People's District

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

“The first time I heard Michael Jackson was when Thriller came out. When I first saw the video, I was scared of him as I was just a child. But the more I saw Michael Jackson, I got mesmerized by him and his music. I couldn’t believe that this kind of person existed. I bought every CD of his and have seen every performance of his on television. His music captures you and you just can’t get enough of it. I never did try to dress like him, but you may catch me doing the moonwalk every once in a while.

“I was in my sister’s room when we learned that he died. I didn’t believe it at first. I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on all of us. I just broke down and couldn’t stop crying. How could this be? He had kids and a family and so much more to give the world. When he died, I felt like a part of me was gone, too. I wanted to do my part to honor his life and share his legacy with the city

“I started by putting a picture of him on a chair in my yard. After that, my Mom and sister pitched in and started buying more things to add to the memorial. Other people started contributing as well, and now our house and yard is a shrine to him. People know us as the Michael Jackson house. We want to do our part for the city to keep his memory alive and let everyone know that D.C. loved him and his music. My mother and I are out here playing his music 24/7. We ask that people who come by the house to admire the memorial, dance like him or do something to pay tribute and keep his memory alive.

“The one thing that I want people to know about Michael Jackson is that whatever you read about him, that was not him. He was the kind of person who would do anything and everything for everyone. For the media to paint him as a child molester is just wrong. His song Childhood says, ‘Before you judge me, try hard to get to know me.’ He wanted people to get to know him. I want people to know him as a kind and genuine good hearted person. I want D.C. and the world to know the true Michael Jackson.”

The Michael Jackson House is located at 922 8th Street Northeast. Watch Joy, Maxcine’s eight year old nephew, dance like Michael in front of the house below.