Michael's Face: Self-Loathing or Mental Disorder?

Yesterday CNN's Ines Ferre reported on Michael Jackson [1] and his self-image. For years Michael only admitted to having nose work, but plastic surgery experts believe he had chin and cheek implants among other adjustments.  This blogger and one-time Jackson fanatic believes he had chin and cheek implants, eye transformation, hair implants and, of course, skin bleaching to balance his vitiligo.  Michael Jackson's good friend, Dr. Deepak Chopra, admits Michael, for some reason, was ashamed of his physical appearance.  For some reason?  Chopra is obviously living under some race-free rock.  Ferre reports Michael possibly suffered from body dysmorphic disorder [2]—a mental illness where a person tries to repeatedly change a repeated defect.  Now you and me, both, know that perceived defect is black.

Let's cut to the chase. Michael Jackson did everything in his power to purge every ounce of his blackness to achieve international whiteness, to sustain worldwide fame and love.  We loved his music, we loved his moonwalk, but he mutilated everything except his soul.  However, in his pursuit of whiteness and the unconditional love it promised, he morphed into a physical parody of self-hate.  Why he did it is no surprise.  Why do we straighten our hair?  Throw on wigs? Purchase blue contacts?  In some cases, couple with light or white partners?  Some of us believe it will help pave the road to success and acceptance.  And for some black folks, success and acceptance does not come packaged in black.  I think it's time we admit Michael Jackson was an extension of our black selves.  That he was plagued by the same racial ills.  We despised him because he was doing to himself what we could easily do to ourselves.  Physically or figuratively.  Am I wrong?

Michael certainly took "achieving success by any means necessary" to a new height.  But how many of us would do the same if we had Michael's resources?  Michael's stress?  A colonized mind is capable of anything if given the opportunity.

michael-jackson.jpg [3]