Hoosier Native Son-King of Pop-Michael Jackson

UPDATE: July 1, 2009 Reports are coming in that the Neverland Ranch will be a non go for a public view of Michael Jackson body 5:38 p.m.

There is something strange about Rev. Al Sharpton in New York at the Apollo Theater celebrating the life of King of Pop Michael Jackson. The King of Pop artist Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. Gary, Indiana at the time was the second largest city in Indiana because of its one industry-the United Steel Mill. Indiana was a state with a history of banning African-Americans, thus Gary African-American population was small during its early years. But, the work in the steel mill began to attract African-Americans into its Hoosiers cities. By the time Jackson was born Gary racial makeup was rapidly changing.



Gary would become three cities in the state with the largest African-American population. With the shift in demographic would began a shift in political power.



A population that was segregated not only by cities but also by neighborhoods was demanding black power. The Jackson lived on the southside Jackson Street in a two bedroom house.


But changes were coming to Gary as well as the Jackson family with the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education requiring the desegregation of public schools, leading to desegregation of housing. Children would no longer be denied the opportunity to commingle based on skin color. But raced whites were not willing to comply with legal social engineering packed their bags and began to flee Gary.

Gary exodus of raced whites would make way for the election of an African-American Mayor. In 1968, Richard G. Hatcher was elected as one of two African-Americans in the United States. With the election of Hatcher, Gary population shifted even more, and a crime wave would cripple the city.

The Jacksons left Gary in 1968, right before the Steel City began its freefall: Between 1960 and 2000, the city's population was nearly halved.

California became the new home for the Jackson family. But three years later, the Jacksons were singing about Indiana with I'm going back to Indiana.



The City of Gary will pay tribute to Jackson on July 10, 2009 at the Railcat U.S. Steel Yard One Stadium Plaza Gary, IN 46402 at 6:00 P.M.

It should be a biggie according to someone from City Hall. In the mean time, Hoosier will have to travel to Los Angeles to see Michael Jackson for the last time. Jackson public viewing is reported to be scheduled for the 4th of July weekend at NeverLand Ranch for fans to say Goodbye.