Michael Jackson Lottery Unfair to Black Fanbase

The Michael Jackson Memorial Service was meant to be a time to say good-bye to the man who brought them music for over 40 years. Instead it turned into a lottery system to see who could say good-bye in person or get the most cash from selling their ticket(s). I would like to propose that by using a computer lottery system, the funeral turned into a racial tool and created financial opporutunitists. How? Let's start with the racial element: The main fan base of Michael Jackson are African Americans (AA), but only 32% of AA own a computer. According to a CNN Poll, "...a majority of whites say they aren't Michael Jackson fans." Therefore, by using this computer based lottery system, AEG virtually eliminated two-thirds of African Americans. To add to the frenzy, AEG announced the lottery on a Federal holiday when those who might normally have access to public computers, were denied the opportunity to even try to get tickets since libraries and schools were closed. So all day long African Americans have said that AEG got what it wanted, a white audience. One girl, Aretha said, "It's why they asked for the zip code, they didn't want people from the ghetto showing up." The sad part is you can't argue with her logic, since the photos of ticket winners make it obvious. Hmmm

Secondly, the lottery system opened the door for financial opportunist who just wanted to be on the list to profit financially from the funeral by selling their ticket(s). Within minutes of receiving their tickets, some placed them for sale for up to $15,000. Well, that eliminates the poor and middle class fans. And AEG readily admits they have no idea what is going to happen to the unsold tickets. The tickets where people put in for them, but had no plan to attend.

Third, AEG created the frenzy for the tickets by using the lottery system. It was the oldest sales trick in the book. Make it "limited" and more people would want to show up or buy. Mission accomplished on one hand, but could it also backfire as real fans were denied tickets, so someone could make money?

I believe that the memorial service would have been fine had AEF not used the lottery system. Instead, they have actually made it into an event where people are angry they are not going to be allowed in the Staple Center to mourn their idol for people who bought their way in.

I have been around for quite a few famous deaths in my life, and I must sadly admit that the Michael Jackson Memorial service planning beats them all in lack of class, foresight, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity. Good thing Michael Jackson's music is his legacy, because AEG has done a poor job with his true fans that really wanted to mourn his loss.