For You Judgemental Types...

Everyone I have talked to over the years has said how appalled they were at Michael Jackson's ever evolving appearance. Understandable. What really bothered me was how critical and judgemental they were over the changing color of his skin. I suppose the repulsed thoughts had crossed my mind a few times, however, I still held out hope that there was an explanation greater than "he wanted to be white."

Based on yesterday's article posted on CNN.com Michael Jackson's Glove, I can now sleep better knowing I was right to withhold judgment all of those years! As a result of postmortem interviews with Jackson's former doctors and dermatologists, as well as statements from friends and close associates, it has been confirmed that Michael Jackson did suffer from the melanin-destroying (skin-lightening) disease "Vitiligo."

In the 1980s, actress friend of Michael, Cicely Tyson, was told by their mutual fashion designer that he was designing a glove for Jackson to cover up the beginning stages of the disease which attacks the hands and face first. Michael's dermatologist later said he began administering skin-lightening treatments to blend the white patches of skin from the Vitiligo with the rest of Michael's body. He said the procedure was in no way an attempt for Michael to "become white" and he was a "proud black man."

The CNN article has all of the information in detail and I will let you refer back to it for the rest of the story. Either way, even for the type of lifestyle that Michael Jackson lived, it is a far-fetched claim that he wanted to be "white" badly enough that he bleached his skin. He was many things but wanting to be white certainly does not seem like one of them. This just adds even more to the amount of pressure he was under and the number of unusual circumstances he had to deal with.

I can't even imagine.

- Mitch G