Last night my 14 year old daughter rushed downstairs and declared, “Mom! Whitney Houston died!” I responded, “Where did you hear that?” She said, “Twitter.” I said, “Twitter kills more people than war. It is not true.” She said, “But mom, my timeline is full of tweets about it. I think it is true.” I grabbed my laptop and went to Yahoo. There it was, “Whitney Houston Dead at Age 48.” My heart dropped. How could this be? She was getting it all together.
It is hard for me to see a hairbrush and not think of Whitney Houston. When I was a little girl I wanted to be, no I was Whitney. I stood in front of the mirror in my bathroom with my hairbrush and I sang my heart out many days to Whitney. I dressed like her and decided I would one day be famous, like her. I remember my first tube of lipstick was inspired by Whitney, Wet n Wild Pearl Pink. She gave hope to this young black girl growing up in the ghetto. I was Whitney Houston.
Instantly my mind was filled with memories of my adolescence and my hairbrush. My sisters and I often held talent shows in the basement and a song by Whitney always made the line up. The unfortunate thing was (and is) that I cannot sing. Not one bit.
My mind traveled back to the small two bedroom apartment where I grew up. I recalled all the times I sat in our living room in front of a 19 inch television waiting on one of her videos to come on. Once a video did come on, I would jump to my feet hairbrush in hand and began to sing into it as if I was Whitney Houston.
One year I lip synced to The Greatest Love of All at the Ohio State Fair in a talent show called Putting on the Hits. I wore black leggings and an oversized pink shirt. I had hoop earrings, bangle bracelets and a wig just like Whitney’s. My mom did my make-up and helped me rehearse. I think my mom had more fun than I did with this experience. On that stage with an audience of 11, I was Whitney Houston.
With the news of her passing, I feel like a part of my childhood died. It is hard to explain how I can care so deeply for someone I have never met, but I do. Music in general has always been such a big part of my life. Words expressed over melodies often console me and pick me up. Those words and melodies become part of the tapestry of our hearts. The people who make that music become part of our lives. One song on the radio can trigger a memory of a time, place and strong emotion.
With Whitney it was the music, the melody and the thought that a little black girl like me could do more and be more than she ever dreamed. Her smile alone said confidence and spoke to the lack of confidence in me saying, “You can do it.” Her ballad, The Greatest Love of All became my anthem. As a 13 year old middle school girl, I decided to never walk in anyone’s shadow. I decided that no matter what, no one could ever take away my dignity. I realized that the greatest love was indeed inside of me as I learned to love myself. That ballad awakened the power I held within and fueled the development of the woman you know today. I often used this very song for various special presentations in children’s ministry because it inspired me so much.
Will I dwell on the issues that plagued her life? No. I have my own issues to dwell on. I will remember her for what she was to me. I will remember the grace, the beauty, and the voice of confidence. I will remember how she touched me as a young girl. I will remember that every woman has her battle and we all have to fight. As I stand here as a grown woman with a hairbrush in my hand, I am reminded that I am Whitney Houston.
Rest in peace, Whitney. Thank you for inspiring little girls all over the world by reminding us of the greatest love of all.
Kelly Whalen
What a beautiful post. I feel very much the same way about Whitney and her songs have a place in my childhood and early years that can never be replaced. Yes, it’s sad that she was plagued by addiction, but I will always remember her as the talent she was.
uneeka jay
She spoke to the little girl in all of us. SO powerful.
Joey Fortman
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL.
You’re absolutely right.
And I COMMEND you with my heart for not mentioning the ‘she had an addiction problem-it is just too sad’ blah blah blah. I feel like she was totally overshadowed more for what hit her lips…but not for what really hit her heart.
xoxoxo – Joey
uneeka jay
Her heart was what was so important. xo
West Philly Mama
uneeka jay
Thank you! She was pretty amazing!
Aroberts318
Love this. wet n’ wild pink. awesome.
uneeka jay
You know you remember wet n’ wild pink! LOL
D Delvalle93
Love this post Uneeka it is amazing how much she inspired many…so beautifully put a true and heartfelt tribute.
uneeka jay
Thank you Denise! Sad ending.
Lenny Azen
I gotta favorite this web site it seems handy invaluable
Henriette Murak
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again! “All that is gold does not glitter not all those that wander are lost.” by J. R. R. Tolkien.