Remember The Time: Where Were You When You Heard That Michael Jackson Died?

June 25th, 2012 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

If you tell this story of reminiscing to someone else, especially someone who is not black, I’m sure they’ll be pretty confused if not floored by the idea that people could compare the death of thousands in a horrific terrorist attack, or the inauguration of the first black president to the death of any ‘ol celebrity. It is somewhat of a reach. But then again, to black folks, Michael Jackson wasn’t just “any ‘ol celebrity.” Hell, if you ask his legion of fans around the world dressing like him in Asia or doing the “Thriller” routine in prison, they would probably tell you that he was one-of-a-kind as well.

He opened the door for many black artists to get their music played outside of black stations and made MTV wake up and smell the coffee when it came to the talents of our brothas and sistas. Michael’s catalog of music from his youth to his death provided a soundtrack to many people’s lives, and hence, made him something like a son, brother or imaginary boo to many. Not to mention his philanthropic efforts throughout his career were worthy of a boatload of recognition and respect. So while I might have been saddened by the loss of other popular celebrities, I couldn’t tell you where I was or what I was doing at the time I heard of their deaths, but I can tell you that I didn’t run to the nearest Best Buy to raid their music and concert DVD sections like I did when I heard Mike was gone.

Granted, I wouldn’t say the day of his death was on par to that fateful day in September in any way, I’m sure you would think that to be preposterous, but for a new generation of people (not the older ones talking about where they were when Elvis died), it was an important and heartbreaking day that still made you stand still in shock, if even for a second (I’m sure you said something like this: “WHAT!? Michael Jackson dead???) . Nothing wrong with that. That’s why on this day, years later, his loss still invokes a whole day of spinning the Bad album, Off the Wall or a lunch break full of rediscovering the beauty and bad-a** quality of his music videos. In an age where our male R&B artists would rather go techno and fist-pump, find a new yet filthy way to talk about having sex, lip-synch hardcore, have every music video in the club at a different camera angle and have squabbles with any and everybody, yeah, Michael is sorely missed. And if you can clearly remember where you were the day you heard the news that he took his last breath, then I’m sure you would agree.

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  • anonymous

    Shout out to the south suburbs! I was in my freshman year of college at the dining hall when I heard, shows that his music and fame reached all ages.

  • http://www.facebook.com/imani.finn Imani Finn

    i was heading to my baccalaureate mass. it was two days before my high school graduation.

  • Stacy L

    I was at home watching the news and listening to the radio. I had just gotten laid off like 2 weeks before, and when the radio started playing all MJ songs I was happy, for a second, it made me feel a little better. Then I just so happened to turn my head left to look at the tv and my local news station (and I live in Baltimore, MD) was reporting that he was rushed to the hospital. (It was between 5pm-6pm our time b/c it was the evening news), Then I started cycling through radio stations and every station w/ even a little bit of reception was playing MJ.. then he was gone. it’s still sooo surreal to me, b/c it feels like he should be here

  • Bday Girl

    He died on my birthday June 25th. I sort of had a preminition. Told all my friends to wearsomething red but 3 days before my party I called everyone and asked that they wore black and white in honour of MJ’s massive tours that was about to kick off in 2009. So we all wore classic black and white. As we gathered to snap a group photo outside the event venue at about 9pm BST. MJ was being resusitated by an ambulance crew in his home across the Atlantic. A few hours later I received the tragic news. So every time my birthday comes round… I always remeber the times and celebrate an outstanding artist.

  • Candacey Doris

    I was doing volunteer work at an nursing home. I went in to see a patient i knew an she was bawling because Michael was dead. Of course she called him “that cute little black boy” but she was crying like he was her child.

  • Is It 5:00 Yet?

    I was just starting this job…matter of fact it was the third day when he died. I received text messages from people, but thought it was a rumor. Came home and saw Entertainment Tonight..truth verified.

  • MarcoPanache.com

    I was at work when the news broke and as shocking as it was to me, all i remember are the white people, in my predominately white office, dropping what they were doing and they all began glaringly staring at me over their cubicles for some sort of a reaction. It was the freakiest thing thing i’ve ever experienced!! Even the ‘ol white security guy was peering at me. It felt like i was abducted by aliens and was being poked and prodded for human emotion. Can anyone explain that to me?? …bcuz I’m convinced i work in an office full of aliens, and i fear they’re plotting to take me back to their planet and experiment on me like some mangy lab rat…

  • FromUR2UB

    I read it on the internet when I got home, and at first thought it was a hoax. Then I checked CNN and confirmed it. I never believed he would live to a ripe old age, but was still saddened by his death when it happened. All those memories of my eight-year-old crush on him came flooding back. In 1971, when I heard on the radio that the Jackson 5ive were going to be at the Cow Palace, my father didn’t get a moment’s rest for about two months after that. I argued that everyone else got to go to concerts (meaning my sisters, who are a decade older than I am, like I had a right to expect the same privilege at eight!) I worried the life out of him until he got finally took me to the box office to get the tickets. Anyway, I finally got to see them in person, and it was worth it!

  • IllyPhilly

    I was in Iraq and they told us like a week later.

  • RedButterfly81

    I was at Party City shopping for party supplies for my daughter’s 1st birthday which was 3 days away and the radio was playing at the store when they stopped in the middle of a Rihanna song to announced MJ had died. I was in shocked and didn’t see that one coming at all. I even remembered Farrah Fawcett had died that morning and her death was overshadowed by MJ’s death. When I got home I played my Michael Jackson albums.

  • Anonymous

    I was shocked, still can’t get over it. His music hits your soul. When Mj songs come on everybody including babies start moving their bodies. I’ve been listening to his songs all day, this guy’s talent was out of this world. The greatest entertainer that ever lived, and most talented artist. Thank you for your humanitarian work, and you will always be remembered. Your music will go down generation. R.I.P Michael Joseph Jackson.

  • sammi_lu

    Had just got off work early and hopped in my car turned the radio up and immediately start singing along to P.Y.T. immediately followed by Rock With You. By now I was happy hype like I always get when MJ comes on, when I heard the 3rd song come on a question popped in my head..”Why is my favorite alternative station mixing MJ like this?” I turned to every station I had programmed and all were jamming one of his hits. That same frantic panic was welling up inside me I felt going through the radio stations the day Biggie died..I knew immediately he was gone before the Dj came on saying R.I.P.

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