Michael Jackson - The Significance of His Thrilling Career

Significance of His Thrilling Career
first heard the news that Michael Jackson had died I immediately dismissed it. I thought it was a cruel rumor that was being circulated. I got into the elevator with a black woman who looked visibly shaken and I asked her did she hear about it. She confirmed that it was true. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. on June 25, 2009.
As the elevator sank toward the ground floor, my heart sunk with it. Like most black people, I felt as though I had lost a childhood friend. Losing a childhood friend can be more painful than losing a distant relative because of the historical bond you share. When a childhood friend dies, a part of your life dies with them. Such was the case for me and millions of others who had the pleasure of growing up with Michael Jackson.
Unlike any artist in history, Michael Jackson was able to cast a wide net of popularity over generations of people which cut through genres, cultures, nations, races, and all ages. It was a feat that will likely never be accomplished again. His influence is readily seen in today's top contemporary music artists like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, and Ne-Yo.
They share some similarities, but they will never be on Michael Jackson's level.