Step back into the winter of 1985. A recording studio in Los Angeles is packed with the most famous singers on the planet. At the center of the room stands Michael Jackson. He is at the absolute peak of his career. He has all the money, fame, and awards a person could ever want. He could easily just go home, rest, and enjoy his wealth.
Instead, he looked outside his own window. He saw a world in deep pain. He saw images of children starving across Africa, and he decided to use his massive voice to fight it.
Michael Jackson – The Making Of We Are The World
Michael did not just write a check. He wrote a song. He co-wrote “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie and later built the “Heal The World” foundation. He toured the globe visiting hospitals and orphanages. But the most incredible part of this story is his total selflessness. He did not keep a single penny from these massive humanitarian projects. He gave his time, his art, and his profits away for free.
Sometimes, stories of his impact grow so large that people claim these two songs alone cut global starvation in half. Ending world hunger is a massive and complex battle that requires systemic change from global governments. Michael’s humanitarian work still had a historic impact. He raised millions of dollars, and saved thousands of lives. But most importantly, he forced the entire world and its leaders to finally confront a crisis they had been completely ignoring. He proved that just a song could literally put food on the table.
Michael Jackson Heal The World Foundation 1992
Looking back at the 1980s and 90s leaves us with a very heavy, important question today. Michael Jackson was just an entertainer. He did not hold a political office. He did not control a military or a country’s budget. Yet, he mobilized the entire globe to care about the hungry.
Look at our world leaders today. They have endless resources and the actual power to change laws. What if those leaders operated with the exact same selflessness? What if they stopped worrying about politics and started loving the world the way a pop singer did decades ago?
You do not need to be a politician to change the world. You just need a willing heart, a little bit of courage, and the absolute selflessness to give your greatest gift away.