The Jury Among Us
Some of us tuned in because our fond memories of a bygone era are inextricably linked to the smiling face of a singing and dancing 5-year old African-American boy - who now as a grown man stands accused of an inexcusable crime. How could that adorable little boy be guilty of such a thing? we wonder.Some of us tuned in out of a curious fascination with the odd man whose bizarre lifestyle and mask of a face hold little resemblance to the ones that defined him prior to his launch into stardom. Is this the same person I grew up with? we question.
Others, recalling the media frenzy, bizarre accusations, and underlying subtleties of race and class that were very much a part of the OJ Simpson trial, wanted to be sure that justice would be done:
- For some, holding tightly to the positive things Michael Jackson represents - ability to transcend poverty, talent, success, escape, and ability to overcome adversity - this translated into a strong belief and desire for the courts to prove (what we assumed to be) his innocence
- For others, convinced that money and race would inevitably be used in an attempt to exonerate (what we assumed to be) a guilty man - this translated into an equally strong belief and desire for the courts to find him guilty
And like the OJ Simpson trial, it is only now, in its aftermath, that we begin to see just how convoluted issues of race, the power of money, and celebrity status can be when attempting to judge guilt or innocence. Like OJ Simpson, Michael Jackson was judged to be innocent, yet also like OJ Simpson, he now faces challenges and hardships associated with a lingering assumption of guilt, one often based on aspect of his identity he cannot change - his race.
Life After "Innocence"
Despite an acquittal, life for Michael Jackson post-trial hasn't been so easy. Among the challenges are the following:- A highly publicized visit to the hospital for weight loss and dehydration
- Fox reports he may face four separate lawsuits in four cities
- Author Stacy Brown, in an effort to promote his book about Michael Jackson, publicly announces that Michael Jackson will most likely be dead within 10 years
- The jury that set Jackson free, is accused of misconduct, hidden biases, and changing their minds about his innocence post-trial (some allegedly brought books and videotapes of court proceedings into the jury room, referred to Mr. Jackson as "my Michael," and now report believing that he Mr. Jackson is guilty
- Rumours spread about pending movies and books - opportuntities for jurors to make a quick buck from their experiences
- Michael himself, under financial pressure, sells the story for a reported $2 Million to a magazine
- His unusual arrangement with Debbie Rowe (mother of his children - Paris and Prince) is plagued by yet more legal action
- In a sign that perhaps his tide of fans are turning against him, his most recent greatest hits album is considered a flop - selling only about 8,000 copies in its first week in the US
- A financial company that specializes in asset acquisitions sued Jackson for approximately $48 Million as a means of recovering fees