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Michael Jackson Dead at 50

Posted Jun 25th 2009 6:15PM by Tracey Ford
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Pop legend Michael Jackson has died at age 50. According to reports, Jackson, known across the globe as the "King of Pop," suffered a cardiac arrest this afternoon and medics were unable to revive him.

A TMZ source says Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived, while other sites claim he was in a coma upon arrival. Jackson leaves behind three children, Michael Jr., Paris and Prince. Read full story here.

A Michael Jackson Retrospective

Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital suffering from cardiac arrest. According to reports, he has died at the age of 50. A Retrospective of His Life

X17online

Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson began his life as a child sensation who blossomed into one of the greatest pop stars of all time.

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

He was the lead singer for the very popular Jackson 5 that included the his brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. He then morphed into a highly successful recording artist, making his first solo album in 1972.

Ron Galella, WireImage

Jackson appears in the 1982 music video for 'Thriller,' one of the best-selling albums of all time with at least 27 million copies sold worldwide.

Everett Collection

Over the course of his storied career, Jackson won 13 Grammy awards -- eight of them for 'Thriller' alone.

Liason

His stage presence captured the hearts of millions -- including his signature "moonwalk" dance which he unveiled in 1983 while performing 'Billie Jean.' At 50 years old, he was attempting to make a comeback with several dates scheduled in London.

Dave Hogan, Getty Images

Jackson's successes were also marred by personal strife and controversy. In later years, the singer was twice accused of molesting children. In the first, he settled out of court with the accuser, and in the second he was found not guilty.

Roslan Rahman, AFP / Getty Images

Jackson is seen being escorted into court in January of 2004 -- the second time he was charged with child molestation. The first, in 1993, resulted in a settlement reported to be worth about $23 million.

Hector Mata, AFP / Getty Images

Jackson is shown here in his 2003 mug shot where he was booked on child molestation charges. The singer was later acquitted.

Robyn Beck. AFP / Getty Images

The 'Dangerous' star caused a stir when he held his youngest child, Prince Michael II, over the balcony of his Berlin hotel in 2002. His son was later dubbed 'Blanket' due to this incident.

Olaf Selchow, Getty Images

Filed under: R&B News, R.I.P.
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Orlando Green

Many Black Americans have had tremendous impacts on America. Not all necessarily were political figures, but nonetheless have had societal impacts.

Michael Jackson was one of those figures. He was the first beneficiaries of the the gains of the civil rights movement. A part of a Black family that immediately rode the wave of Motown Music's entertainment machine and found a stage in the household and imagination of all America.

Michael Jackson was a part of the Black movement to integrate America and break the glass ceilings. Jackie Robinson, Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan are a few of the widely accepted Black mainstream figures that were role models were Blacks, but also influenced a generation of young whites who did not have the prejudices of the previous generations.

Without necessarily holding rallies or giving speeches to critique white state capitalism - artists and personalities like Michael Jackson used tremendous talent and charisma to become great figures widely accepted by all of America and the entire world.

Michael Jackson was not perfect. He is after all like all of us - but magnified. The tragedy with most deaths are the loss opportunities that people had to correct their mistakes. Whether or not Michael did the things that he was accused of (none was proved true in any court of law)

Our heroes and icons have to be perfect, because we need them to be so to ignore our own faults and for us to use them as imagined models to emulate.

Michael Jackson was part of a collective that made it socially possible for Barach Obama to be elected as the first United States president.

More later as we celebrate the good that he contributed.

"The Michael Jackson cacophony is fascinating in that it is not about Jackson at all. I hope he has the good sense to know it and the good fortune to snatch his life out of the jaws of a carnivorous success. He will not be swiftlybe forgiven for having turned so many tables, for he damn sure grabbed the brass ring, and the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo has nothing on Michael."- James Baldwin "Here Be Dragons"

June 26 2009 at 12:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DIL

What a load of CDs Sony and Motown are suddenly going to sell!

June 25 2009 at 9:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

rb1956rb

His lack of esteem and his total pop to the beat. He was and always will be remembered for the allegations of abuse to children. Whether true or not it does not matter as it is in the courts of opinion now. He did as he lived. He knew what was done and how he took what was not his. May he rest yet not in peace but just rest in sorrow for all that he did to his "friends".

June 25 2009 at 9:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to rb1956rb's comment

NekeyaBVa

you know what that was so disrespectful that you said that i hope something happens to you so God can show u were u just faulted at, that was not right have some respect. Maybe you will die tonite and ppl can talk about all your bad that you have done. God bless u cause u need it. I dont care what he did he was the king of pop and a well respected man and God see's all and know all so what was done was done you dont know if he repented if it was true or what and if God can forgive so can you. I pray for you cause what you said was far out of line and im sure u are not perfect so just remember that next time you open your mouth. You dont even know if he did that crap and if he didnt look how u just bashed him. Come on learn how to shut the h**l up sometimes and speak from the heart not the mind.

June 25 2009 at 11:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

linesNspaces88

This is a sad day for humanity. Despite his reported legal problems, Michael achieved a level of success that thousands envied and few will ever achieve. 6/25/2009 should officially be declared as "Michael Jackson" day!

June 25 2009 at 8:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Prayers for his family and may he rest in peace.. He was terrific at song and dance talent--the singer talent Michael Jackson will be remembered for his popular music and dance entertainment

June 25 2009 at 7:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Christopher

There will never be another like him, Prayers for his family, The man was a genious and a worldwide icon and we will probably never see his level of fame again.

June 25 2009 at 7:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Christopher's comment

mnsonfrkofworld

There's only one legitimate place I've found to see the autopsy video, it's over at http://jjpeg.com/watch28225.html and the autopsy report itself is over at http://jjpeg.com/file2018451.html for download

They make you do a little survey but after that it works fine

June 26 2009 at 7:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply