Speaking at the Staples Center service today, Sharpton, addressing himself to Jackson’s children, declared:

“Wudn’t nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with.”

I understand the desire to console children who have lost their father.  But how does it help to do so in such an transparently truth-defying manner?  One of my sisters recently celebrated a milestone birthday and the family staged a big party.  One of the themes was the embracing by her, her children, family and friends, of her strangeness.  Trust me, she’s not within a million miles of Jackson-strange.  But the forthright acceptance, nay, celebration, of my sister’s uniqueness made for one of the most real, honest, clarifying and happy events I’ve ever attended.

Surely it ultimately would have been more helpful to the Jackson kids to hear some respectful truth about their father rather than being told there was nothing odd about the man.