VIDEO: Reverend Al Sharpton Boldly Defends MJ’s Legacy
By Sheeri Mitchell July 8, 2009 8:00 am
No one could have simultaneously silenced Michael Jackson’s detractors, comforted the late entertainer’s family, and inspired everyone within earshot, as the Reverend Al Sharpton did, so eloquently, at Michael Jackson’s memorial service, held July 7, 2009, at the Staple’s Center in Los Angeles, California.
Watch the reverend’s stirring eulogy, delivered in his signature style.
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Bill is stupid n those who agree with him is as well. If Michael didnt bring the people together than answer me this what does “heal the world”, “black or white”, “earth song”, “man in the mirror” n alot of the other songs he made stand for?!!! Also what about all the things he did in Africa, Japan and all the other places he helped little kids and poor people in??!! He did more to me than anybody i ever heard of! Most others talk about it, they speech of things they and others can do to help the world MJ made a huge effort too. And he has helped millions of ppl n different ways. Do u really think only great dancing, videos and albums would b the only reasons that would bring him that many fans?! Get real the person he is and what he do for ppl brings him alot of fans as well n i believe thats the most important thing to his career!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S BILL ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL B A HATER AND A JUDGEMENTAL JERK!!!!!!!!! BLACK PPL PLZ B SUPPORTIVE!!!!!
THROUGH MICHAEL’S TIME HERE ON PLANET EARTH. IT JUST PROVE THE WORLD IS IN DESPARTE NEED OF LOVE!! I SAY TO THE WORLD TURN TO THE ONE AND ONLY LOVE GIVER JESUS CHRIST! THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE FOR MAN THAT THIS MAN LAYED DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US ALL!! MAN CAN DO BUT SO MUCH FOR YOU AND THE END WILL COME! LOOK TO JESUS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!! GOD BLESS
MICHAEL’S SOUL AND HIS FAMILY! MANY WILL MISS HIM TREMENDOUSLY AND I BELIEVE THE LOVE MICHAEL GENERATED WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO THE ONE AND ONLY JESUS CHRIST!
I loved Michael Jackson even though I didn’t personally know him I felt like I lost a family member when he passed It was sad because it was unexpected but we should be happy because we all know he is in heaven rejoycing with the angels. We can just add one more angel who is looking down on us watching over us and protecting us. There will never be another!! wwe LOVE you MJ and I know there will be a day where we all meet again!!
I was full of tears. I have alway said if and when mj leave this world it will be exactly what we saw on yesterday. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW this was like I can not put it to words. I love mj. Alsharpton his name fixs him al speech was sharp to tons of us. Put it all together and you have Alsharpton. Keep up the good work. Those of you who hating on him can you defend your own kind. Who do we have now to speak out for us. Tell me email me at bjelliott29@yahoo.com I need to know. our voices mean nothing now we have have lost most of our great voices. Someone who know the law and use it against. I am learning my law are you learning your laws and right to be able to fight if now you may need to start learning now and stop being in the back. Come out of the back and let your voice be known. We must start writing our congressmen and women on what needs to be change in our community. We are not doing this. It is time to start. I want to form a group call black voices do you want to join me if so e-mail me tell me what you can do today thank you.
TruBlkM……..I have done that. Why don’t you.
Rev. Sharpton’s speech was on point!!!!
The guy sounded great. That’s what he does. He gets people thinking he’s looking out for blacks; However, All he does is keep people separated,pissed off and distracted as a people. The dude is a joke.
I can remember Al Sharpton ever since the Tawana Brawley Case. Although, we later found out she lied, Sharpton was there to defend her rights. He did a Wonderful Job at the Memorial!!
Really? Al Sharpton?? Please this negro has fake written all over his self. MJ was an ENTERTAINER. Not a god. If you all can sit here and sympathize for a family and man you never met let me see you read an obituary and go pay your respects to a family you dont know in your community. LETS SEE THAT.
Al Sharpton was real with what was going on in the media,at the end of the day Michael was and is a humanitarian . over the years I got used to them dogging Michael and forgot who he was. He is a man who loves people, the Earth, and how we treat each other as brothers and sisters, that is all he wanted to do. The media wants to reduce him to basically nothing. I am happy the Rev. was not standing for that.
Oh my prayers are with the Jackson Family and the children.
WOW! Rev Al did his thing. I have never really been a fan of Al , but that speech should remind us that he is, US, and i myself is Rev Al Sharpton and i am MJ because as a blackman i have lived their pain and struggles but yet still have greatness and joy in my heart
I am so grateful that you wrote about Al Sharpton …Sheeri ..Thank you …
I am so impressed with how Al has managed himself throughout this unfortunate situation with MJ … He cleverly avoided all the traps the media set out for him in interviews .. and ever word and sentence he has said cannot be spun or taken out of context ….
