In His Own Words: Michael Jackson On Race, Fame And Loneliness

The pop icon would've been 59 today.

Michael Jackson,  August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009 - Today would have been Michael Jackson's 59th birthday. We lost the icon back in June of 2009 and music has never been the same.  MJ influenced every genre of music, reinvented the word "pop," and broke countless records. He is still so deeply missed, but fortunately his music lasts forever. We honor Michael by using his words. Keep clicking to read his words on fame, his family and much more.

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Michael Jackson,  August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009 - Today would have been Michael Jackson's 59th birthday. We lost the icon back in June of 2009 and music has never been the same.  MJ influenced every genre of music, reinvented the word "pop," and broke countless records. He is still so deeply missed, but fortunately his music lasts forever. We honor Michael by using his words. Keep clicking to read his words on fame, his family and much more.

Michael Jackson - His expensive lifestyle and endless legal bills meant the bank was always one late payment away from changing the locks on Neverland Ranch. But Jackson always managed to find a way to keep his home, which cost an estimated $10 million a year to maintain, out of foreclosure — even if it meant auctioning off the zoo and the amusement park rides.(Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

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On Being Lonely - "People think they know me, but they don't. Not really. Actually, I am one of the loneliest people on this earth. I cry sometimes, because it hurts." (Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

On His Race - "I’m a Black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity." (Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

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On His Race - "I’m a Black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity." (Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

On Wacko Jacko - "Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid? I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It’s not nice." (Photo: REUTERS/Michael Dalder /Landov)

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On Wacko Jacko - "Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid? I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It’s not nice." (Photo: REUTERS/Michael Dalder /Landov)

On Elizabeth Taylor - "Elizabeth Taylor used to feed me, to hand-feed me, at times. Please, I don’t want anybody to think I’m starving, I’m not. My health is perfect, actually." (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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On Elizabeth Taylor - "Elizabeth Taylor used to feed me, to hand-feed me, at times. Please, I don’t want anybody to think I’m starving, I’m not. My health is perfect, actually." (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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On His Skin - "I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin, it’s something that I cannot help, OK?" (Photo: REUTERS/Spencer Weiner/Pool)

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On His Skin - "I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin, it’s something that I cannot help, OK?" (Photo: REUTERS/Spencer Weiner/Pool)

On His Mother - "My mother’s wonderful. To me, she’s perfection." (Photo: Pool/Getty Images)

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On His Mother - "My mother’s wonderful. To me, she’s perfection." (Photo: Pool/Getty Images)

On His Father - "There is a lot of sadness in my past life. My father beat me. It was difficult to take being beaten and then going on stage. He was strict … very hard and stern." (Photo: Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images)

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On His Father - "There is a lot of sadness in my past life. My father beat me. It was difficult to take being beaten and then going on stage. He was strict … very hard and stern." (Photo: Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images

Michael Jackson Surprises James Brown (2003) - It doesn’t get more epic than “The King of Pop” surprising “The Godfather of Soul” on stage at the 2003 BET Awards. Michael broke down when he presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to James Brown, calling him his biggest influence.(Photo:  Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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On James Brown - "When I saw him move I was mesmerized. I’ve never seen a performer perform like James Brown and right then and there I knew that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

On Fame - "I was a veteran before I was a teenager."  (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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On Fame - "I was a veteran before I was a teenager."  (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

On Children - "Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be loved." (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

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On Children - "Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be loved." (Photo: Peter Still/Redferns)

Photo By Photo: Peter Still/Redferns