In part one,
we chronicled Michael Jackson's turbulent journey when it came to his complexion
and examined the methods used to take him from black to white.
In this video, we aim to theorize Michael Jackson's
complex motivations, which called into question the King
of Pop's relationship to his racial identity.
Whether the alarming transformation was solely as a result of his vitiligo
condition or was it at least in some part, a decision Michael Jackson made
for himself, no one other than Jackson himself could
truly articulate his thoughts when it comes to this matter.
In this video, we will sort to argue three
different scenarios that may have plausibly led to Michael Jackson's most
dramatic of changes and in turn let you, the viewer, make your own assessments.
Here's the detail. The first logic is the simplest one
and closest to Michael Jackson's own set of accounts. That the iconic performer had
suffered for years with the skin pigment depleting condition vitiligo and used
makeup as well as skin bleaching creams to even out his skin tone until his
complexion was consistent and completely absent of color.
From his start as part of Motown's
historic movement in music, young Michael looked up to many of its
biggest stars as well as other black music showmen including Little Richard,
James Brown, Jackie Wilson and Sammy Davis Jr.
To name just a few.
The blackowned record label never
outwardly favored lighter artists and as part of a uniquely pro black environment,
Michael Jackson visited African countries on many occasions and was said to be very
conscious of black history and the plight of his people.
Over the years, Jackson publicly professed the pride he held for his black heritage
as well as made private statements that in his eyes, black was indeed beautiful.
East Indians,
I think they're really beautiful and the darker they are, the more beautiful.
With this knowledge, we would have no reason to believe Michael
had any motivation to reject or disguise his inherent blackness.
However, as we found out in our last
video, there is no evidence of Jackson using makeup or other methods to maintain
his original skin tone once vitiligo became apparent.
In contrast, it is visible that Michael used makeup and bleaching products
to appear lighter throughout the years as visible signs of the disease weren't
prevalent on noticeable areas of skin, like his hands and face,
as late as early 1991.
However, one scenario that could have taken place was that Michael Jackson
suffered from vitiligo that covered his body alone.
An explanation for his years wearing long
shirts and pants, and sort to blend in the pale patches with his natural skin
tone, despite being able to disguise visible signs of the disease.
For the notoriously self conscious singer,
the thought of a highly disfiguring skin condition slowly spreading over his body
may have been too unbearable for him. As Michael Jackson had obsessive tendencies
when it came to other aspects of his looks,
often being cited as the poster child for body dysmorphia, that even if he had
a mild case of vitiligo, like his brother Jermaine, the psychological effect
of the disease could have been too overwhelming for him that michael was
willing to resort to the most drastic of measures to resolve it.
In his mission, Michael Jackson theoretically could have
started depigmentation with the use of powerful skin bleaching creams
prematurely to relieve himself of intense dysphoria, despite the long term impact
this would have on his health and public image.
On the flip side, Michael Jackson's lightened look may have
simply been a personal preference gone wrong. That his racially ambiguous image
during publicity shoots and music videos and while on stage was his preferred look
at this time. He liked my hair.
Because I'm native american and russian, and he liked my hair because I have dark
black, long hair and I'm pale, so he was just blown away with my hair.
There is evidence of this in the form
of a mural that was painted at his family's home Havyenhurst completed
in 1984. It portrays a noticeably lightened Michael Jackson reading
the secrets of life, giving some insight into how he wanted
to be portrayed and foretelling his later lighter looks.
Having long been inspired by fairy tales, fantasy figures and imagery created
by the likes of Walt Disney, Michael may have very well been inspired
by the eurocentric beauty standards conveyed in depictions of angels,
cherubs, pixies and fairies alike.
From his prince charming glitzy military
ensembles, to his surgically upturned peter pan nose,
one could argue that Michael Jackson pursued a Disney inspired fantasy look
for himself that could have extended to his skin tone.
Using makeup,
lightening creams and reportedly skin peels to give his desired look,
Jackson theoretically could have become frustrated with their varying levels
of success and sorted a more permanent solution.
It has been suggested by some that Michael
Jackson may even have been prescribed by a misguided doctor these powerful
creams as a solution to permanently and more effectively lighten his
complexion. But their effect backfired, causing the complete destruction
of melanocytes. Forcing Jackson to fully depigment his skin
as a result. Not the first time Michael's
been a victim of botched surgeries and visually debilitating ailments. His
pursuit for physical perfection when it came his desire for lightened skin could
have ironically resulted in a far worse body insecurity for the artist.
This compounded by the endless ridicule
and speculation Michael was the victim of in tabloid media.
