The Best Of Celebrities In 2009!
Jun 26, 2009 8:19 pm US/Eastern
Michael Jackson United South Florida Generations
Gio Benitez
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Michael Jackson through the years (l-r): 1971; 1977; 1979 (top) 1983; 1987; and 1990 (bottom).
AP
Part of the magic of Michael Jackson was his longevity -- his ability to change with the changing times -- and South Florida families are testament to this.
The Guernica family remembers Michael Jackson as an "icon," a "pop star," and a "legend." But each of the family members had a different experience with the King of Pop. Fifteen-year-old Icela Guernica never saw him as the child star.
"Mostly, when I grew up , all I knew about him was the court, always being in court and all that stuff, so now is when I see all the other stuff," Icela Guernica told
CBS4's Gio Benitez.
But for Icela's grandmother, all the other stuff was "something new, something different."
And for 35-year-old Zailyn Rodriguez, Michael Jackson defined her generation.
"I remember dancing to his music in my grandma's living room when 'Beat it' came out, and trying to perfect his moves," said Rodriguez.
CBS4 News set out to do a story on a generational divide, to see if different age groups saw a completely different Michael Jackson, but then something interesting happened. For some, there was a generational bridge that brought families closer together.
"He served as a unifier and as a bridge. An icon that would bring my family together. He would bring my generation with my kids generation together," said Dr. Armando Rodriguez, a Jackson fan.
"It's so hard to even talk about. It's so hard to even talk about. It's like I'm missing a part of my family. It's a kid that grew up so fast and had so much to give," said another Jackson fan, Clara Smith.
For these people, Michael Jackson is a memory that has no age.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Stars Celebrating The Big 4-0 In 2009
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