Michael Jackson captivated the world with his unparalleled talent, charisma, and legendary performances. The musical genius left behind a legacy of curiosity and mystery, not unlike his enigmatic paternal lineage. Links to African slavery, Blackfoot Native Americans and other European ancestry, Michael Jackson’s ethnic background wasn’t as simple as ‘Black or White’.
Let’s get one thing straight, Michael Jackson was an African American icon. Consistently breaking racial barriers throughout his extensive career, he reinvented and redefined what it was to be a black superstar; during an incredibly turbulent period in modern American history.
For many, Michael Jackson’s incredible success was a beacon of hope against racial bias, for others he challenged what it meant to be perceived as black in American society. That being said, Jackson didn’t always have a clean-cut relationship with the public and his race.
Even though Michael Jackson publicly stated his pride in his African American heritage, media speculation over his changing skin tone, race erasing surgeries and the paternity of his children, led to persistent questions concerning his connection with his racial identity.
Consistently breaking racial barriers throughout his extensive career, he reinvented and redefined what it was to be a black superstar; during an incredibly turbulent period in modern American history.
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As we explore the Jackson family's ancestral roots, we encounter the enigmatic figure of July “Jack” Gayle, whose patrilineal origins were traced back to French descent, challenging the long-standing belief of Native American heritage.
Part of the Jackson Family story begins in Sumpter, S.C., on the Plantation of James Joel Richburg, who was a descendant of the French Huguenot Claude Philippe de Richbourg. In his will, written in 1804, James Richbourg bequeathed an enslaved man named July to his daughter Mary Gayle.
Mary married Josiah Gayle III, and records would later show them living in Amite County, Mississippi. An inventory of Josiah Gayle’s estate from 1828 shows July and his value. July “Jack” Richburg took the Gayle surname, and much of the family history surrounding him suggests Native American origins.
It is believed that his mother was an enslaved woman named Rose, who also resided on the Richburg Plantation in South Carolina. During the era of slavery, legal marriage was denied to enslaved individuals, making it difficult for families to establish official bonds.
However, July defied these restrictions and formed a meaningful relationship with a woman named Gina. Israel’s birth marked a significant chapter in the Jackson family’s history, symbolizing the enduring resilience and tenacity that course through their veins.
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Most enslaved people didn’t have an attached surname at birth, and they could be sold multiple times to different owners. According to Thomas Jackson III, he first learned in 1971 from his grandfather that they were related to the Jackson 5.
Thomas learned that July went by the nickname “Jack”. His son, Israel, was nicknamed Nero. Nero was reportedly the father of upwards of 20 children with numerous women. Most of the children were born to a woman named Emmaline, who was believed to be of Choctaw origin.
Nero led a very industrious and intriguing life. After slavery ended, he managed to purchase multiple lots of land in Mississippi, a testament to his hard work and determination. However, Nero’s fortunes took a downturn when he fell ill and became unable to work the farm.
Unfortunately, according to family history, the account manager used the debt as leverage to obtain the deed to the land. Thomas Jackson III, the cousin and contributor to this blog, shares Nero Jackson as a common ancestor with the King of Pop.
Thomas descends from Nero and another wife named Angeline through their son Mitchell Jackson (b. Michael Jackson’s line continues through Samuel Joseph Jackson 1893-1993 and then his charismatic father, whom we all know as Joe Jackson.
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He initially tested his autosomal DNA with another testing service, and received the basal haplogroup designation of R-L20. While researching his haplogroup, he discovered a Richburg descendant also on the same branch.
Thomas was encouraged to do a Big Y-700 test through FamilyTreeDNA to further refine his haplogroup and see if he would show up as a match with the other Richbourg tester.
The genetic signature for the Jacksons would confirm that July’s patrilineal origins would be French instead of Native American. The FamilyTreeDNA Discover Time tree shows Michael Jackson and the Richbourg tester with the French flag sharing a common Ancestor born before 1750.
The Jackson Family’s journey is a tapestry of resilience, diversity, and heritage that has captured the hearts of generations worldwide. Nero Jackson exemplifies the indomitable spirit of the Jacksons.
