Joe vs. Joseph

Hello and good evening,

I´ve to admit, I´m really annoyed to discuss this tiresome topic about MJ´s middle name over and over again. Obviously some people prefer to stick to some kind of "hearsay" instead of relying on facts.

Jermaine Jackson stated the following in his book....."From somewhere, and especially after Michael´s death, a rumour began that his middle name is Joseph. Maybe this myth prefers the echo with our father´s name because the crossover reads better about a father and son who struggled to see eye to eye. Joe was his middle name, as recordedon his birth certificate."
So far, so good....but checking the Official Vital Records/Birth Registry of Indiana shows a different result, have a look....

It´s possible to get a copy of the Birth Certificate but only citizens of the United States are allowed to obtain it and I´m no citizen of the US.
Nevertheless I´m very sure, a copy would not show a different result than the stated search result above.

Jermaine´s explanation why MJ´s middle name was "Joe" and not "Joseph" is not comprehensible, it´s rather the opposite. It substantiates the possible reason why MJ felt compelled to change his middle name from the time when he signed documents, even as a child.

It´s wellknown that MJ struggled with his father from a very early age. It´s just an assumption but I´d guess, changing his middle name from "Joseph" to "Joe" was an opportunity to dissociate himself from his violent father.

It´s indifferent if MJ changed his middle name later, according to other official documents like two passports from different years or a Driver´s License. Both the name "Joseph" and the name "Joe" are names which MJ used throughout his life. Therefore both middle names represent MJ as an individual legally.
The name on the Birth Certificate and the Death Certificate are required to be the same, mandated by law. In this case, it´s "Joseph".

I don´t know why Jermaine claimes to base his statement on MJ´s Birth Certificate because official records show a different result but it would be worth to ask him. ;)

Have a great weekend, guys! :)