A Day of Remembrance and Celebration

Last year, on the afternoon of June 25 (July 5), people around the world learned about Michael Jackson’s death. That day and the days that followed turned into a celebration of his remembrance and the efforts he made.

For example, DJ John Quick was supposed to hold a dance party in Harlem, New York, but upon hearing the news, he changed it into a Michael celebration. He says:

“It was the first time I saw grown-ups cry and dance at the same time.” This year too, Quick will play Michael’s songs in Manhattan on the first anniversary of his death, but with the difference that he expects a happier celebration.

“People want to celebrate his life and his music. His albums are like time markers for our lives. Do you remember what you were doing back then?”

Quick’s dance club is only one of many dance and celebration events that will be held today and tomorrow in different cities around the world in memory of the King of Music.

On Tuesday, a memorial plaque was unveiled in London, along with a photo of young Michael smiling brightly—welcomed with the flash of camera lights and a great deal of applause. After the unveiling, the 14-year-old member of the dance group Diversity City said that it was an honor for him to attend the ceremony.

On Thursday, Michael impersonators performed his songs in a shopping arcade in Hong Kong. A 4-year-old child, dressed in a costume including a hat and a black suit, silver armbands, and white socks, danced to a soothing song.

In Michael’s hometown, Gary, a memorial will be set up at the headquarters of the Jacksons’ house. It has been said that Michael’s mother and Genevieve, Randy Jackson’s daughter, will attend the ceremony along with thousands of fans.

Other family members and close friends will keep his memory alive on Friday in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn, Michael’s grave.

At Harlem’s Apollo Hall, where a few days ago the “legend” award was presented to Michael, a memorial celebration will be held in front of the plaque installed in his honor. In the afternoon, at nearly the exact time Michael died, the Reverend Al Sharpton—an African-American civil rights activist—and others will observe a one-minute silence.

Sharpton says:

“A one-minute silence shows the sacredness of the ceremony. He was very valuable to all of us. He brought all races together. I want to show that Michael Jackson is someone we will always stand and respect. He was much more than a singer. He was a social force and a source of inspiration.”

Source: eMJey / AP