So far, President Barack Obama — the nation’s first black leader — has not made race a top talking point of his administration. Some say he doesn’t need to make it a big deal. Others say now is the time for him to speak.
Published 18:38, July the 19th, 2009
Racial tensions alive after pop icon death
Difference of opinion on Jackson falls along culture lines
So far, President Barack Obama — the nation’s first black leader — has not made race a top talking point of his administration. Some say he doesn’t need to make it a big deal. Others say now is the time for him to speak.
Where there is triumph, there is conflict. And while millions celebrated the triumphant life of pop mega-star Michael Jackson after his death, the conflict his celebrity represented was lurking in the shadows.
It was Congressman Peter King, who is white, who brought the conflict to the forefront when he said in a YouTube video that society was “glorifying” a “pervert.” This at a time when the African-American community was celebrating a transformative figure that opened doors for their community.
Varied reactions to the life and death of the late pop icon have underscored the continued division of the races in America. Attacks against Jackson’s personal life, appearance and conduct generally come from the white community, while his praises come from African-Americans.
“While there are certainly millions of fans from all walks of life mourning [Jackson’s] passing, the meaning ascribed to his life can differ based on the cultural lenses through which people see him,” said University of Southern California sociologist Karen Sternheimer. “While many fans might have not thought of race as a salient issue in his celebrity, for others race might play a bigger role. Some could see the accusations of child molestation as another example of the very real history of judicial discrimination African-Americans have faced. Others view him as a wealthy celebrity who was able to buy justice.”