Michael Jackson’s Death A Year Later

In my heart, I knew MJ was flying on a higher plain, flying home guided by perfect light. No pain, no fear, love without condition, distanced from the cruel excesses of a world that just wouldn’t let him be.

[London Bridge Is Falling]

The death of Michael Jackson stunned the world a year ago. 

It was late in the evening here in London and I remember I was at home relaxing on the couch, watching a movie.  I called my brother Ronnie about something and assuming that I already knew, he asked, “Isn’t it sad about Michael Jackson?”  I, at worst thought he had been in some sort of accident but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that he was dead.  I mean, this is MJ, how could he be dead?

“What happened to him?” I asked, and held my breath. 

“He is dead.”

I exhaled. Those words hung in the air, washing over me like cool waves from the River Jordan. I hung up, switched to the news channel and there it was on CNN. The news anchors had unconfirmed reports that the King of Pop was dead. My heart skipped several beats. I felt a chill, then sadness and then total disbelief.

This was a truth that I couldn’t accept.

A crowd was gathering outside the hospital, waiting for news, hoping against hope that he would be revived. Michael Jackson can’t just die. Strangers were hugging each other and comforting each other and freely crying for their beloved fallen hero. In my heart, I knew MJ was flying on a higher plain, flying home guided by perfect light. No pain, no fear, love without condition, distanced from the cruel excesses of a world that just wouldn’t let him be.

Yet, still, I wanted confirmation.  I wanted to hear someone say that MJ was dead. The world watched and waited and finally, Jermaine Jackson, downcast, his body racked with grief, delivered the dreaded news; the King of pop was indeed no more. Words cannot adequately describe the pain afflicted upon my heart. Suffice to say that it was worse than epidural injected into my back–it was worse than actual child birth without the aid of science, that first time around!

Here we are, a year on and whispers of a murder plot continue. Everybody loves a mystery, especially involving such an enigmatic and iconic figure. Is it possible that it is his drug dependency, pressure due to molestation charges, constant media intrusion into his private life and a gruelling schedule for his comeback tour that eventually led to Michael Jackson’s downfall rather than some alleged sinister plot to murder him for his wealth?

Dick Gregory, the Civil Rights Activist, stated that around 2005, when he talked to the MJ, the singer allegedly told him ‘‘They are trying to kill me”. The “they” were never identified by MJ.

Latoya has always believed and maintained that MJ was murdered and she has vowed to bring those responsible to justice. She is quoted as saying, “not just one person was involved, rather a conspiracy of people. He was surrounded by a bad circle.”

Jermaine Jackson thinks Dr. Conrad, who is currently standing trial, accused of involuntary manslaughter knows who the players are and that if his hand were squeezed hard enough he would say. This is reminiscent of the death of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and the numerous and few plausible conspiracy theories surrounding her death. The world grieved with the British public for an impossibly beautiful, generous, kind hearted and much loved “Queen Of Hearts.”

Astonishing claims were published in British Newspapers that the late princess had predicted her own death in a letter 10 months before it happened, that she would be killed in an incident made to look like a car accident.

The princess predicted: “This particular phrase in my life is the most dangerous”. 

She said “[someone] is planning an ‘accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for Charles to marry.”

However in 2008 at the end of a lengthy inquest into her death, the Jury decided that the princess was unlawfully killed by a combination of their drunk driver, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who were chasing their car and not by MI5/MI6 assassins as conspiracists had it. This however did nothing to slay conspiracy theorists who believe that Diana’s death couldn’t have been anything but an assassination.

We may never know for sure whether MJ’s death was accidental or whether there is something more sinister afoot. It is hard to imagine anyone would want to physically harm Michael Jackson. Who stands to gain from his death? That would be my first port of call.

On the 25th of June, I will remember the joy MJ brought to this world. I will play my favourite songs and sing along. Love him or loathe him, there is no denying his worth.

I will celebrate his life, no sense in crying. Our loss is heaven’s gain.

Allimadi writes for The Black Star News from London

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

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