Michael’s name uncovered…
MICHAEL JACKSON’S NAME ON DISPLAY AGAIN AT GARDNER SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Elementary School’s Most Famous Alum Recognized for His Musical Legacy
October 15, 2010
Los Angeles — The silver, foot-high letters gleam once again, proclaiming The Michael Jackson Auditorium at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood. It is the last public school attended by Jackson—then an 11-year-old sixth grader — who was the lead in a singing group with his brothers. Three months after school started, Motown released their debut album “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5.” And, the young entertainer was on his way to becoming an international star.
“It’s important for the District to value the artistic impact and humanitarian contribution that will be the lasting legacy of Michael Jackson,” said Los Angeles School Board member Steven Zimmer. I’m happy that we will be recognizing and appreciating Michael’s LAUSD moment.”
The sign was originally unveiled at the then newly-refurbished auditorium in 1989. However, when the King of Pop was charged with child molestation, the sign was covered with layered board. For the record, the entertainer was never convicted. After his death last year fans began a campaign to have his name revealed.
At the direction of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines, the tribute was uncovered today.
“In recognition of Michael Jackson’s musical legacy and contribution to modern culture I have directed our maintenance and operations department to remove the layered board covering the tribute to Mr. Jackson at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood,” said LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines.
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Los Angeles Unified School District Press Release
Katherine and Taj’s statement:
On Saturday 16th October 2010, @tajjackson3 said:
On behalf of my grandma, we are thrilled that the “Uncover Michael Jackson’s Name Campaign” has come to a happy conclusion. Here is a direct quote from my Grandma. “After a number of heartfelt conversations between me, my grandson Taj, family friend Jodi Gomes, and LAUSD, I am overwhelmed that the school will proudly bear my son’s name on its auditorium once again. This could not have been done without the tireless dedication of my son’s fans and specifically the wonderful members of the “Uncover Michael Jackson’s Name Campaign”. I look forward to my joint statement with the school in the coming days and thank you from my heart. Michael would be proud”. – Mrs. Katherine Jackson
First picture of the auditorium uncovered
The caption read:
The End of an Error
Photo credit Laura Uselton-Proud MJ Fan
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For Tigereyes
Comments
You don’t know how happy I was when I read this on MJ.com this morning! The fans on MJ.com were very instrumental in seeing this through and they never gave up. I was really proud of them and the work they did with MJ’s family.
But, leave it to you DPYT to include the Michaelicious photos of MJ on the day he accepted that honor! That made me go into my youtube treasure trove and find this
link for you (this one is HQ).
Bad Era Mike 🙂 He is really too beautiful for words!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTttGjf42Gc
Thank you for the link girl. He was so unbelievably beautiful then. (always but then WOW)
I am so proud of all the fans who calmly voiced their opinion and for the patience of the “Uncover” crew who kept on task and saw this thing through. Govt. moves slow, but we the people can make a difference if we just stay focused.
LATimes.com story
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/michael-jackson-sign-school-.html
I have watch the struggle to uncover Michael’s name ensue from the time of his passing to this day and i am so happy to be a part of a wonderful group of people who fight every day to prove that we do LOVE him more (Michael Jackson fans)… Michael Jackson fans are the greatest ever, love you all so much.
One battle at a time and eventually the war is over!
Those kids deserve to hold their heads high and be proud of their Daddy, he was a good man. Thats why I do it.
L.O.V.E.
This is truly wonderful. I’m so happy !! Thanks for posting this !!
You’re welcome!
Please give credit on the auditorium photo to Laura Uselton, who snapped the pic and posted it to FB. She is a fan who certainly was in the right place at the right time!
Oh my God, why’d you put up that D-Gorgeous pic as the first thing we see? *fans self* wow, was he sexy or what? Good God Michael, stop it!
I am so happy this was accomplished, I didn’t think it would happen, I have to say I lost a little faith. This is so bittersweet, Michael would just be so overwhelmed if he were here to see how his fans fought for him. I wish we could have banded together to protect him from everything. Sigh.
Okay, I wont be Debbie Downer, that picture is just too hot and beautiful, that smile–GAH! I love him more everyday.
*rolls eyes*
I didn’t know where else to write this: I love the video for this week but the gif…made me throw up in my mouth a little! This is gonna be a hard week for me on the dpyt site, Diana is everywhere! Grrrrr! (You just woke up the little green monster!)
