From "Finding Truth with Michael": Michael's early interest in disadvantaged children
Quoted from p. 101
After giving me a bedroom tour La Toya walked me into the dining room, where Michael was seated at the table, which was completely covered with black-and-white portraits. They had just returned from a concert tour in Jamaica, and Michael had taken hundreds of photographs of children while they were there.
“D, most of these children don’t even own shoes.” His voice was soft. “They live in mud shacks and rummage through the garbage for food.”
He explained that the country’s recent political unrest and independence had created more poverty and homelessness than ever, with children being the most affected. He focused on an image of a little boy beaming with pride as he held his baby sister. The boy was barefoot and had on a ragged, ripped skirt hiked up under his arms.
“He’s ten years old,” Michael said, pointing to his photo. “His name is Jahvonee.”
“That’s a pretty name,” I said. “I wonder if it’s somehow related to Jehovah.”
Michael nodded. “I wondered the same thing.”
As I continued poring over the photos, Michael provided a narrative for many of the kids. He knew their names and ages, and details about their living situation. His eyes brimmed with tears as he spoke.
After he was done telling me the children’s stories, we walked the length of the table and circled a few times, viewing each picture in meditative silence. I was drawn to his compassion and interest in things other boys his age simply overlooked. Later, La Toya told me that Michael had spent every free moment he had while they were in Jamaica with the children in those photos, playing a street game with them and giving them money and candy.