Was Michael Jackson a Black Confederate?

Michael Jackson in Confederate KepiIf he was it was only temporary given the drastic changes to the color of his skin.  This photograph was taken on Franklin Street in Richmond in 1980.  My wife and I spent a few hours listening to Michael Jackson’s music on the evening of his death.  It is next to impossible to deny his talent.  Over the past few days I’ve caught snippets of various specials, including a number of interviews with Jackson.  What stands out when not discussing music or dance is an almost childish and simplistic view of the world.  I suspect that his early career left very little time for education and I assume that includes an understanding of American history.  With that in mind it is easy to imagine Jackson not thinking twice about engaging the black community of Richmond in a Confederate kepi.  See the story here.  Thanks for the wonderful music.

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21 comments… add one
  • Bryan Cheeseboro Nov 5, 2014 @ 10:19

    The cap in the picture looks like a Union blue cap to me.

  • MJJJusticeProject Nov 5, 2014 @ 9:15

    The song Buffalo Soldier was written by Bob Marley and Noel Williams in 1980. It was released on the “Legend” album in 1984

    The Buffalo Soldiers was the name given to the African American soldiers who fought in the 10th Cavalry during Native American conflicts in 1866. The Native American tribes gave them the nickname because their dark skin and dark curly hair reminded them of the buffalo. The African Americans were also strong.

    The first verse of the song tells about how the Africans were brought here against their will. They had to fight to survive from the moment they came to this country. Initially, they fought just to stay alive Later on, they were forced to fight the war for America and kill the Native American people.

    In the song, Marley sings, “Then you wouldn’t have to ask me, Who the ‘eck do I think I am.” He is speaking out for the African Americans who aren’t treated as equals. The Buffalo Soldiers who fought to help build the United States were not treated as equals. The answer, “I’m just a Buffalo Soldier…win the war for America” reminds us that the African Americans were instrumental in building America.

    Read more: http://www.musicbanter.com/lyrics/Bob-Marley-Buffalo-Soldier.html#ixzz3IDWut0WO

    Michael Jackson was very much a Buffalo Soldier .. and he did indeed KNOW American history.

  • Kevin Levin Dec 1, 2009 @ 11:44

    Thanks for the follow-up. I should have known that Jackson would not have been that “Off the Wall”. 🙂

    • Mike R Jul 20, 2011 @ 12:00

      The recent and horrific History channel fiasco “Gettysburg” reminded me of having seen this post, and I can definitively state that the hat Mr. Jackson wears is not confederate uniform issue. As can be plainly seen, as is the case with the awful Hardee hats in the web advertisements for the History Channel’s program, the kepi features crossed brass rifles. According to The United States Infantry, An Illustrated History 1775-1918, crossed rifle insignia became part of the US Army’s regulations in 1875 to designate infantry.
      So, in fact, Mr. Jackson might have wanted to be a Buffalo Soldier, but not a Confederate, based on his choice of headwear.

  • michael jospeh jackson Dec 1, 2009 @ 9:07

    btw…i actually own the cap. i recently acquired it at an auction at the hard rock cafe times square in NY. please look up the juliens auction website. there should be links to view the music icons catalog and there you will find a clear picture of the item in question. this whole article is misleading. over and out.

  • michael jospeh jackson Dec 1, 2009 @ 9:03

    its a union cap. i know the individual who owns the cap shown in the pictures provided by betty.

  • michael jospeh jackson Dec 1, 2009 @ 3:07

    btw…i actually own the cap. i recently acquired it at an auction at the hard rock cafe times square in NY. please look up the juliens auction website. there should be links to view the music icons catalog and there you will find a clear picture of the item in question. this whole article is misleading. over and out.

    • Kevin Levin Dec 1, 2009 @ 5:44

      Thanks for the follow-up. I should have known that Jackson would not have been that “Off the Wall”. 🙂

  • michael jospeh jackson Dec 1, 2009 @ 3:03

    its a union cap. i know the individual who owns the cap shown in the pictures provided by betty.

  • David Tatum Jr Jul 2, 2009 @ 17:49

    Perhaps he should have Dressed as Lincoln !

