In the wake of the unexpected death of one of the greatest icons in the music industry, a lot of questions have surfaced and will most probably remain unanswered.  One such question was whether Michael Jackson was ever comfortable in his own skin and if he was really black or white.

In 1991, while riding the crest of his worldwide fame and popularity, Michael Jackson came up with the hit song, “It don’t matter if you’re black or white.”  For some others, though, especially his fellow African-Americans, they just can’t be too sure about that.  Not a few of these people feel that Jackson was not comfortable with his own skin color, and for good reason.

Michael Jackson started out as a child singing sensation along with his brothers back in the 1960s.  They were then called “The Jackson 5”, and all of them were unquestionably African-American.  But by the time he became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1990s, his skin was white and his nose and jaw were altered. 

Although Jackson claimed that he suffered from vitiligo, a rare disorder which involves the loss of skin pigmentation, the constant accusations that he bleached his skin never went away. 

The ridicule and criticisms continued and with the cases which were filed against him for child molestation, his fame and popularity took a nosedive.

The rest of the world, though, knew better and had nothing but love for Michael Jackson.  As evidenced by the overwhelming reaction and outpouring of grief over the news of his death, the multitude of people across the globe still respected and adored him.  His contributions to music and to the world are far too big to be overshadowed by his “flaws”.

For all the stories about the changes in his physical features and his all other eccentricities, he still spoke strongly about being African-American.  He was largely credited for breaking down racial boundaries with his music and his worldwide success.

Yes, Michael Jackson may have been strange, eccentric, and a whole lot different from most of us, but when it came to his music and his performances on stage, he was unparalleled and was nothing short of amazing. He dedicated himself to excellence in providing his fans with unforgettable experiences and the best entertainment that he could offer. And maybe that was all that really mattered.