On Michael Jackson

MargoJefferson’sOnMichaelJacksonisalucidandelegantculturalanalysisoftheriseandfalloftheKingofPop.Anaward-winningculturalcritic,JeffersonbringsanunexpectedcompassionaswellashersharpintellectandincomparableinsighttoJackson’s2005trialforchildmolestation,startlinguswithhereruditeilluminationofamedia-drenchedcircusthatweonlythoughtweunderstood.Asonlyshecan,JeffersonreadsbetweenthelinesofJackson’s1998autobiographyaswellaspublishedaccountsofhischildhood,hisfamily,andMotown—whereMichaelandhisbrothersfirstmadetheJackson5ahouseholdname—leavinguswithprovocativeandperhapsunanswerablequestionsaboutJackson,childstardom,andfameitself.