Why Michael Jackson's Death has Touched Me So Deeply

Ever since I heard the news of Michael Jackson's death, I really haven't been able to get it off of my mind. Yeah, I know, "well he's Michael Jackson of course the greatest entertainer of all times, its seems unreal" and yes I have those feelings about his death. I do agree that there was an air of invincibility attached to this image of an entertainer like no other that never seemed like it would go away. He was the 9th Wonder and definitely did not seem of this world for most of his career. He created magic every time he walked on to a stage and his power as performer did something to people (old, young, white, black, green, deaf, blind...you get the point).  The thing that connected us all through his music and videos is no doubt his unparalleled greatness. But although these are the things we can all agree on, my mind is stuck on the thing that makes me and Michael Jackson the same. 

Growing up as a young girl with two artistically creative parents I developed this keen sensitivity for people and people's issues. I was a big crybaby when I was young ( I kinda laugh saying that now)...but I was ALWAYS crying. My feelings were always hurt by a person who wouldn't share with me or didn't want to be my friend and I would be hurt to the core. My mother would always struggle to deal with my sensitivity because she recognized the "artist" in me who had such a huge heart for humanity. She recognized that she had to preserve my sensitivity as an artist so that I wouldn't lose my ability to create from an emotional place while protecting my sensitivity as a person so that I wouldn't spend my life being broken down by every person who entered my life without good intentions. And my father recognized my sensitivity as an "artist" and put me in my first play when I was just 8 years old while protecting my sensitivity as a person by loving me unconditionally and making me secure in my skin to the point that nothing could change me but everything could alter me. But I was so blessed to have these parents who recognized as creative individuals that what I had was not a weakness but something beautiful that needed to be preserved and I often think if I didn't have parents who recognized it as a beautiful thing and only saw my talent as a way to live out their own dreams I would have had a life very similar to Michael Jackson's tragic legacy. 

When listening to many of his songs there is this crying out for help that is heartbreaking in many of his lyrics. He asks to not be judged, to be understood and to be loved unconditionally and I cannot imagine the demons he must have fought with every night. And so I guess I wrote this blog today because as news of his death being a homocide hits the news like a brick through a car window and the circus continues I feel an overwhelming sadness for him. Not his family, not his fans and not his children but for him. The sensitive heart that had to be behind the man who never grew out of childhood. How much he must have internalized all the wrong that was done to him over the years and as an artist my heart cries out for him. Everyday I dream of being able to use acting to help me get to a place to do all the things I want to do for humanity and a lot of what Michael Jackson did for the world inspires me and how the world thanked him saddens me deeply. So I urge the world to keep his legacy alive: his perfection in music and performance, his desire to make the world better than it was when he entered it, his commitment to excellence and innovation and most importantly his love for people. The other things whether rumor or true have no effect on how I view the greatest entertainer to ever live. Agree or not. Just my feelings. 

Love,

@bestnewactress :)