This morning I posted the following response to a question on Facebook. The question had to do with people who are still blaming Bobby Brown for Whitney Houston’s downfall.
“When Whitney first hit the scene, she was clowned by many Black folks. Why? Because both she and her music was not considered “Black enough”:
“Black disc jockeys have chided her for “not having soul” and being “too White,” while other critics say she is “too distant” and “impersonal.” She was booed at the Soul Train Music Awards, and Keenen Ivory Wayans’ In Living Color spoofed “Whitney Houston’s Rhythmless Nation.” (Ebony Magazine, 5/91)
Also check out this link.
There were some reports that some Black radio stations refused to play her stuff for the same reason. Only when her career really took off did she become our perfect Black princess. When Bobby Brown came into the picture, most of America did a collective slapping of the forehead because he was a “thug”. Never mind the fact that the attraction was a two way street.
There is no excuse for the physical and verbal abuse she endured under him. But I submit that people hated Bobby before the drugs and abuse came into the picture for the reasons I just explained.”
When the average Joe dies, we tend to accept the reasons behind the death and move on. But even in death, celebrities are still surrounded by the tongue waggers who just can’t let it go. We talk about Whitney’s addictions, but what about celebrity addiction?
In one interview, Whitney talked about how despite being married she still felt very lonely. She said that the good thing about her marriage was that she had someone to share in her loneliness. In another interview in Time Magazine, she talks about her bouts with loneliness as a child.
‘In grammar school some of the girls had problems with me. My face was too light. My hair was too long. It was the black-consciousness period, and I felt really bad. I finally faced the fact that it isn’t a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems. When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I’d be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life.”
The problems Whitney struggled with did not start with Bobby and certainly did not end with him. Despite her beautiful voice, this was a person that was in pain. And when you are constantly surrounded by millions of people who want you to be something they are not, that only agitates that deep pain.
All throughout Facebook and on certain news sites, I kept hearing people suggest that Whitney’s funeral forced America to go to church. While the church served as a platform to launch her career, why couldn’t the church help her in her loneliness? Is church just a place we attend, sing a few songs, feel the spirit, contribute money and time, and leave? Or is church a people?
So instead of looking for “pop” excuses here, I think this is a good time to take some serious introspection. Just how well do you know your neighbor? Do you at least make the attempt to know the people around you?
At the end of the day, Whitney lived her life based on her own choices–both good and bad. In that regard, she is no different than the rest of us.
“Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do. It’s my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy. And that’s how I have to deal with it.” (Whitney during her Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002)
My biggest prayer today is that Christians would move beyond all the rousing speeches, great solos, and funny stories and will begin to really challenge themselves to stop going TO church and BECOME church.
May the life and death of Whitney prompt all of us to both make better decisions and to help others to do the same. Our lives depend on it.
Why Blame Bobby?
by Duane on February 19th, 2012 at 1:00 pmThis morning I posted the following response to a question on Facebook. The question had to do with people who are still blaming Bobby Brown for Whitney Houston’s downfall.
“When Whitney first hit the scene, she was clowned by many Black folks. Why? Because both she and her music was not considered “Black enough”:
“Black disc jockeys have chided her for “not having soul” and being “too White,” while other critics say she is “too distant” and “impersonal.” She was booed at the Soul Train Music Awards, and Keenen Ivory Wayans’ In Living Color spoofed “Whitney Houston’s Rhythmless Nation.” (Ebony Magazine, 5/91)
Also check out this link.
There were some reports that some Black radio stations refused to play her stuff for the same reason. Only when her career really took off did she become our perfect Black princess. When Bobby Brown came into the picture, most of America did a collective slapping of the forehead because he was a “thug”. Never mind the fact that the attraction was a two way street.
There is no excuse for the physical and verbal abuse she endured under him. But I submit that people hated Bobby before the drugs and abuse came into the picture for the reasons I just explained.”
When the average Joe dies, we tend to accept the reasons behind the death and move on. But even in death, celebrities are still surrounded by the tongue waggers who just can’t let it go. We talk about Whitney’s addictions, but what about celebrity addiction?
In one interview, Whitney talked about how despite being married she still felt very lonely. She said that the good thing about her marriage was that she had someone to share in her loneliness. In another interview in Time Magazine, she talks about her bouts with loneliness as a child.
‘In grammar school some of the girls had problems with me. My face was too light. My hair was too long. It was the black-consciousness period, and I felt really bad. I finally faced the fact that it isn’t a crime not having friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems. When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I’d be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life.”
The problems Whitney struggled with did not start with Bobby and certainly did not end with him. Despite her beautiful voice, this was a person that was in pain. And when you are constantly surrounded by millions of people who want you to be something they are not, that only agitates that deep pain.
All throughout Facebook and on certain news sites, I kept hearing people suggest that Whitney’s funeral forced America to go to church. While the church served as a platform to launch her career, why couldn’t the church help her in her loneliness? Is church just a place we attend, sing a few songs, feel the spirit, contribute money and time, and leave? Or is church a people?
So instead of looking for “pop” excuses here, I think this is a good time to take some serious introspection. Just how well do you know your neighbor? Do you at least make the attempt to know the people around you?
At the end of the day, Whitney lived her life based on her own choices–both good and bad. In that regard, she is no different than the rest of us.
“Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do. It’s my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy. And that’s how I have to deal with it.” (Whitney during her Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002)
My biggest prayer today is that Christians would move beyond all the rousing speeches, great solos, and funny stories and will begin to really challenge themselves to stop going TO church and BECOME church.
May the life and death of Whitney prompt all of us to both make better decisions and to help others to do the same. Our lives depend on it.