18” x 24” acrylic painting on canvas. Canvas is 100% cotton duck with an acrylic titanium triple primer.

What’s the story behind this painting?

Michael Jackson was everywhere in the 90s. The poor soul couldn’t escape the controversy and pandemonium that followed him wherever he went. Aside from the accusations of child molestation (which of course I really didn’t understand at a young age), the one thing I remembered about Jackson the most, revolved around the drastic changes in his appearance. His skin had significantly lightened and his nose varied in shape. All of these drastic alterations were addressed in several episodes of “In Living Color.” Not long after the hit song “Black or White” topped the music charts, the Wayans brothers decided to lampoon Jackson by altering the lyrics to his hit song. In changing the lyrics they placed a spotlight on his controversial behavior. I remember watching Tommy Davidson heavily made up in white face, strutting in an alley and imitating Jackson’s footwork, rhetorically asking whether he was black or white. I recall that being one of my first exposures to the complexities of race and identity. Mt seven year old self wondered if he still qualified to be black even though his skin color changed. It was a taboo subject within the family, and not to be addressed. In retrospect, I don’t think they knew how to handle such a delicate subject, much less deliver a simplified explanation to a child.

          The funniest part was Davidson poking fun at Jackson’s attempts to assert his masculinity and rebellious nature by breaking a window, and in the process foolishly injuring himself. Davidson’s skits about the King of Pop always made me laugh because he imitated Jackson’s gestures so well.