A beautiful article from a two-week series called People Worth Knowing, featuring great people throughout history that have had a great impact and changed the course of history.
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You had Sinatra in the 40s, Elvis in the 50s, The Beatles in the 60s, and in the 80s and 90s you had Michael Jackson. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson may very well be the greatest entertainer of our lifetime. Entering the limelight in 1964, at the age of 6, Michael entertained millions from every corner of the globe for half a century. His contributions to pop culture and society are endless, ranging from changing the world of music and dance to starting the Heal the World Foundation. His album Thriller remains the most popular album in the world, having sold over 150,000,000 copies.
Not just an entertainer, Michael was a passionate humanitarian, and he often expressed his passion in his lyrics. In songs like “We are the World” and “Man in the Mirror”, Michael spoke to the hearts of people and made powerful statements of the need for unity, compassion, and peace among mankind. He founded the ‘Heal the World Foundation’ in 1992, through which he airlifted 46 tons of supplies to Sarajevo and donated millions of dollars to beneficial causes, released charity singles and supported 39 other charities. In 2000, he was cited with the world record for “Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star.”
Regardless of any and all allegations proposed against Michael, it cannot be disputed that he worked hard to improve the world he saw so many problems with. Unlike many of us, wishing things better wasn’t enough. Michael saw the world not just for what it was, but for what it could be, and because of this, he spent his entire life using his gifts and skills to change the world. Michael is a testament to the amount of difference a man can make when he truly dedicates himself.
In my younger years Michael was everything I wanted to be; he was slick, he dressed crazy, he danced like a star, he was everything everyone wanted to be. As I grew I realized he was so much more than just a star, Michael was a hero. You could tell from everything he did the amount of work he must have put in day in and day out. He took it upon himself to make a difference, an idea that many of us forget as life gets in the way. Michael reminds us every day of the power we have to make a difference in the world.
“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”
Thank you for dedicating your life to us, Michael. We’ll miss you!
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