☝️ Key Points
- The song is a call for equality and against racism, emphasizing that skin color doesn't matter in love.
- The song addresses the role of the media and advocates for active support of equality.
- Jackson expresses his frustration over discrimination and stands tall despite intimidation.
- He criticizes social conflicts caused by groups and nations, and emphasizes that what matters are places and faces, not race.
- Jackson refuses to be judged based on his skin color throughout his life and reaffirms this by repeating the main theme in the chorus.
Interpretation
The song 'Black or White' by
Michael Jackson is a powerful message for equality and against racism. It starts with a positive attitude ('Now I believe in miracles') and emphasizes that skin color is irrelevant when it comes to love ('if you're thinkin' about my baby, It don't matter if you're black or white').
The song lyrics also address the media ('They print my message in the Saturday Sun') and the need to fight for equality ('And I told about equality and it's true'). Jackson expresses his frustration with discrimination and prejudice ('I am tired of this devil, I am tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business') and emphasizes that he won't be intimidated by these intimidations ('I ain't scared of your brother, I ain't scared of no sheets, I ain't scared of nobody').
He also addresses the social problems caused by groups and nations that generate conflicts and human suffering ('Protection For gangs, clubs, and nations Causing grief in human relations'). He emphasizes that it's not about races, but about places and faces ('See, it's not about races, Just places, Faces').
In the line 'I'm not going to spend my life being a color', he makes it clear that he doesn't want to be judged based on his skin color for his whole life.
In the end, he repeats the chorus and emphasizes once again that skin color is irrelevant when it comes to love and brotherhood ('if you're thinkin' of being my baby, It don't matter if you're black or white'). The song ends with the words 'It's black, it's white', which underscores that we are all human beings, regardless of our skin color.