by Tian Li

Created on: October 14, 2009

WOW. It saddens me deeply to hear of the passing of a phenomonal person. In life he was a pioneer, in death he becomes an enigma. I never had the opportunity to meet him in this world. I hope to meet him in the next. Regardless of his personal demons, Michael Jackson redefined media in the US and the rest of the world. He broke every single social and racial barrier and opened the door for so many great entertainers.

My 53 year old mother called me yesterday to talk to me about Michael Jackson. She doesn't speak English and she was greatly overcome with emotions by his sudden passing. My relatives in China mourn for him. That is amazing considering he does not speak Chinese nor has he recorded any songs in Chinese. I remember being 6 years old and just having emigrated to the US from China. This was back in 1990. Asian people were discriminated against even more heavily back then. It was tough having to deal with the transition of leaving everything and everyone that was familiar and forced to assimilate into a totally new environment without anyone but your mother and father. We weren't seen in the media back then at that time at all. We weren't welcome in this country and some people still consider us to be unwelcome to this day. Ignorance is not bliss. I remember clear as day watching the music video for "black or white" and the feeling of comfort in seeing an asian face included. He was so progressive and ahead of his time.

That video still inspires me to this day. Asians are very quiet and reserved culturally and the discrimination we face isn't spoken of to outsiders much. But I am throwing it out there. Every single Asian person in America has experienced racism. Every single one of us. It sucks. The Asian face only had a few seconds of screen time, but those few seconds have stayed with me for 19 years. It gave me hope that one day people won't look down upon Asians in America. I feel so fortunate and am greatly humbled to be able to contribute to that movement of greater visibilty and the celebration of our culture in mainstream America.

He gave people the ultimate gift and taught me to have a sense of hope and self belief. Though we never met. I want to pay it forward to every single person on the face of the earth to go pursue their dreams and to believe in themselves. I have disappointed everyone I love in life numerous times since birth. I have had more than my fair share of terrible irresponsible behavior. I used to be like everyone else. Sat

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