  • Tim Abbott Jul 2, 2009 @ 16:34

    This will be anecdotal, but I recall that there was a period in the early 1980s when hip hop culture included leather and suede kepis in various shades of black and, yes, gray. I was busy playing “Civil War” with my junior high school friends at the time and rejected these for our war games as too “inauthentic.” I do not know when the trend started or what was behind it, but it did not originate with MJ. I am fairly certain, however, that it was more about style than substance (unless at some level it was appropriating and subverting the emblem of the oppressor, such as the pink triangle of the Nazi’s that was taken back by militant gay activists around the same time.

  • Mike Jul 1, 2009 @ 11:55

    Michael Jackson was one of my favorite singers of all time. I doubt he thought much about wearing that cap wayback in 1980. So he was not a black confederate he might have been a Neo-Confederate :>) As for Dan the man was found not gulity in a court of law so to borrow some of MJ’s words BEAT IT!

    RIP MJ you will be missed.

    • Kevin Levin Jul 1, 2009 @ 11:57

      Mike,

      You said: “I doubt he thought much about wearing that cap wayback in 1980.” Yes, that was exactly my point.

  • Kevin Levin Jul 1, 2009 @ 5:27

    Anyone else? I am beginning to worry about the mental and emotional stability of my readers. 🙂

  • David Tatum Jr Jul 1, 2009 @ 3:28

    Kevin:

    Michael Jackson a Black Confederate ? It seems that you do have a sense of humor.
    NO he was not a Confederate, he may have been a “Rebel” in his approach to the entertainment world, and his performances but he was not a Black Confederate.
    By the standard opinion at your blog a Black Confederate was no more than a slave.
    MJ was not a slave. Nor was he an Egyptian prince, or a ghoul that came form the grave, he was an Entertainer . Whos talent was fantastic.
    My opinion of his ” pedophile” aspect is irrelevant he was found not guilty in a court of law. just like O.J. ( Nuff Said )
    The best I can figure it was a slow news day and you were scraping the bottom of the barrel for an idea for your blog. I expect better of you !

    Dave Tatum.

  • dan Jun 30, 2009 @ 17:58

    >the subject of black Confederates (or as I prefer to call them, Confederate slaves

    I’m really surprised at this bizarre comment from you, Kevin. You are suggesting that the two are the same and they are not. Nobody has ever suggested that the issues are one and the same, except you, now. You are changing the rules of the debate, and the very subject of the debate because you apparently can not handle being called out on this matter. You are welcome to not post my comments Kevin, if they bore you, or for whatever reason. But I can assure you that your constant thrashing on this absurd matter is past boring. Your blog is fun (sometimes), your arrogant condescending tone is not.

    • Kevin Levin Jun 30, 2009 @ 18:02

      Well, if you find my commentary to be absurd you are free to go elsewhere. I am certainly not going to apologize for anything. And as for my tone, you will have to excuse me as I find it absurd that you are making such a big deal of this. Please do not send any more comments to this thread.

  • dan Jun 30, 2009 @ 17:43

    >Are you suggesting that “child molester” and “black confederate” are mutually exclusive categories?

    No, and I should have added that, but didn’t want to go there.
    Kevin, no offense you definitely do have a jones for this issue. It’s a non-starter except here on this blog.

    • Kevin Levin Jun 30, 2009 @ 17:53

      Dan,

      And you obviously have an issue with wanting to point this out to me. To suggest that the subject of black Confederates (or as I prefer to call them, Confederate slaves) is only an issue on this blog suggests that you don’t get out much. Anyway, let’s drop this because it’s starting to bore me.

  • dan Jun 30, 2009 @ 17:25

    Michael Jackson was a molester, he was not a “black confederate” regardless of his kepi in the photo. This denial of the truth of Michael Jackson’s abysmal character is revolting.
    Kevin, you have an excellent blog, but your jones for “black confederates” is now past absurd.
    Read here for a reasonable analysis of the fallen “king”: http://frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35399

    • Kevin Levin Jun 30, 2009 @ 17:33

      Dan,

      Are you suggesting that “child molester” and “black confederate” are mutually exclusive categories? Yo dude, I am totally jones’in [How do you spell that?] for some black confederates.

      The post was written with a bit of humor in mind. Lighten up dude.

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