Family history mentions stories about his industrious nature, selling medicines to people in the area, and acquiring large amounts of land. Today, as we celebrate the timeless contributions of the Jacksons to the world of music, let us also remember the historical significance of their story.
Tracing Mike Jackson's Ancestry -- Part 1
Family Connections and Native American Heritage
Son of the former Katherine Esther Scruse and Joseph Walter Jackson, Michael Jackson was born in Gary Indiana on the 29th of August 1958. On Michael Jackson’s mother’s side, it has been said that Katherine Jackson has Blackfoot Native American ancestry.
Blackfoot Indians were originally a nomadic American Indian tribe that migrated from the Great Lakes region to the Northwest. They lived in the Northern Great Plains, specifically in what is known as today’s Montana and Idaho as well as Alberta, Canada. Although this has yet to be verified publicly.
It has also been said that Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, is one quarter of Chinese heritage, although this may just be a rumour. Some accounts say that Michael Jackson even referred to himself as Chinese, and often expressed his strong desire to perform in China.
While in Japan for the first leg of his Bad Tour, Jackson is said to have stated he finally felt like he was home. Michael Jackson’s father stated in his book, ‘The Jacksons’, that he has Native American ancestry.
The name Jackson originates from his great-grandfather on his father’s side, Jack Gale. Jack was born at the beginning of the 19th century into a tribe of Choctaw Indians.
Choctaw native Americans originated from modern Mexico and the American Southwest, who settled in the Mississippi River Valley for about 1800 years before the colonization of the United States.
He was an Indian shaman and fell in love with a black slave by the name of Gina. In 1838 they gave birth to their first son, whom they named Israel. Unfortunately, at this time if one of a child’s parents was a slave, the child would also be considered a slave.
Even though Israel’s father was a ‘free person’, Israel couldn’t hope for anything more than his mother’s life of slavery. When Israel grew up, people nicknamed him Nero. Nero, son of Jack, and eventually his last name turned into Nero Jack-son.
Michael Jackson’s father stated that Nero was tall and light-skinned, with high cheekbones and small sparkling eyes. Nero was still a boy when Jack started to transfer him his shaman knowledge.
But despite a gift of doctoring, Nero had been sold to a plantation in Louisiana. Over the years, Nero attempted to run away from his owner several times, but was never successful, causing him to be beaten to near death and put to hard labour.
On one occasion, metal tongs were heated and used to squeeze his nose until Nero lost all feeling in his face. The scars of the burn remained with him for the rest of his life.
After the abolition of Slavery in 1865, his situation got better, and Nero earnt an adequate salary selling Indian medicines. Nero liked to sing and frequently executed old military dances of Choctaw.
He later married a woman three quarters Indian Choctaw, Michael Jackson’s great-grandmother Emmaline. Emmaline was from Louisiana, and Joseph Jackson described her as having her mother’s slightly yellowish colour of a skin.
Michael Jackson’s brother Jermaine has stated when asked about his Native Indian heritage that ‘we always stayed near old Indian towns and walked the trails in homage to our ancestry.
We grew up knowing we have Native American blood in our veins… the inherited physical attributes were our high cheekbones, light skin and hairless chests.’
European Ancestry
Michael Jackson’s father also confirmed they had links to European ancestry. Stating that his great-grandmother on his mother’s side, Mattie Daniel, was born in 1864 as a result of an interracial affair between the white daughter of a plantation owner and their black slave.
Once Mattie was born, the young mother’s family were seriously considering abandoning the baby, hoping starvation and the elements would rid them of this unwanted child. But the family had second thoughts, fearing they might be charged with murder since the child was half white.
Here's a summary of the Jackson family's ancestry:
| Ancestor | Origin | Details |
|---|---|---|
| July “Jack” Gayle | Potentially Native American (Choctaw) | Great-grandfather on father's side, possibly of Choctaw origin |
| Katherine Jackson | Blackfoot Native American | Michael Jackson's mother, rumored to have Blackfoot Native American ancestry |
| Emmaline | Choctaw | Michael Jackson’s great-grandmother, three-quarters Indian Choctaw |
| Mattie Daniel | European | Great-grandmother on mother's side, born from an interracial affair |
