Let me be the first to congratulate you. I mean it, I am pleased as punch about this. :)

Congratulations, and wonderful article! It's sad, but true; celebrity worship knows no bounds these days. Keep telling it like it is, Ambra.

Are they hiring you because you're a writer with a unique voice, or because they want you to tear down and make fun of another black person?

In addition, if the choice of Jackson as subject matter is your own, this raises questions too.

Although I agree he appears to be guilty as hell, there is the remote possibility that he's innocent ... remote.

Still, our legacy of lynching should preclude any black person from lynching another black person whether it be from a tree or newspaper.

Incidentally, they did the same thing to Zora Neale Hurston. She was accused of molesting a young boy, an accusation that later turned out to be false. No matter, the harm was done; her writing career destoryed. She died a pauper because of it.

Later she wrote about it saying the thing that hurt her most was the feeding frenzy the black press had attacking her before the case came to trial.

There are a million other things to write about, don't let them turn you into an Uncle Tom. Resist the temptation to jump on the Michael Jackson-bashing bandwagon. What's orginal about that anyway? What unique view would you have?

Let the brother have his day in court.

ric

"Ric": The answers to all your questions can be found by reading the rest of the content on my site.

As a commenter Jason Alston once said regarding sentiments similar to yours, "They got you all wrong Shug."

Welcome to the crabpot.

So let me get this straight? We cannot possibly congratulate this up and coming writer without a grain of salt? The old "Dont let massa make you an Uncle Tom Speech...!"

Secondly we are "lynching" another Black Person when we call them into accountability for their perverse actions?
This is grown man that has been able to live "above the law" because of his stature and economic status!

This is the type of bury your head in the sand faulty logic that has made the "Black Community" lose credibility!

Paradigm Shift is in desperate need!

Good article.

Besides fighting for his reputation, Jackson is also fighting for his children. If convicted he would lose them, even if his jail time is reduced. Let's see how his case goes. I can't imagine his pain if he was forced to give up his children.

Celebrities in the past could count on their studios/record companies to perform damage control and deal with very few media outlets. Today the Internet is one vast outlet that cannot be controlled. Now the game has changed to use whatever means necessary and garner sympathy and support based on the celebrity.

As a follow-up article you may want to look at the reasons people spend their money and watch the shows of "questionable" celebrities. Is it their way of rebelling against societal standards? Is there an element of "danger" that they don't get from normal entertainment? I suppose you also have the initial curiousity factor. People will tune into the first Martha Stewart show just to see what she looks like and if she still has "it" (whatever that "it" is).

Ouch. Ooch. You dissect this creature with the assurance of a brain surgeon practicing his high school biology project. In a pop culture loaded with too many enablers- we want the people we like to get second chances, but those we don't can suffer the consequences- you have blissfully separated yourself from the crowd. Superb beginning of your Official Pundit Career.

Wow... honestly, I saw it is more of a "pop culture" peice regarding the power of celebrity which happened to use MJ as an example, not the other way around.

If I were black (which I'm not, so perhaps I'll get flamed for even suggesting this) personally, I would be more upset with Michael Jackson himself. He's done seemingly everything possible to make himself... well, white. The many plastic surgeries, the "skin disorder", etc. He's the sell out. He's the Uncle Tom. (And again, this is all just my opinion. I may be totally wrong.)

Congratulations Ambra. Pen > sword.

Congratulations, Ambra! Way to go!

Well presented, and written. GOOD JOB...
Thank You!

Ambra,

You are so gifted. Great article and congratulations on what I believe will be a prospering career move.

Well, I read your piece this morning and was somewhat relieved. I thought it was going to be like the blog entry you posted last week, but it was more restrained.

Still, I can't help but to think of the field day the black press had with Zora Neale Hurston when she was wrongly accused of child molestation. The charge had no foundation but throughout the land black reporters did their level best to drive her into the ground.

Sure, Jackson is a pedophile, but that's not the point. The point here is with our legacy of lynching and journalistic hired gunship, we should pause before doing anything that even remotely seems to be connected to these things.

Other folks don't have to be mindful of this -- but I believe we do.

I detest Michael Jackson. The man repelled me decades ago -- even before his first pedophile incident -- but there are just certain things I could never say about him in print -- or at least, before a court verdict was had.

Mind you, once he's found guilty -- as he shall be -- I'll be the first in line to throw the rope over the branch -- but until then, I'm sorry, I just can't do it.

ric

Ric: You mean had all that to say and hadn't even read the article yet?

good night.

It looks great Ambra, congratulations :)

Very well done Nykola, but I say ditch the paper and get a radio show.

Great job Ambra!!

A great article, Ambra, and congrats on your guest columnist post. I hope they make you a regular.