So what are you jealous of girl? Lets tawk.
Ok, I’m home now. I hate to embarass myself by admitting to this but, I always knew that was the woman he was in love with way way back in the late 70’s and I was a child then! Anyone with eyes could see it and I was looking with seven year old child eyes and saw it! And he never got over it! I just knew she was my competition (evil seven year old child laugh here).
Looking back now, he sure was loyal to her even when she said some weird things about him in the press. Maybe she was trying to throw him off her scent but, he never budged.
Girl I saw it too and so did my friends. I was in high school though. I always just assumed they were sleeping together during OTW etc. It never crossed my mind they werent. So when all this MJ is a virgin crap started I was like…what? Uh, what about DR? They been at it. LOL
I guess images must be protected…funny how this comes up as I am writing about that very subject right now.
What’s OTW?
I do admit I always thought she was his first. Now Deepak Chopra’s son said LMP was his first but, its hard to trust the Chopras cause they said some really shady things about MJ. His theory holds some water too but, I’d like to think Diana was cause at least some love was in there and not just straight lust. (Sorry, I’m a romantic.)
It was hard for me (like I was in that relationship, lol) because she was hard not to like. I would of fell in love with her too. He lived with her while he was at a very impressionable age and she was beautiful and glamourous, and elegant and all of that. So why wouldn’t he want her? But, being Mike, he had to profess undying love instead of just enjoying, um, you know.
Now it was not popular being a cougar then and let’s face it, she was about status and he was still trying to get from under the “cute kid in the J5” thing. She was not about to hitch her wagon to a horse that was not established. But, once he became King of Pop, she could of got back in but, something kept her away…..
That’s just my amateur psychology analysis on the situation. I’m pretty sure Miss Ross would say otherwise.
Wonderful end to an otherwise semi-okay day. (sick…boo!) I was so glad to read this, after reading about the meeting that was scheduled to discuss it!!! PP&B should be proud of their daddy! He truly was a force to be reckoned with, and should be acknowledged as such! *sticks chest out* Proud to be an MJ fan!
-now only if he’s vindicated on The O Show – we will be able to celebrate once more!
For now Hip Hip Hooray!!!!
Oh and he definitely tapped that DR booty!! *I’m just sayin!*
OTW=Off The Wall
Ignore Chopra’s son, he is an opportunist
and doesnt know diddly. LOL
I have lots of theories and there is info out there about differnt things that occured back in the day. Maybe one day it will all spill out and we will know for sure.
@kikib: I agree I do not want to see LMP on O and I don’t trust her editing the Jackson’s family’s interview. Can’t LMP respect her current husband and her children by not talking about her ex husband from over a decade ago? I don’t know how justice is going to prevail on that show. And will O plz get his name out of her mouth once and for all after these TWO shows! What is her obsession with him? Oooh, I do love how you got your DR vote in!
I should of got that OTW thing! OMG,she surely did not deserve all of that young, ripe hotness! I hope it doesn’t spill out! I don’t want to know the truth. I’m happy in my ignorance.
All I can say is it’s about time! I have already put “thank you” letters in the mail for the school board and principal at Garner Elementary. It’s so nice to have good news about Mike for a change!
That is a very nice thing to do Cinbad, can you provide us with the address. I know I would like to do the same.
Sure, here’s the info. It was on another blog I read:
Gardner Street Elementary
7450 Hawthorn Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046-2802
Principal Kenneth Urbina
LAUSD (Los Angeles School District)
Board of Education
333 South Beaudry Ave, 24th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Word has it that Kenneth Urbina was very supportive of the people who organized this crusade so if you can, please give the man his props! He didn’t have to be so cooperative and empathetic, but he was and I think we can all love him for that!
The school board allowed MJ’s name to be uncovered without having the planned October 19th meeting to address the issue which was nice. I think they knew it was time to right the wrong.
Thank you. I will pick up some postcards tomorrow for thank you cards.
Just found this post and wanted to share It made my whole day!!
http://twitpic.com/2zo71a
Michael would have LOVED this picture
There’s a FB page (Uncover Michael Jackson’s Name) that chronicles taking down the boards off the auditorium, frame by frame. You can flip through them like a slide show. It was awesome!
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