Earl Ofari Hutchinson really digs deep in a recent article he wrote suggesting that Joe Jackson’s “management style” for Michael and the rest of the Jackson 5 should be all put in perspective.
“But Jackson also admitted that his most vivid memory was of rehearsals, countless hours, spent in the studio to get the notes and the dance steps right. Joe’s ferocious push to harness his son’s talent and whip them into a world class act wasn’t just to satisfy a father’s obsessive ego, or vicarious thrills through his children, or dollar signs dancing in his eyes. To Joe, and so many other hard case black fathers of that time, saw entertainment and the stage as his son’s ticket out of the ghetto; a sure fire escape for potentially at risk young black boys escape from poverty, racism, and the perils of the streets.
In an age when parenting roles were far more rigid and sharply defined, Joe’s idea of being a loving, caring and responsible father was to bring home the paycheck, expect their dinner to be waiting on the table, and to be stern, tough, and no nonsense with their children, especially their sons. Joe’s fierce drive paid big dividends with the Jackson’s. The fame, dollars, and adulation rolled in. They boys did not do drugs, join gangs, commit any crimes, and they could not be accused of educational or professional underachievement.”
Sorry Hutchinson, but there is absolutely NO justification or bright side of abuse.
This past weekend, my wife and I sat down to watch the Martin Bashir interview with Michael Jackson. There, I saw a man who despite all of his success and fame still was on this never ending quest to recapture the childhood that was beaten out of him by his father. During the interview, Jackson paused and wept as he recounted the days where his father would beat him with iron cords, slam him and his brothers against the wall for missing dance steps and chase him around the house in order to beat him down. According to Jackson, both he and is brothers would be afraid during rehearsals because dear ‘ol Joe would have his belt in hand ready to “tear them up”. He also talked about how his father would make fun of his nose (no need to wonder why Michael got all of those nose surgeries).
I hear what Hutchinson is trying to say here, and to a measure his is right about the pressure on Black men of that day to provide for their families. But most Black men did not lower themselves to taking out the pressures of life on their children.
There is absolutely no benefit of being rich and famous, yet forever be haunted by the abuse you had to endure to get there.
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Look at the bright side
by Duane on July 13th, 2009 at 11:31 amEarl Ofari Hutchinson really digs deep in a recent article he wrote suggesting that Joe Jackson’s “management style” for Michael and the rest of the Jackson 5 should be all put in perspective.
Sorry Hutchinson, but there is absolutely NO justification or bright side of abuse.
This past weekend, my wife and I sat down to watch the Martin Bashir interview with Michael Jackson. There, I saw a man who despite all of his success and fame still was on this never ending quest to recapture the childhood that was beaten out of him by his father. During the interview, Jackson paused and wept as he recounted the days where his father would beat him with iron cords, slam him and his brothers against the wall for missing dance steps and chase him around the house in order to beat him down. According to Jackson, both he and is brothers would be afraid during rehearsals because dear ‘ol Joe would have his belt in hand ready to “tear them up”. He also talked about how his father would make fun of his nose (no need to wonder why Michael got all of those nose surgeries).
I hear what Hutchinson is trying to say here, and to a measure his is right about the pressure on Black men of that day to provide for their families. But most Black men did not lower themselves to taking out the pressures of life on their children.
There is absolutely no benefit of being rich and famous, yet forever be haunted by the abuse you had to endure to get there.
Sphere: Related Content