Comments on: Michael Jackson did not want to be white

By: torrid_wind

torrid_wind — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:16:06 +0000

I love this post! I particularly love it for adding the terms ethnically androgynous and ethnically unambiguous to my vocabulary. THANK YOU!

By: blackmanvision

blackmanvision — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:04:37 +0000

Yes we do. But that does not stop the speculation. Also we don\’t know most of his skin was hwite. And bcos you have vitiligo does not mean you have to alter the features on your face by multiple cosmetic surgery procedures. Do you?

By: Michaela

Michaela — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:30:28 +0000

You all DO realize that Mike had VITILIGO? DUH!!! That is what caused his skin color to change.! You people really need to do some research and quit tormenting the poor guy. He's gone now and our kids will NEVER know the kind of music that he did except through what WE have! Grow up!

By: blackmanvision

blackmanvision — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:36:09 +0000

Interesting article re marketability and skin colour. A Lighter Shade of Sale - Movie posters lighten skin tone

By: blackmanvision

blackmanvision — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:23:11 +0000

Wow! Great piece.
A number of things – I personally do not think in this day and age one's colour is a barrier to global music success. And hip hop is now the most successful musical genre ever. When MJ was at his peak this was not the case. I think HE was convinced that in order to dominate charts globally he needed to change his image as he aged. His image changed radically from Off the Wall to Thriller. I also don't think onje has to be light to be all right. But it appears that some publicists and marketeers might think so in the POP world – not R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz etc.

Of course how people represent is personal but if they are in the public eye it has some impact no? Isn't it important that no female star of African descent has natural African hair? I find it all quite interesting to see what message is being assimilated by young African descent women? I don't think because they have long flowing straight hair that they want to be white. In none of Michael Jackson's work or public speeches did he ever give any impression he wanted to be white. I feel he wanted to be loved by everyone at whatever cost.

By: blackmanvision

blackmanvision — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:17:17 +0000

Do you really think he wanted to be white? All his work is so African American. His dances, phrasing in music, religion seems to me more African than European, even while his skin got lighter. He kinda looked not like a human but a ghost in my opinion. Like the masks the voodoo doctors wear for rituals.
Alot of other African American stars change their noses or get their publicity shots lightened. Do you think they want to be white too?
I just think it is interesting we focus on MJ but not the other people who make subtler changes but are changes nonetheless. is subtle change all right but big changes bad?

By: Standtall - The Acti

Standtall - The Acti — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:56:35 +0000

Yes, he was effeminated and yes he wanted to be white. If not white in spirit but in looks. That explained why he kept changing his looks. I am not saying the abuse of his big nose by his dad might not have influenced his decision to change his nose but he was an adult, he was famous and he could seek pyschology help at the time he changed his nose. So, this to me was not from his childhood abuse but what he wanted to be.

I never approved of the skin change and not because he wanted to be white or not but because I didnt see it has being necessary.

Anyway, I am not judging Michael and I was asd over his death but truth be told, he wanted to be white in looks.

By: Black Looks » Michael Jackson : From ‘being’ to ‘becoming’

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:56:17 +0000

[...] I have avoided. However I feel compelled to respond to a recent post by Blackman Vision [BMV] “Michael Jackson did not want to be white”. The post is draws on a chapter “Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson” by Kobena [...]