Michael Jackson: A Childhood Lost

Born August 29, 1958, Michael Jackson was thrust into the media spotlight at a very young age. He died June 25, 2009. The figure he most identified with was Peter Pan. Friends say that even at age 50, Micheal was still very child like.

Michaels father, Joe Jackson was the driving force behind his sons early fame and success. Himself, a a wannabe famous musician, it is likely he was living his dream through his children. Reportedly he made his children practice constantly. Eventually pushing five, including Michael, of the nine children to form “The Jackson 5”.

When they were not in school, they were practicing, when they were not practicing, they were playing music in bars and strip clubs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1993, Michael opened up and spoke about physical and mental abuse that took place at the hands of his father. He spoke of never having what would be considered as a “childhood”.

Could it be that the missing out of a childhood, the ability to act as a child, is at the root of any later problems Michael may have had?

Photo by Alan Light http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/210431823/

Not only did Michael build a park most children could only dream of, Neverland Ranch, but he surrounded himself mostly with children. He even spoke openly to the fact it thought it was normal, and healthy, to share his bed with children. Although he denied there was anything sexual about it, others saw this as a sexual act and Michael was eventually accused of molesting boys. In court he was found innocent in a 2003 court case. An earlier civil case was settled when Michael made a payment to the family of his accuser.

Photo source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NeverlandRides.jpg 

Did Michael really molest young children? Without photographic evidence the world will never truly know. However, if it did happen, it could have easily been the result of a grown man, in a child’s body, trying desperately to to recapture a lost innocence.

Michael Jackson has often said the song that is the most biographical is his song “Childhood”.

Perhaps these lines from the song tell it all:

“…Before you judge me, try hard to love me,

Look within your heart then ask,

Have you seen my childhood?

People say I’m strange that way,

‘Cause I love such elementary things,

It’s been my fate to compensate,

for the childhood I’ve never known…”

(excerpt from Michael Jacksons song, Childhood)

Photosource http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson2_2006.jpg

Without a doubt the world lost a talented musician on June 25, 2009, Michael lost his childhood years earlier, and certainly a lost childhood is never a good thing.