…All they can do is be themselves, to shine with gratitude and joy when love is turned their way. Yet isn’t that ultimately the greatest power? In the eyes of a child you become the source of joy, which lifts you into the special category of caregiver and life-provider….
-Michael Jackson
On January 17th, 1989, a deranged man opened fire at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton California. Five children perished in this senseless act. The lone gunman, had pulled his station wagon up to the back of the school, set the vehicle on fire, put earplugs in ears, then proceeded to spray 106 bullets into a schoolyard of small children – kindergarten up to about third grade. By the time this assault ended, one teacher and 29 students were injured and five children were dead. The deranged man then shot himself in the head.
Other schools in the Stockton District were on lockdown for hours. All students in the district were ordered to get under their desks for about an hour. Parents were of course terrified and wanted to bring their children home but SUSD (Stockton Unified School District) would not allow it for fear that other shootings might take place. Of course for weeks following parents were very afraid to send their kids to school.
No celebrities stepped in to offer help or support after this horrific scene. Most probably didn’t even know about it or if they did, stayed far away. Except of course, Michael Jackson.
A few weeks after the shooting, Diane Batres, head of the Victim Witness program in Stockton, received a call from MJJ productions. At first, she thought it was someone wanting to make a film and she was furious. But when she learned it was Michael Jackson wanting to visit the school and offer comfort and moral support to the children, she was happy to set up a day when Michael could visit the school. Ms. Batres commented:
It was very kind of him to do this. He brought truckloads of gifts and held children in his arms. He was genuinely concerned and expressed his sorrow. One of the mothers called after the experience and said, ‘I am so glad I saw that’ because she realized for the first time that there were no yellow tears, white tears, brown tears and black tears. Every tear was the same color. They all felt the same sadness.
Michael also distributed videotapes of his latest recordings to the children and staff at the school. One of the songs distributed was Man in the Mirror.
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