Talking About Jackson Over Coffee

For some people at an intimate coffeehouse discussion Saturday in Leimert Park, Michael Jackson is an ultra-wealthy superstar who has abandoned his ethnic roots and is playing the race card in his fight against child molestation charges. Others, however, defended him as a victim of racism who is under attack from white Americans.

Those gathered at a weekly session that the National Alliance for Positive Action holds on current events did not call themselves die-hard Jackson fans. About 20 mostly middle-age and elderly African Americans discussed the political and social ramifications of the Jackson case as a documentary on the making of Jackson’s music video “Thriller” played on television in the background.

Jackson, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday in Santa Maria, Calif., is accused of molesting and giving an intoxicant to a 12-year-old male cancer patient who was staying with the entertainer.

Educator Bimkubwa Thandiwe, 50, said many African Americans support Jackson because they can identify with his charges of being unfairly targeted by law enforcement and abused in jail after he surrendered.

Jackson claims his shoulder was dislocated and arm was injured by deputies. He also said he had been locked for 45 minutes in a jail bathroom with feces smeared on the walls, floor and ceiling

“Just because he’s wealthy, he’s still black,” said Thandiwe, who pointed to inequities between the Jackson case and other celebrities. For example, she said it is unfair that Jackson’s bail was set at $3 million, while Robert Blake and Phil Spector, two famous white men charged in separate murders, were each required to pay less. Blake’s bail was $1.5 million and Spector’s was $1 million.

Tut Hayes, 69, a retired photographer from South Los Angeles, said allegations that Jackson was brutalized by law officers touched a nerve. But it is still difficult for him to cheer on the singer, who he said seems so detached from the black community.

“Remember, he chose a white woman to marry. And he chose another white woman to [have] his children with,” Hayes said. “I’m not impressed with his blackness.”

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the National Alliance for Positive Action, hosted Saturday’s round-table discussion at the Lucy Florence Coffeehouse.

He said it is easy for blacks to be drawn into “Michael-bashing,” just like when the singer faced molestation accusations in 1993. The case was dropped after the alleged victim accepted a reported $15 million to $24 million from Jackson and decided not to testify against him. Prosectors did not file charges against Jackson.

Back then, people were swayed by critics calling him names such as “Little Casper” because of his white skin, Hutchinson said. And many thought: “He’s not part of our community. Why should we have anything to do with this guy?” he said.

But Hutchinson and others said Jackson has donated heavily to black charity organizations, and the community should not turn its back on him.

India Coleman, 45, of Inglewood said she is unsure of Jackson’s guilt or innocence, but believes he is being scrutinized far more than Catholic priests accused of similar crimes. Jackson’s treatment in the media compared to the priests is “totally unfair,” she said.

Saturday’s forum featured community activist Najee Ali, who helped organize the “Caravan of Love,” a convoy of buses carrying hundreds of Jackson supporters to Santa Maria on Friday. Ali said he believes race will affect the trial because Santa Maria is a conservative farm town where African Americans rarely serve on juries and represent just 2.1% of the county’s population. Therefore, it is crucial for blacks to rally around Jackson, Ali said.

“If Michael Jackson can’t get justice, with all of his fame, all of his money, all of his power,” Ali said, “then we can’t get it.”