I watched Larry King Live the other day and Larry asked Al If the speeches he made on behalf of the MJ family was his ‘best work’ Al cleverly put the question back at Larry and said ‘ It is not about me .. its about the Jackson Family’ Brilliant … We can all learn from Al Sharpton …
This speech was almost on the level of Obama’s inauguration speech. I like how he human MJ. “There wasnt nothing strange about yo daddy, what was strange was he had to deal with!!!” I was standing up clapping like I was in church. Everybody has sinned at some point. And this man was proven innocent and yet was ridiculed constantly. RIP MJ “You are not Alone”
If you need sharpton to tell you this, then you’ve already lost.
Aww Man Rev Al Sharpton brought it the way that only he could . basically what we all want. for someone to have our back and I agree with tanya when he made his address to the kids that was the most polite smack to the face anyone could give to the press. GOD bless Rev Sharpton and GOD be with MJ
I have never been a fan of the Rev. Al Sharpton, and to be honest I still do not understand his role in the unfolding story of MJ’s demise and legacy. But I must admit that it was his comments that helped remind me of the greatness of Michael Jackson. I found myself caught up in all of the nonsense and craziness surrounding his life and had forgotten the wholeness of his message, his dedication to humanity and the fact that he walked the talk. Despite my impressions of Rev. Al, I give him his props for re-opening my eyes.
The Rev spoke the truth. We spent too much time listening to folks judge Mike and didn’t take the time to really appreciate him for the contributions he gave to the world. Mike has done more for more people on earth than most religions have.
i agree with al……. when there is a crisis involving black people, white people show their true colors in a crisis
I am soo appreciating Rev Al, these past few years especially. he has taken up the challange to defend the injustices AA’s have come up against including Jena 6. What he said to the masses at the funeral pretty much shut up the O’reilly’s and the Pking’s. His speech was awesome and exactly what needed to be said
I have always admired Rev. Al for dedication the the cause of Justice for us, even when I disagreed with some of his methods. His defense of our Brother, Michael Jackson, took that admiration up to a new level!
Peace.
he almost topped president obama’s speeches. It was very moving and very truthful. He couldn’t have put in better if he wanted to. Michael shouldn’t have went thru that type of attention with him being a humble person like he is. It seems funny that he’s gone. Billie Jean will always be my favorite song of his.
To be honest with you, I had a bit of anxiety when Mr. Sharpton took the stage. I thought for sure this controversial personality would say something to make the hairs stand up on my back. Well, hairs did indeed stand up, but not on my back! Hairs stood up on my arms because his words and account of MJ’s life, struggles, accomplishments (sung and unsung)were so on point, so moving! I got chills when he addressed MJ’s children and said, “There is NOTHING strange about your father, what he had to DEAL WITH was strange!” Now I was at home, in the comfort of my living room, and I had to stand and give an ovation to that statement. Why do we treat people badly for not being normal when their abnormalities do not hurt us? Why do go to the extent that we go to to diminish someone’s character, just because they do not choose to conform? This man’s abnormalities allowed him to be the entertainer who gave the most to causes that actually matters to humanity. This man’s abnormalities brought a world together through song of all languages, religions, belief and walks of life. Who else has accomplished that?!
Look where we are now with our economy and our state of security in this nation after doing for so many years what we thought was normal. It’s a mess! Our very existence is threatened! Maybe if we showed the love and generosity MJ showed to WHOEVER needed it, maybe we’d be blessed financially, and maybe our enemy count wouldn’t be as high in numbers as it is today… Those children needed to be told by an outsider (someone other than family) that their father was a good person, and those who persecuted him were the strange ones. Mr. Sharpton…”wow-ed” me!
He did a great job…find me a memorial service or funeral that everyone spoke said nothing but horrible things about the person being eulogized? We have these types of service to remember the good things the individual has done. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD…there has been 1 and only 1 perfect being to walk this earth; that is Christ himself.
YES MJ IS AND ALWAYS BE OUR ICON SO LET US SAY YOU LIVE ON IN US AND LET IT BE KNOW GOD IS REAL AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR OTHERS IS WHAT MJ MUSIC DID
Al Sharpton couldn’t have said it better. He delivered an awesome speech about Michael Jackson.Who are we to judge when we ourselves have hidden problems.I agree with Al there was nothing strange about Michael Jackson but he had to deal with strange things.So many people want to concentrate on what he was accused of and not focus on what he has done for many people. Innocent until proven guilty.Michael Jackson will always be the King Of Pop and that’s just how I will remember him.
” There is nothing strange about your daddy, what was strange was what your daddy had to deal with” If this doesn’t take the speck out of our own eyes first then i don’t know what will…
Al Sharpton was seriously preaching it! He was on point!