Michael—The Meal

Taken from a July 2 audio column at www.prisonradio.org. Go to www.millions4mumia.org to read updates on Mumia’s case.

Michael Jackson was many things in his 50 years of life: child star, wunderkind, stirring tenor, dancer extraordinaire, entertainer, even oddity.

But he was more. In death as in life, he has become a meal for the media. And the media is ever hungry, and never full.

I confess to sheer fascination, and thus, perhaps I am feeding the very beast that I declaim, for fascination is but fuel for the flame.

Michael Jackson’s entire life has been a source of fascination and has sparked the sales of newspapers, magazines and assorted media outlets.

CNN, the nation’s premier cable news network, saw an increase of over 900 percent—900 percent!—in viewership since Michael’s passing. Don’t you think the ever-growing profit motive has had something to do with this?

For a brief, naive moment, I thought that the mad frenzy of the media for Jackson would dissipate with his passing. I could not be more wrong.

We will hear, read and see much more of Michael before this latest mania passes over.

Driven by the lust for profits, the story will go on and on until nothing is left to eat.

Order Mumia’s latest book, “Jailhouse Lawyers,” at www.Leftbooks.com.