GLOBAL RACE EQUALITY ACTION TRUST [GREAT TRUST] & FOUNDATION’S TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON – KING OF POP, SONGWRITER, RECORD PRODUCER, ARRANGER, DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, ACTOR, AUTHOR, BUSINESSMAN, FINANCIER, PHILANTHROPIST [AUGUST 29, 1958 – JUNE 25
The GREAT TRUST & its FOUNDATION, join hundreds of millions from all over the world to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Jackson family in the sudden passing away of Michael Joseph Jackson on Thursday 25th June 2009. Although unknown as a human rights figure, Michael Jackson’s contribution to global harmony through the medium of music by building bridges across a broad diversity of people is phenomenal, extraordinary and noteworthy. The Governing Board of the GREAT Trust and Foundation would establish an awards category in his memory.
Koku Adomdza, a representative of the GREAT Trust & Foundation, an innovative race equality think and doing tank and human rights research centre of excellence, said that “The legendary Michael Jackson was a force for good, exuded and conveyed love to the world through his unique and abundant talent. Like many, Michael’s passing away comes as an unbelievably shocking experience and it reminds us all of how vulnerable every human being is. We of the GREAT Trust and the GREAT Foundation are not at all surprised at the overwhelming global outpouring of affection, adoration and respect in response to the tragic and unexpected death of Michael Joseph Jackson. From unusual places such as behind the closed doors of a Philippine prison, the remotest of villages to the most potent citadels of political power around the globe, there are reverberations and echoes of appreciation, recognition of the uncommon talent, skills and expertise of Michael Jackson. This is testament to the phenomenal and enduring nature of the impact of his work and of course, his legacy which transcends the music and performing arts industry. Michael was no less a rare genius, a multi-talented professional, musical impresario and iconoclastic persona who had an uncompromising take on excellence. The evidence is that Michael Jackson, more than any of his contemporaries, held a world audience spellbound for four decades, is on record for being the most sold-out performing singer artist. It is terribly sad that Michael died a couple of weeks prior to the beginning of his marathon 50 final ‘curtain call’ performances scheduled to commence in London UK from the middle of July 2009 at the famous 02 Arena.
“The life of Michael Jackson, a tale of a legendary icon, is an embodiment of someone who has been to the mountain top, seen it all and yet was humbled. Pointedly, anyone who has been falsely accused with potential for serious criminal sanctions before, and there are a few, are able to identify with a life marked by intermittent rollercoaster periods and surrealism. To have survived such immense adversity to the degree to which he was able to manage, was to say the least admirable. Michael epitomised a free but soldiering spirit of a general who marshalled his art and craft, albeit sometimes perilously naive.
“The GREAT Trust & Foundation are particularly cognizant of Michael’s ability to reach and connect with people from a wide divergent social, economic, political, cultural, racial, faith, philosophical, national, generational backgrounds. Michael Jackson’s works not excluding exemplary philanthropy are exceptionally outstanding in an era where racism, hatred and bigotry still ravage the global human family and the fundamental rights of millions of people are abused with impunity by official and unofficial policies as well as structural barriers, consumed by a scientifically unfounded and unethically obscene supremacist mindset.
“Global leadership, the human rights and race equality professions have a lot to learn from the unique life example of Michael in harmonising people through a powerful medium and tool at his disposal to a common cause of unity – the preservation and celebration of human dignity, and doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. May His Soul Rest in Perfect Peace.”
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist and entertainer. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, aged 50. The specific cause of death has yet to be determined. Before his death, Jackson had announced a 50-date sell-out This Is It comeback tour, in London, UK.
In addition, his recording career enabled him to have a role as a businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut onto the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and later began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, his 1982 album Thriller remains the world's best-selling record of all time and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).
In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"—widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.
Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s and conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, all of which caused further controversy. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.
One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.
THE GLOBAL RACE EQUALITY ACTION TRUST – GREAT TRUST
The Global Race Equality Action Trust – GREAT Trust is a progressive and change-driven think and doing tank that advocates through its centre of excellence for new platforms, schools of thought, approaches and solutions to race equality and human rights issues. While we salute the selfless contributions of genuine race equality and human rights champions from all walks of life, who often operate in difficult circumstances, we consider the untold human misery that engulfs the majority citizens of the world as an indictment of the inadequacies of the status quo that can no longer hold. Resistance to progressive change, fear of power and wealth-sharing, lack of vision and responsible leadership have blighted the necessary transformation required to consolidate the sacrifices and gains of yesteryears, prevent the necessary advancement of the race equality and human rights agenda, and above all threaten to roll back the successes of the past.
The GREAT Trust signals and communicates the fierce urgency of time and hopes to traverse this inertia. We call on all people over the world to stand up and fight for their fundamental human rights, reject the old approaches that have so abysmally failed to withstand the test of time and cowered in the phase of adversity, organise together on a new platform to effect progressive change and make the world a better, fairer, more equitable place.
