Jackson broke barriers long before 'Thriller'

Friday, June 26, 2009 | 1:06 p.m. CDT

WASHINGTON — In 1972, when the movie "Ben" premiered and sent that falsetto voice of little Michael Jackson soaring across movie screens, the joy inside black America was palpable. It wasn't just that the song raced to No. 1 on the charts, it was that it flowed from the magic of film. And black America, long kept away from mainstream movies, kept a close eye on — and a keen interest in — the world of Tinseltown.

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