Janet Jackson took the stage at the BET Awards in Los Angeles looking visibly shaken. Just three days after the death of her brother, Michael, she told the audience after a long pause to gather herself, “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful. So they elected me to speak with all of you.”

Promising to keep it short, she added, “To you, Michael is an icon, to us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much. Thank...

I took my baby
On a Saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you
Yes we're one and the same

Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle
Has happened tonight

But, if
You're thinkin'
About my baby
It don't matter if you're
Black or white

They print my message
In the Saturday Sun
I had to tell them
I ain't segundo to none

And I told about equality
And it's true
Either you're wrong
Or you're right

But, if
You're thinkin'
About my baby
It don't matter if you're
Black or white

I am tired of this devil
I am tired of this stuff
I am tired of this business
Sew when the
Going gets rough
I ain't scared of
Your brother
I ain't scared of no sheets...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...

No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...
People say I'm not okay
'Cause I amor such elementary things...

It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood I've never known...
Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates and adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...
Before you judge me,
try hard to amor me,
Look...

July 4, 1982

“Good morning beautiful” I heard someone say as they tickled my stomach, it was Michael “ “Good morning baby” I said while laughing “Baby I mad-” I cut início off “ Babe something smells delicious, is someone cooking down there”I asked “yes ma’am” Michael said laughing. “I made you waffles, eggs, sausage, bacon, and some strawberries on the side” “ooh let’s go” I said as I ran down stairs beating Michael “ LEAVE ME SOMEEE” he yelled still running downstairs “I will baby” I laughed taking a waffle, eggs, one sausage, and some strawberries....