The only quibble I have is your inclusion of Hugh Grant in the celebrity law-breakers list. Certainly what he did was immoral and sleazy, but was he ever charged with anything? (If not, should he have been?) Also I think, of all those listed, Grant had the decency to admit that what he did was sleazy and to actually be ashamed of himself. My memory isn't very detailed but I do recall Grant on The Tonight Show, mortified by his own bad behavior.

Regarding Martha's upcoming TV series, I don't begrudge it. If Martha had been a guy, she never would've stood trial at all. If there had been a trial, there would never have been a jail sentence. You know I'm not the conspiracy-theory type, but the Martha situation felt like a witch hunt to me. She was guilty, but she was sent to prison for being an incredibly successful woman, IMO. I don't think anyone can tell me why they didn't just hit her where it would really hurt, in the pocketbook. Having paid her fines and done her time, though, what is she supposed to do, crawl into the woodwork and disappear? Her personality is her career. She's not an athlete or a musician or an actor -- she's a lifestyle coach (heh); she is her own product.

In the end, though, you're right about the cult of celebrity, even if I question whether or not everyone you named belongs in the same category. Thanks for getting my gears cranking this morning!

Joan, when have you not not had a quibble with my columns?

Yes, Martha was made an example. And true, men have been getting away with what she did for years. Does that make it right? Nope. She's a great businesswoman, but her shady dealings, wretched attitude, and reputation for being difficult to work with caught up with her.

The principle of sowing and reaping comes into play here. Also, I didn't list celebrities who broke the law. I listed those who had run-ins with the law. There's a difference.

Good job, Ambra.

Ric, can you not comment on the article without bringing race into it? Race has nothing to do with MJ's freakish (alleged) behavior - neither does it affect Ambra's point of view on the matter.

The negative influence of the mass-media driven pop-culture is very apparent when seen through the prism of "celebrity justice" events which you have rather clearly articulated(IMHO).
The novelist Robert Roark (popular in the 50's-60's) dealt with a similar theme of cultural decay and it's negative manifestations in his novel, " Something of Value."
Thanks for the insights presented in your piece the P-I printed.

I am not defending Jacksons skin bleachings but you all do remember that his hair caught on fire in that commercial. So the skin color is not entirely his fault.

Way to go, Ambra!! Next thing you know you'll be part of Brit Hume's "Fox All-Stars".

Well done Ambra! I am proud to recommend your site and your column to others. I'm sure that one day we'll disagree about something, but even then I know that it will be on an intellectual level (unless it's the shirts I wear but everybody has to have some trademark!) and I welcome that from anyone.

Yes, indeed: Congrats! Onward to Ward Churchill.

Auspicious indeed, Ms. Nykol!

This is a follow-up. Having now read the article there are some other things I'd like to say ...

The "celebrity pardon" notion seems a stretch to me. Certainly, prosecutors aren't cutting people like Martha Stewart, Kobe Byrant, or Jackson any slack. In fact, lately we can't help to think that prosecutors actually target celebrities. Byrant and Stewart's cases seem to especially show this.

In addition, although Jackson may still have some hardcore fans (or people he pays to pretend to be his fans) I don't know of one black person who thinks he's innocent, save his mother.

So, I suppose what I'm saying is that your piece takes a questionable notion and dresses it up.

You must guard against that. Your fans support you because they enjoy reading about you. Your piece didn't do that. Your piece embarked on an area you have no authority in.

A far more provocative Jackson essay was MC Bowen's (Cobb). http://www.mdcbowen.org/cobb/archives/003390.html

Bowen covers new ground. He shows us the evolution of a rock star pedophile. He eschews the "Convict Jackson!" bandwagon and provides data that allows us to arrive at our own opinions.

Just my $0.02

ric landers

I hope you get paid well, and you can not but improve the P.I.
[I still think the eyes should cross]

"Freelance writer and culture critic," eh? Sounds pretty good! Nice article, good logic, tight writing. Well done!

This is the main objection to "Affirmative action", that competent people have their credentials besmirched by suspicion.

Glad to hear things are going well.

Ambra-
So so so happy to see your column - great blog, too. Of course, "I knew you when" so this is no surprise. I'm signing on at least once daily - keep it up!

MJ is a black person?

Congratulations on your new gig. Hope it is just the springboard for you.
As to content, I think it is all to easy for people to tear this guy apart. You suggest that he has some sort of pass because he is famous - I feel it is quite the opposite.
Yes, he is a freaky dude. He may be a pedophile. However, and especially in the case he is now involved in, there is a boat load of evidence showing the mother of the alleged victim is completely out to get rich, or whatever she can get, off this guy.
I am no MJ fan. But the way the media bumps and grinds his circus freak persona to the drooling, spike-toothed public is sickening. Imagine, if you can, that he is actually innocent of these specific charges. Give this tormented soul his day in court. If he is innocent - leave him be. If he is guilty he will be punished.

Cheers!

I finally read the article. I'm not surprised it's well written. Just remember us little people when you hit the big time.

Don't worry - it appears that Tara from Net Worth will carry the water. She rocks.