The third drop of the Actively Black x Michael Jackson Collection is set to arrive on August 29, 2026, marking what would have been Michael Jackson’s birthday.
The collaboration, officially licensed with the Michael Jackson Estate, first launched with Drop 1 on March 22, followed by Drop 2 on April 16. However, the upcoming release will now have an even more important purpose.
Actively Black has announced that the proceeds from the new collection will be donated to relief efforts in Gary, Indiana, the birthplace of Michael Jackson.
In a powerful message shared by the brand, Actively Black referenced one of Michael’s most socially conscious songs, writing:
“MJ already told you that They don’t really care about us…”
The brand went on to highlight what it sees as wider inequalities affecting predominantly Black communities, mentioning not only the current situation in Gary but also Flint, Michigan, and concerns surrounding AI data centres being built in predominantly Black neighbourhoods.
Actively Black had originally planned the third collection drop as a celebration of Michael Jackson’s birthday. But after Gary was left dealing with a major power crisis following severe storms, the brand decided to turn the launch into part of a relief effort.
As previously reported, destructive storms swept through Northwest Indiana earlier this month, damaging power infrastructure and leaving many residents without electricity for an extended period. With summer temperatures remaining high, the prolonged outages have created extremely difficult conditions for families, particularly those without access to air conditioning or other essential services.
“Now it will be used as part of the relief efforts,” Actively Black said in its announcement.
The brand also gave a special shout-out to Relief Gang, led by rapper and humanitarian Trae tha Truth, for helping them connect with the relief efforts on the ground in Gary.
The decision is particularly meaningful considering Michael Jackson’s deep connection to the city. Born and raised in Gary, Michael spent his earliest years there with the Jackson family before he and his brothers became The Jackson 5 and began their extraordinary journey to international stardom.
Actively Black is encouraging fans to support the upcoming release, with the proceeds being donated to the relief efforts in Michael’s hometown.
The third drop of the officially licensed Actively Black x Michael Jackson Collection launches on August 29, transforming a birthday celebration for the King of Pop into an opportunity to give something back to the city where his incredible story began.
Fans can comment “TRIBE” on Actively Black’s announcement to receive a text notification when the new collection is released.
