Michael Jackson video director recalls smashing MTV's color barrier with 'Billie Jean': "I thought, 'When people see this, the world is going to change'"
![How MTV changed pop music and TV forever - but it all began in cramped room above deli - Mirror Online How MTV changed pop music and TV forever - but it all began in cramped room above deli - Mirror Online](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article24658602.ece/ALTERNATES/n310p/1_Michael-Jackson-1983.jpg)
How MTV changed pop music and TV forever - but it all began in cramped room above deli - Mirror Online
![Billie Jean was the first video of black peformer on MTV - Michael Jackson Photo (24223958) - Fanpop Billie Jean was the first video of black peformer on MTV - Michael Jackson Photo (24223958) - Fanpop](http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/24200000/Billie-Jean-was-the-first-video-of-black-peformer-on-MTV-michael-jackson-24223958-600-287.jpg)
Billie Jean was the first video of black peformer on MTV - Michael Jackson Photo (24223958) - Fanpop
![Michael Joseph Jackson (Aug. 29, 1958 - Jun. 25, 2009) American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman – the 'King of Pop.' Seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional Michael Joseph Jackson (Aug. 29, 1958 - Jun. 25, 2009) American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman – the 'King of Pop.' Seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TDRXDA/michael-joseph-jackson-aug-29-1958-jun-25-2009-american-recording-artist-entertainer-and-businessman-the-king-of-pop-seventh-child-of-the-jackson-family-he-debuted-on-the-professional-music-scene-at-the-age-of-11-as-a-member-of-the-jackson-5-solo-career-in-1971-five-of-his-solo-studio-albums-are-among-the-worlds-best-selling-records-off-the-wall-1979-thriller-1982-bad-1987-dangerous-1991-and-history-1995-jackos-mtv-videos-were-legendary-such-as-beat-it-billie-jean-thriller-black-or-white-and-scream-credited-for-transforming-the-music-video-in-TDRXDA.jpg)
Michael Joseph Jackson (Aug. 29, 1958 - Jun. 25, 2009) American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman – the 'King of Pop.' Seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional
![Michael Joseph Jackson (Aug. 29, 1958 - Jun. 25, 2009) American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman – the 'King of Pop.' Seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional Michael Joseph Jackson (Aug. 29, 1958 - Jun. 25, 2009) American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman – the 'King of Pop.' Seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TDRXBR/michael-joseph-jackson-aug-29-1958-jun-25-2009-american-recording-artist-entertainer-and-businessman-the-king-of-pop-seventh-child-of-the-jackson-family-he-debuted-on-the-professional-music-scene-at-the-age-of-11-as-a-member-of-the-jackson-5-solo-career-in-1971-five-of-his-solo-studio-albums-are-among-the-worlds-best-selling-records-off-the-wall-1979-thriller-1982-bad-1987-dangerous-1991-and-history-1995-jackos-mtv-videos-were-legendary-such-as-beat-it-billie-jean-thriller-black-or-white-and-scream-credited-for-transforming-the-music-video-in-TDRXBR.jpg)