I missed posting on the actual 20th anniversary of the Black or White short film release, but it’s been on my mind ever since and I guess it’s better late than never.  So here are my memories of my reactions from November 14, 1991.

Watching Black or White the first time was quite the experience. I wasn’t at home when it aired on my local FOX station so I had set the VCR to tape it. People coming into the dance studio where I worked were buzzing about it after it aired. It was definitely the main topic of conversation that evening. I was so upset that I couldn’t see it live and had to spend the rest of the night trying to avoid being spoiled on all the details.

 

I guess I wasn’t that successful in avoiding the spoilers though, as I found out about the morphing faces and black panther coda before my first viewing. No one seemed to like the coda and I just chalked it up to people not being as in tune with MJ as I thought myself to be.

Well when I finally saw the video that night, I was immediately surprised by the Macaulay Culkin intro which no one had mentioned. It was jokey and something completely different from MJ. My next impression was being surprised by the artificiality of the sets. I wasn’t expecting such a stylized look, but l really liked it for the most part. I especially liked how MJ would interpret the regional dances in his own unique way.

 

Then came the morphing and I was shocked at how impressive and fun it was. That was pretty mind-blowing and definitely my favorite part of the video.

 

As the coda began I really liked the mysterious atmosphere that was created with MJ walking through the backstage area and outside the theatre. But then the car bashing and yelling started and I was shocked. The sexuality, the aggression, it didn’t seem to fit in with the message of peace and understanding. I was completely caught off guard by it and actively disliked the coda in spite of marveling at some of the dance moves.

 

As it ended and Bart Simpson cam on screen I was again shocked at how disjointed it all felt. Five separate segments that at times seemed to belong together but ultimately didn’t seem to fit. I watched it at least one more time through, but afterwards I was upset, angry and confused. What was he really communicating with that coda and why wasn’t I getting it? It seemed calculated to be controversial which didn’t fit in with my perceived notions of MJ. I really hated the coda and was actually pretty mad at MJ for having done it.

 

It took me a few more times watching the video through to calm down a bit and accept the coda. Accept but not really like. It wasn’t until the alternate version with the graffiti that I started to grasp at what he was going for. The anger and violence began to make sense but still didn’t really fit in with my notions of what the song was about. The sexuality still alluded me.

 

Now, years later, I look at Black and White with a much different set of eyes and think it’s wonderful if a bit flawed. I still see it as disjointed and wonder why the Macaulay Culkin and Simpsons bits were included, but the coda has actually become my favorite piece of the video now. Many a time when watching the video I just skip directly to the coda and marvel at it.