In 1985, Michael Jackson was already one of the richest and most successful entertainers on Earth.
Then he helped create a song designed to make money for someone else.
Michael and Lionel Richie wrote “We Are the World” after Harry Belafonte and organizer Ken Kragen began assembling American musicians to raise money for people suffering through the devastating famine in Africa.
On January 28, 1985, more than 40 major artists gathered in Los Angeles to record it.
Michael was right in the middle of the project.
The song became a phenomenon.
USA for Africa says the original recording sold millions of copies and ultimately generated tens of millions of dollars for humanitarian relief, with money supporting emergency famine assistance and longer-term projects involving food, health, water and development across Africa.
And Michael was not simply lending his voice.
A surviving agreement connected with the creation of “We Are the World” directed the writers’ proceeds and royalties from the project toward the humanitarian cause. Contemporary reporting likewise stated that royalties from the single were intended to benefit USA for Africa.
USA for Africa – “We Are the World”
The official USA for Africa video shows Michael alongside artists including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Tina Turner and Bob Dylan. The song was released on March 7, 1985.
But Michael’s humanitarian work did not stop there.
In 1992, he founded the Heal the World Foundation, built around helping children affected by poverty, war, disease and other crises.
The foundation worked on projects including sending relief supplies to children in war-torn Sarajevo and supporting programs aimed at children and disadvantaged communities.
That same message became part of Michael’s music.
His song “Heal the World” was released in 1992 and became closely associated with the foundation’s mission of improving conditions for children around the world.
There is no credible evidence that Michael Jackson personally cut the number of people dying from starvation worldwide in half. Hunger trends are shaped by governments, aid agencies, agriculture, economics and countless humanitarian organizations.
But the verified story is already extraordinary.
Michael helped write one of history’s most successful charity records, helped generate millions for famine relief and used his fame repeatedly to draw attention and money toward humanitarian causes.
He could have used “We Are the World” as another hit record. Instead, he helped turn it into a fundraising machine for people he would never meet.