King of Pop and the racial divide

Websites, blogs and chat rooms a week after Jackson’s death are racially divided.

According to a Pew Research Center poll while the majority of African -Americans have closely followed the Jackson coverage, fewer than one in four whites say they followed the coverage. A poll done by CNN indicated that a majority of whites say they aren’t Michael Jackson fans compared to three-quarters of non-white respondents that say they are fans of the singer.

Several factors about Jackson seem to have ignited this racial divide. A child molestation trial in which even with a full acquittal the stain didn’t go away. The King of Pop lived like royalty and resentment seems to come along with prosperity. And we can’t over look the fact that he is an African-American male.

Many will use President Obama to rebut the fact that stereotypical fears of black men still linger. However, during and after his election polls constantly showed that even with a high likability rating the majority of whites still held on to the stereotypes of black men. And when the final election results came in the majority of whites still voted against him.

Jackson quickly learned that being the King of Pop didn’t change the fact that he was a black man. All the good that he did in the world seemed to disappear with the blink of an eye. Long before he stepped foot in a courtroom the stereotypes of black men and sex crimes surfaced. And the acquittal was viewed merely as another celebrity using their name and money to get off.

Instead of all the ridicule, Jackson should be honored for the great artist, cultural icon and humanitarian that he was. Some will undoubtedly continue to dig for dirt and talk about the alleged drug abuse and child molestation. “Innocent until proven guilty” may never mean much when it come to Michael Jackson. This is especially true when the country continues to be racially divided.