Growing up and maturing is realizing just how much Michael Jackson, along with his musical and humanitarian contributions, also contributed to addressing sensitive social issues at a time where it wasn't even popular for artists to talk about certain things.
MJ openly talked about climate change, the impacts of gun violence and school shootings, the corruption of mainstream media and tabloid gossip, rumors and false smear campaigns combined with industry politics, supporting Palestine and the Palestinian people, etc., long before it was popular or trendy.
MJ also openly talked about living with disabilities and chronic illnesses like vitiligo, dealing with eating disorders such as anorexia and body image issues, dealing with prescription medication addictions, the toll of trauma from abuse, colorism, bullying, etc. along with the damaging effects of tabloid bullying, mockery and spreading rumors, and wrote songs about these things, especially in songs like "Leave Me Alone", "Tabloid Junkie", "Privacy", "D.S.", etc.
MJ also had a staunchly anti bullying, anti racist, anti KKK, anti police brutality and anti gang violence stance with a strong pacifist, pro unity and pro black message as shown in songs such as Beat It, Bad, Black or White, etc. and their accompanying videos.
Whether it be through interviews, through unearthed private recordings or through his music, songs and visuals, MJ legit addressed so many real world social issues and sensitive topics decades before it was popular--and did so at time where it was unpopular and even unheard of to do so.
Then on a lighter note, Michael was a masculine heterosexual man who was comfortable with his masculinity and heterosexuality, balanced out with enough feminine androgynous energy and expression as well as showing that it's possible to be proudly and comfortably masculine while still being kind, gentle, warm, loving, sensitive, polite and humble--and also possible to be gentle and pacifistic while not being a pushover, and also not being afraid to be vulnerable with his emotions. MJ was definitely ahead of his time in that regards (and a breath of fresh air as that healthy balance and level of positivity isn't seen amongst today's modern male artists in recent times!).
In summary, MJ was truly ahead of his time and ahead of the curb on many things--as an artist, as a musician, as an entertainer and as a human being.
This world did not deserve Michael Joseph Jackson.
But MJ deserved so much better.
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