VOA标准英语2009-African Americans Recall Michael Jackson Leg

As questions swirl¹ around the death of pop star Michael Jackson, fans are talking more about his legacy². Jackson died suddenly in Los Angeles Thursday, and the Los Angeles coroner has deferred³ a decision on the cause of death for up to six weeks. In one African American section of the city, residents reflected on the singer's impact on their lives.

While speculation⁴ is growing over the possible role of prescription⁵ drugs in the singer's death, here in the Leimert Park neighborhood in South Los Angeles, people are celebrating Michael Jackson's music.
　
Brandon Matthews

Brandon Matthews, 22, says he and his parents were big fans.

"They loved him too, and that made me love him," he said. "The music was great. It as awesome⁶. Man, he was the greatest, the greatest in pop."

News stories about the singer inevitably⁷ recall suspicions surrounding his close friendships with children. In 2005, Jackson faced charges that he molested⁸ a 13-year old boy, and he was acquitted⁹. Halima Lewis, 29, and her mother, Michelle, say that trial and other difficulties now seem unimportant.

"His time in court and his problems didn't hold a light to the good things he did. It took for him to die to see that. This was an amazing man," said Halima.
"Yes," said Michelle. "And when I was looking at his music that he had done and re-looking at it, you say, wow this guy is deep. It's amazing. You say, wow this guy is deep."

Halima says she listens to Jackson's music with her own children.
　
Toni Robnett

Jackson was preparing for a series of 50 concerts in London, which were set to begin next month. They were intended to help him recover from financial troubles and rebuild his career. Toni Robnett, who once saw a young Michael Jackson perform as part of the family pop group, the Jackson 5, was looking forward to see him perform again.

"I was thinking he was going to come here to California after London. I was waiting to see him," said Robnett. "I'm in my 50s, and I went to see him at the Forum¹⁰ here in California , I believe it was about 1969, and I was just a young kid myself."

At a community forum Saturday, people spoke¹¹ about the singer and his complicated relationship with the African American community.

One said the Jackson family was regarded as royalty¹² when she was growing up, but the singer's many plastic surgeries made some believe he hoped to obscure his black identity.
　
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, left, leads a community discussion on Michael Jackson's legacy

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, says he was not a big fan of the pop star. But he has new respect for the singer as news is coming out of Jackson's many charitable contributions, usually made without fanfare¹³. Hutchinson says Jackson's extensive philanthropy shows him to have been a caring person.

"I've got to be honest with you. I'm of another generation in time," said Hutchinson. "I'm not big on Michael Jackson and his music. I mean, I'm just not. But when I saw that in the contributions he made, that cast him with me in a different light."

As Michael's Jackson's family presses authorities for more information about the singer's death, fans are recalling his life as a man of unusual talent who touched the lives of millions.

1 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

6 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

7 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

8 molested   

v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵

参考例句：

• The bigger children in the neighborhood molested the younger ones. 邻居家的大孩子欺负小孩子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He molested children and was sent to jail. 他猥亵儿童，进了监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

10 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

13 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。