A King Beyond the Crown Michael Jackson was more than a performer – he was a revolutionary. He was a cultural force, a revolutionary artist, and a symbol of Black Excellence on a scale the world had never seen. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time (RIAA). But Jackson’s real threat to the industry came through business moves that upset the status quo. In 1985, he bought ATV Music Publishing (which included the Beatles catalog) for $47.5 million (Forbes) – a move that gave him unprecedented control over the music business.

He later merged it with Sony, owning 50% of Sony/ATV, making him arguably the most powerful owner of his generation.

The Crime of Being Too Great While Black Michael Jackson followed in a long line of Black icons punished not for doing wrong – but for doing too well. Despite his humanitarian efforts, artistic genius, and cultural contributions, Jackson became a target – not only of media sensationalism but of a calculated effort by powerful industry executives and cultural gatekeepers. In 1967, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing license for refusing to fight in Vietnam. Paul Robeson was blacklisted and had his passport revoked for speaking out against racism and colonialism. As historian Gerald Horne notes in “The Final Victim of the Blacklist“, Robeson was punished for his intellect and independence.

Jackson’s ascent into billionaire territory, complete with power, publishing rights, and a global fanbase, made him a similar target. White executives and media moguls could not control him – and that made him dangerous. For a Black man to operate at that level was/is unacceptable to those who’d grown comfortable with the idea that Black artists should entertain, not own.

Lies, Fear, and Media Manipulation Despite being found not guilty on all 14 charges in a 2005 trial (CNN), the stain on Jackson’s image lingered. Why? Because media corporations profited more from scandal than truth. A 2019 HBO documentary (Leaving Neverland) revived allegations, but it was later exposed that the timeline of events was false (Forbes) and key details could not have happened as described.

Meanwhile, a 2019 court ruling dismissed lawsuits against Jackson’s companies due to lack of evidence (Variety).

The Pattern: Black Excellence Under Siege This is part of a larger historical pattern. When Black individuals acquire too much power or disrupt established hierarchies, they are often criminalized or erased:

–Nipsey Hussle: Assassinated in 2019 after launching STEM centers, real estate initiatives, and economic empowerment projects in South L.A. (LA Times)

–Prince: Fought Warner Bros. for ownership of his masters and was mocked in the press for writing “slave“ on his face (Rolling Stone)

–Malcolm X: Targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO program, which sought to “prevent the rise of a Black Messiah“ (FBI Vault). Malcolm spoke with too much intelligence and truth to America’s plight towards the eraser of Black growth and its hypocrisy of laws and injustices.

Michael Jackson became the biggest global example of that pattern – redefining not just music, but ownership, race, and artistic freedom.

And when you are Black and brilliant in America, especially when your brilliance exceeds the boundaries set by white imagination, history shows us time and time again: they will come for you.

The Resurrection Is Ours Despite efforts to destroy his image, Jackson’s art lives. His streaming numbers remain in the hundreds of millions each year. Young people on TikTok recreate his choreography. Music scholars re–evaluate his genius. A biopic (Michael) is now in production, with his nephew Jaafar Jackson playing the lead.

The resurrection of Michael Jackson isn’t just about correcting falsehoods – it’s about reclaiming truth in the face of systemic erasure. It’s about defending Black Excellence and honoring those who changed the world.

You can try to bury the truth – but it will rise. Just like Michael did. And still does.

Here’s more truths/facts: This is why the modern music industry does not promote positive Black music, it promotes Black violence and sexual exploitation; which the public so gullibly loves to drink up while believing the nonsense of that’s who we all are. However, you can’t kill what was born to uplift. Michael Jackson’s music still heals. His artistry still inspires. His legacy still echoes louder than the noise that tried to destroy it.

“They don’t care about us.“ – Michael Jackson

“All I want to do is be loved for who I am – for my heart.“ – Michael Jackson

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