Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
I don’t exactly know how it happened — the story seems to vary — but my 6-year-old discovered Michael Jackson about a week ago and now he’s entirely obsessed. He has us watching videos at all times. He sings “Thriller” all day long — using incorrect words. We have watched animated Michael Jackson featurettes, some Jackson 5-related videos, entire dance routines uploaded to YouTube via “Just Dance” and even a video that describes Michael Jackson’s last days through some news source. My son found that one all on his own. I had no idea until the end of the video.
This kid is kind of all-in on Michael Jackson. He’s doing dance moves and trying to teach my 2-year-old how to do them. We went to the playground over the weekend and while playing tag with a bunch of kids he didn’t know, he would chase them down while singing either “Smooth Criminal” or “Thriller.” He asks me questions, frequently, both about how Michael Jackson lived and died. In similar fashion to Fat or Skinny Luther, he has taken to having opinions on “dark-skinned Mike” versus “light-skinned Mike.” It’s quite hilarious and definitely amusing.
What’s also mostly amusing is how Michael Jackson pushed Martin Luther King Jr. right out of his concern. Right around MLK’s birthday in January, my son learned all about Martin Luther King Jr. at school. That day, he came home intently focused on the life and death of MLK. He started watching videos non-stop — including his speeches; remember, this kid is 6 — and in one sweeping moment of…
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