The Apollo Remembers Michael

Thousands descended upon Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater today to celebrate the life of international icon, Michael Jackson. 

600 at a time, fans from all walks of life were welcomed into the temple of black entertainment.  Like family gathering in the living room, happy energy filled the space.  Upbeat Jackson hits played alongside a video montage of his life and mementos were strewn onto the historic stage where Jackson performed over 30 years ago on the horizon of his meteoric career.  45 minute increments of dancing, singing, cheering and peace signs marked the happy homegoing of a legend loved dearly.

Outside crowds spread over 10 blocks waiting hours for their chance to pay respects to the “King of Pop.” Harlem native Kenya Towe, 43 was among the first to arrive at 10 PM the night before. 

In 80 degree heat, after standing on line overnight in fellowship with Jackson fans Towe said proudly, “It was an honor.  I would do it three times in a row for him.  He deserved that because he touched me so deeply.  He made me realize that when you’re different, you still accept yourself.”

Alongside Towe in line was 19-year-old Ecuadorian native Jessica Salacao chanting, “Aint no party like a MJ party, ‘cause an MJ party don’t stop.”  Even in her eyes, “Michael Jackson was the king of the world.”

Joining them in the first group of fans to celebrate together from the front row inside the theater was Victoria Campomanes, a blonde 22-year-old who traveled solo from a conservative town in Vermont in a home-made Billie-Jean costume. 

During this celebration of Jackson’s extraordinary life, there was no room for toiling over a tormented past or even mourning the great loss.  Rev. Al Sharpton and Spike Lee, who spoke during the event, shared the community’s sentiment of frustration with the media’s often negative portrayal of Jackson’s life in the days since his passing.

“We are here to celebrate the life of a beautiful human being,” said Spike Lee before the crowd.  “Let’s not wallow in negativity.  We’re not having it. As my grandmother would say, ‘we aint studyin’ it.’”

At 5:26pm EST, 5 days after the moment Jackson’s death shocked the world, Rev. Al Sharpton lead a moment of silence with a riveting speech.

“Let me tell you the significance of what Michael Jackson did,” said Sharpton, gearing up to speak about the entertainer’s contribution to the post-civil rights generation, “Those little kids that had the little shades on and the cut off jackets and had their pants up and the one sequined glove imitating Michael, those kids grew up comfortable with race and those were the kids who voted for Barack Obama to be the President of the United States.”

Presumably for the first time since Obama landed on our radar, his omnipresent paraphernalia along the row of street vendors surrounding the Harlem neighborhood was replaced by nostalgic images of Jackson’s face.

Arafa Speaks, 54, who stays at a homeless shelter on Manhattan’s lower east side joined in collecting the names of everyone who was there overnight to start an organization “to keep Michael Jackson’s legacy alive.  And not let what happened to [the legacy of] James Brown and Ray Charles and all these others die down to nothing.”