SOME in the media, including Peter Mullen (Echo, July 7), are ignorant and prejudiced about Michael Jackson. Allow me to try to re-educate Mr Mullen:

1. Jackson’s genius was recognised by his peers from an early age.

2. He broke through the sectarian and racialised barriers of music and entertainment.

3. He created a new and so far unmatched genre of pop video films.

4. He is recognised as the supreme singer dancer, as acknowledged by Fred Astaire.

5. He was also a songwriter, choreographer, film-maker, campaigning philanthropist, pacifist, anti-racist, anti-fascist, internationalist humanitarian and environmentalist who, as an artist, promoted these political concerns with a unique populist style in such unequalled audio visual classics as Heal the World, Earth Song, We are the World, They Don’t Care About Us, Black or White, Beat It etc.

6. Jackson makes astute cross cultural and historical references, intertextual links.

7. Jackson rose from dire poverty through disciplined hard work to become a billionaire and never forgot or betrayed his roots.

8. Comparison with opera singers is inappropriate but as Mr Mullen draws it, can he tell us how many opera singers write their own songs, dance while they sing or produce their visual interpretation for a mass audience?

9. In Britain we hold dear to the belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Jackson has not been found guilty of any of the malicious accusations made against him.

Would so many prominent people stand by him if there were any truth at all to them?

As a Christian, Mr Mullen should know better than to write shallow garbage, be humble enough to recognise his limits. Michael Jackson was a caring, dignified, hard working, talented and spiritual man, father, son and brother.

Ibrahim Thompson, Ferryhill