Hey y'all-

I felt like writing a Journal about one of my favorite artists, Michael Jackson. As we all know, his funeral was a couple of days ago. I'm still shocked about his death, since I only came to respect his music quite recently. And I bet at one point we have all looked past his many strange decisions in his life and listened to his greatest gift to us, his art.

Even at a young age, Michael captured our interest and our hearts with his amazing talent as a part of the Jackson 5. The fact that he was already an innovator and inspiration at such a young age made us captivated with him. But children always grow up.

The young Michael grew up to become the greatest pop star of all time. His quick and slick dance moves, and unique voice gave him the positive image that revolutionized music. And when you first watched his music videos, everything else seemed rather pedestrian.

As he got older, the public noticed several changes in Michael. Once, he got a very noticeable nose job. And it all went downhill from there. It became so bad that the media reported him getting plastic surgery several times a week. And once he learned he had vitiligo, he bleached his skin white.

Sniffing out stories, reporters swarmed around Michael, ready to criticize his decisions and some extra cash and fame. His surgery, his kids, everything. And don't get me started on the molestation charges. That's when I first heard about Michael. And it made me prejudiced and blind. Unfortunately, the American media did this not only to me but to several other people that could have truly appreciated his music and talent. Until tragedy struck on June 25, 2009.

And now, this great innovator of not only music but lives has left us, leaving not the great respect and admiration he deserves, but a torn image. But as people got together to see his funeral in not only the thousands but millions, we realize that no matter how much some of us disliked him, he still even in death had the power to bring people together. And this talent is something that not even the grandest of politicians could be able to do. He an examp--no, the definition of the power of music, to bring people closer together. Whether black or white, atheist or theist, Muslim, Christian, or Jewish we all silently say these words to ourselves,

"Rest in Peace Micheal Jackson. We will miss you. So much."

-Kurry