As a result,
after years of silence on the matter, in a groundbreaking 1993 interview
with Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson finally revealed publicly
his condition and in the same breath adamantly proclaimed his black pride,
calling out hypocrisy when it comes to the public's reaction to his change
in appearance, versus the attempts others make to alter themselves.
But what about all the millions of people- let's reverse it, okay?
What about all the millions of people
who sit out in the sun to become darker, to become other than what they are.
Nobody says nothing about that.
Highlighting his frustration with a different set of rules black
artists have to follow when compared to their white counterparts.
For example, Madonna has never been
perceived as denying her Italian roots by dyeing her hair platinum blonde
and adopting an all American Marilyn Monroe image.
Neither did Giorgios Panayiotou for disguising his Greek Cypriot
heritage by adopting the anglicized name, George Michael.
It appears to be a uniquely black
experience that artists like Michael Jackson had their blackness
constantly disputed as his wealth and influence grew.
That he must consistently project
and proclaim his black pride through his image and creative endeavors,
a requirement Jackson likely found limiting and resented.
It could be argued that Michael Jackson
didn't see his racial identity as something that he felt the need
to outwardly parade. But that it was something that he embodied
internally and never felt disconnected from.
Another perspective that has been argued is that Michael Jackson's lightened
appearance was motivated by his pursuit for ever increasing commerciality.
That the ambitious crossover star,
who broke all kinds of racial barriers in modern pop music, sought to break away
from the confines often placed on black artists altogether by appearing
superficially, at least outside the realms of race.
Having achieved the best selling album of all time with Thriller in 1984,
Michael Jackson was in no way satisfied and determined to go beyond his previous
accomplishments by selling over double of his follow up record, with 100 million
albums written on his bathroom mirror as a daily reminder.
Having studied the greats in popular
music, Michael obsessively examined the careers of those that came before him.
How did some strike it rich?
Why are few considered legendary over others?
And how did some die penniless and now long forgotten?
In a note written before the release of his Bad album,
Michael Jackson described the unique challenges he believed black artists faced
when compared to their white counterparts and his mission to triumph over adversity.
Throughout history, white men have always branded the pages of history with great
white hopes, putting whites over blacks as nobles, like Elvis being the king of Rock
and roll, Springsteen being the Boss and the Beatles being the best.
Yes, these guys were good,
but they weren't better singers or dancers than the blacks.
The difference is that whites control
the press, the media, and they make the public believe whatever they desire.
Plus, a lot of the blacks have been ugly to look at.
You must be beautiful looking.
I will change this now with the power
of my songs and dance and looks and total reclusiveness and mystery world.
I will rule as the King.
From these assessments,
it is clear that Michael Jackson believed his looks had great power during
the heights of the video generation and music, and their potential to propel
him to new stratospheric heights of commercial dominance.
Having captured the hearts and minds
of the American public during thriller mania, Michael had aspirations to take it
global, to reach new audiences further afield
in much the same way,
despite some cultures rarely embracing black artists or music.
In this pursuit,
it could be argued that Michael Jackson sought to project a more universal image
one that sat outside the confines of black or white to broaden his global appeal
and free himself creatively from the conventions of race.
This would explain Michael's more racially
ambiguous image in photo shoots, music videos and while performing versus
the more natural complexion we would see in images taken in private.
However, an unforeseen effect of this
change in his image were the countless articles and speculation over
Michael Jackson's altered complexion, his position as a role model for black
youth and debate over his apparent dissatisfaction in his blackness.
This controversy causing a spectacle in itself that no doubt only heightened
the sensation that followed him on his world tour and warranted further publicity
when promoting his music. At least in some part,
audiences tuned into MTV video premieres
and awards ceremonies to witness Michael and his evolving looks.
It could be argued that Michael Jackson
became increasingly obsessed with the power of this.
That his good looks didn't just have
the capability of attracting fans and larger audiences,
but they could also cause a sensation and create a cult of mystique around him.
During the development of his Dangerous album, Jackson experimented wildly
in hopes of cultivating a whole new image for himself.
As the recently named King of Pop.
Michael needed a whole reinvention in order to break new ground
with the ambitious album. So not to underwhelm audiences with just
another Michael Jackson record with a similar look and style.
Inspired by the master of spectacle and the greatest showman, P.T.
Barnum, who appears on the cover of his Dangerous album, Jackson may have aspired
to make more daring moves to hold the public intrigue and further develop
his increasingly bizarre and mysterious persona.
One such move may have been to use his
vitiligo condition to his perceived advantage. To embody the notion
of a spectacle eerily bearing resemblance to other Jackson fascinations like
the Elephant Man and circus attractions of old.
The black man who turned white without explanation.
A formula that to this day still holds
gravitas. As many continue to speculate the real truth behind Michael Jackson's skin.
But what conclusions have you come to?
Leave your comments below.
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