Thanks for the always trenchant feedback, Beverly. I don't shed any tears for Michael Jackson, but I don't like to cut the bastards who own this culture any slack. Yes, I think there were many occasions when MJ could have stepped away from the glitz and chose not to, and I think I mentioned at one point that his self-aggrandizing moves- the decision to own all of the Beatles music, petty interference with rising talents- were pretty fucked up. But I think the culture he was an ikon of was crazy, and crazy feeds crazy. Patterns hook patterns, as some say.
I shed no tears for the man, but I've got low tolerance for the levels of spectacle directed for and against celebrities in the wake of their deaths, or the oh-so-righteous concern over the messes some of them, like Michael Jackson, became.
more reflection
I appreciate and agree with some of your opinions, but I think you may want to rethink the below assertion.
"The pressures of celebrity life and regular Joe just trying to get by life ain't much different - with the celeb having a nice financial cushion to help smooth the waters."
Also, although i love James Brown, and he was certainly innovative with his saturday night function get down. But, i think that there can be no argument that MJ's innovations surpassed the God Father's slippery cadences on more than few stylistic fronts.
While serving the same function with in that tradition of gettin' down wit' the get down.
No tears for MJ
Thought provoking Mr. Perez and i certainly agree with TMTS breakdown and it is, the nature of of capitalism to eat up others before its own inevitable demise. Yet, it is a tragedy in our time, that a man so gifted and giving and gentle as this human being was, was hunted as he was by the Hyenas and jackels that converge on successful Black men intertainers in an attempt to settle him dowm. Your analogy of him and Elvis does have merit; however, I take a different slant on that comparison. And it is based on the the political economic effects of racist America with how it has historically treated Black inovators in Music and dance and its never failing abilties to supply a suitable Doppelgänger to replace him or her (Madonna) with on the scene. And Elvis, not withstanding his great talent, is one example. But, he is not to be blamed for that exploitation, the industry is. At any rate; My theories on MJ concerning his battle with his sexuality, and the color of his skin (at birth) and what it became in his adult life, lie with in the realm of possibly revealing that like Jack Johnson for example; it was not the man who was disturbed, it was the society in which he was active that was and not ready for him and that subsequently, according to my theory which is not complete, MJ heard America's history speaking to him and rationalzed, in spite of its outer appearances, that he had to create his own solution around the disabling obsticles set up in society. And it can and has driven many a man and woman over the brink into the well of self distruction. And yet, with all that and more, it can be said and known unequivically that MJ lived such an extraordinary life that few will ever come close to experiencing. It was not for nothing. All beauty must some day meet its end, but what it leaves in its wake is what we can behold eternally. There fore, in truth, I have no tears for MJ, only immense gratitude. He is an inextricable part of me and America, whether she likes and accepts it or not.
Lastly, the quote you use by Bob Dylan, although it does make sense in this context; Its metaphoracle purpose in the song concerning Hollace Brown, was in referrence to the anger, dispair and violence that poverty and hunger can bring a man to commit and or endure. However, conversely, wealth and abundance can lure a man man down roads no less dark and hopeless.
Jack Johnson and all
Interesting response, CoolBreeze, Jack Johnson and all, particularly in how complex the riddle of race and class becomes for people who "succeed" in this mess we're forced to live with.
As for the sexuality piece with Jackson, well, who knows? I think one of the foulest riddles in this culture is that all most of us know at first is sexual repression, and then liberation pressure pushes the coin the other direction, we have to declare our sexuality. Suppose some people are asexual, where does that leave them? Are they the new perverts? I guess the reason I'm posing this is that I think MJ was so confused about intimacy- you know, the way most of us have been or will be at some point in our lifetimes- and that being where he was in the culture, he chose a representation of sexuality over actual sexuality. Who knows? As for the Dylan quote, I don't think we differ on its interpretation.
As regards Uhuru Mvment and AFSP from a few weeks back. - yes, I knew you all well for a time. I used to hang at the Uhuru House bakery in Oakland, and worked with one of your cadres led by a bro named Wayman Earls, here in Seattle back in the early 1980s. And I agree that the energy of your faction continues to be engaging. I liked that go round you all staged with that young brother in Florida and Obama last year. That's the old stuff.
Excellent
This is hands-down the best obituary I've seen on MJ.
Personally, I think it's hard to overstate the TM part of the TMTS problem. That much money is a very powerful amplifier of anybody's psychiatric problems. Progressive taxation, plus faster progress on freedom of sexuality, might have saved this man from his demons.
Thanks, MH!
The sad, unfortunate passing of Michael Jackson
Thanks for your essay; good to hear/read a few people courageous enough to offer an insightful analysis.
Late last night/early this morning I came across a powerful, moving speech Michael made in March 2001at Oxford University, "Heal The Kids." Yes, the same Oxford University where Malcolm X spoke back in the 1960s. In the speech, basically Michael states he never had a childhood and so we wants to make sure every child around the world has a childhood, thus his charitible donations to organizations that help children and their families. Have you read his speech? If so, what are your thoughts on it, in light of what we are hearing about him now? When you get time, please share with your readers your thoughts on his speech. Thanks!
Jackson's Oxford U speech
I'm not familiar with it, Mawusi, but will make a point of looking it up.
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his music was good
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