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REMEMBER THE CROTCH GRAB?

It was 1978, I was 10 years old and I wanted to marry Michael. I remember one time, my mother making my little sister and I leave the room when Michael was dancing. She thought his signature move (the crotch grab) and how he wiggled his hiney in and out was not appropriate for her little girls. It didn't matter, we saw everything at our friends homes. We were allowed to listen to his music, just not watch him dance. My mom and I laugh about it now. I have been crying every day. The world lost a valuable piece of our happiness. It is sad to think that we will never see him perform again. Thank God Michael left us his music. I will remember Michael as a loving, giving sensitive man. May God bless and watch over the Jackson Family and Michael's children. May God give them Strength and Guidance during this difficult time. I love and miss you Michael. Gloria Streit from Cincinnati. P.S.: My daughter is 2 and a half and she knows the words to ABC. She loves singing and dancing to his upbeat music. She spins around on 1 foot like Michael- she is always imitating him. IT is soooo funny. -- Gloria Streit.

I PLAYED FOR HIM:

Right before Thriller was released, Michael came into the club where I was playing (the Rose Tattoo) and listened to me play and my partner sing for a few hours. During our break, he went to the piano onstage and debuted some of the tunes from Thriller for the small audience. I didn't have a mic (I play, but barely sing.) So you couldn't hear Michael's vocals much, but
he was a good keyboard player. I was surprised about that. I was half of a duo in LA. I accompanied a fine singer named Beverly Wright (sister of Gary Wright, who wrote and recorded Dream Weaver.) I didn't ask him for an autograph or anything...just left him
alone. It's something I'll always remember. Anyone could buy a ticket to a Michael Jackson concert if they had the money.
But not everyone was lucky enough to get to entertain him -- bizzvanwa.

A NEW SPIRIT:

This slowly washes over me. I'm a white woman in my late 50's. . . I think TRUE genius and talent are easy to recognize. What I saw in Jackson was an unprecendented gift and vulnerability . . . a "new" spirit. I believe like so many "gifted" humans born into this world of "grinding down" - he shone bright and burned out. I believe he was a "new soul" with transforming gifts to attract humankind. Unfortunately the "world" preys on the VERY special because their light shines so strong. I believe he was a victim and people "USED" him because of all he offered. He shone too brightly which affected his ability to stay long in this world. He gave so much to so many His gifts were phenomenal and I for one, hope his children are able to thrive and be truly proud of their father. Maybe someday he will be known not for human frailities but for his strong spirit, good heart and vulnerability which contributed so much to all of us that witnessed what is possible.
God Bless. -- Karen Wendt

ENSLAVED BY STARDOM:

Michael Jackson’s loss is felt not so much as a fan but as a human being, a black man acknowledging another black man who never got to "be," or live without the ubiquitous camera, off stage. With all of the millions of albums be sold, and corners of the earth he touched, I wonder if he had it to do all over again, what he would choose to do? It is clear that stardom was not of his choosing. With all of his wealth and fame, he seemed about as limited in terms of freedom—psychological and physical—as our brothers and sisters who lived through bondage a few generations earlier. Their master was known, his were many: record companies, money grubbers, the double-edged knife of beauty politics, aloneness, so much to overcome or “Beat It,” as the song goes. -- Abdul Ali

FIRST CRUSH:

I don't know where to start but here I go. I remember when I was a little girl I was watching MTV with my mom and an Elvis video was on and I told mom I was going to marry him and my mom told me that, sadly, he was passed away so I couldn't. Then Michael came on I don't remember which song it was but I remember telling mom after it was over that he was my boyfriend and I was going to marry him when I grew up. I laughed at the notion after I grew out of my childish beliefs, but now that he is gone every time I think of that memory I can't help but cry. I was around 4 or 5 when I said that to my mother. I just can't believe this is happening; it's like a nightmare that you hope you will wake up from but you never do. -- Elleina M. Glassford