Her Story Matters

~As someone who studies sheroes, I’ve never been this excited about a Lifetime movie. I’m not even the biggest Janet Jackson fan. I have only seen her in concert twice, but I was dancing to her music on my Instagram page in anticipation and texting friends, who seemed less enthused. Why? I know for sure her story matters, because she’s been betrayed and fallen many times in public and proven to be unbreakable.

My Childhood Shero

On Friday January 28th, 2022, I had my popcorn ready, I signed up to listen and record.  Once I drew a picture of Janet that won me a Kent State Scholastic Art award. She taught me how to dance, how to stand up for what I believe in, how to set a fashion trend, and the most important lesson of all, how to be in control of my own decisions, as a young black woman. We all imagined singing “Let’s wait a while” to the man of our dreams or one pretending to be. Janet saved so many young hearts and souls with that song. I thought she had the key to happiness on a silver lined hoop dangling from her ear. When I found out it was a real key. I loved her even more. It was a reminder for her to do her chores and take care of animals behind the gate. She just became more intriguing as a gatekeeper to me.

Not Hating on  Janet / Hating on the Game

Why haven’t I been a consistent fan though? Well, seeing someone as wealthy and talented as her struggle, until Tyler Perry gave her a chance, was painful for a budding actress like myself to witness. It left me wondering if she would start hustling? Sure enough, her central messaging started to change over the years. According to the docuseries, she suddenly wanted a more sensual approach. Tina Landon her choreographer implied it’s a natural phase as women mature but also mentioned how she needed help stepping into the sex kitten role. Was she competing with Madonna? I noticed they never mentioned her name, but she came on the scene at nearly the same time singing about losing her virginity and sharing an unexpected pregnancy with an over protective father. Janet had to have noticed, given her experience with men and the rumors of her keeping a secret baby, so her papa wouldn’t preach.

The Black Madonna

Have you ever seen a black Madonna? They are more popular in Britain than in the U.S. Some say the Pope keeps his in secret and is holding some secrets about her past. But I digress, Janet could never be seen as Madonna or have the same advantages. Historically there’s three types of acceptable black women that the dominant culture in America has approved of consistently thanks to Hollywood and being a holy figure is not one of them. There’s the Sapphire, who’s viewed as sassy, aggressive, and divisive, the Matriarch or mammy figure, who is appeasing and ready to give free advice and cook a meal, and the half nude Jezebel or vixen.

Some of our biggest names past and present have banked on this image consciously or unconsciously. The narrative that black and brown women are sexually loose and almost animalistic and willing to fulfill every sexual desire is still prevalent. What Janet was displaying on the Control and Rhythm Nation albums were closer to the image of an educated black woman focused on divine love, sharing wisdom, and lessons in personal development with black cats. This type of highly melanated woman is not as often centered in popular culture. She was fully dressed, socially conscious, promoting literacy and justice for her community, and Ms. Jackson was nice and not too nasty about it.

Who’s really in Control of the Music?

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis admitted that the social justice theme had to be kept in quiet because the label would have not approved of the theme at the time. This is one reason why I think it’s noteworthy that it’s one of her bestsellers. As an artivist or teacher of  art as activism, the fact that it was so successful gives me hope. Slant Magazine ranked her Velvet Rope as her best album and those who compare her to Madonna may agree. Yet, I miss the old Janet, who didn’t feel like she needed to show more skin to bring cash in. I even see the image transformation happening to Halle and Chloe, who are two incredible vocalist and young women Beyonce discovered.  You can be sexy without looking like you’re trying to compete with strippers on the Vegas strip and soft porn stars. Let’s make room for everyone.

Knowing Janet grew up religious and was so shy, the persona felt forced on her to me. And if she was in control at one time and stayed in control throughout her career, only the God of her understanding, and powerful people in the music industry know that whole truth. I question it because I don’t think Janet is comfortable playing the role of the victim as was noted in her documentary. I think she is a real-life warrior woman. The Velvet Rope album number one because she also wrote a song called “Empty” and “What About” to prove she can be emotionally vulnerable and transparent about her “love life” and trauma.

Waiting a While is Sex Positive Too

Sex positivity is a buzz term these days thanks to artist like Rhianna, Lizzo, and Cardi B. and Janet Jackson proved that it’s not just for white women years ago. What’s more positive than making sure your partner respects you? She proved that choosing to be abstinent is part of the conversation. Now as a mother and fresh off her third divorce, I thought it was interesting that she didn’t mention her last husband Wissam, only the child they have together. But maybe she was being a caretaker again and protecting him like she protected Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Rene Elizondo, Jermaine Dupri, James DeBarge, and her father Joseph Jackson. She didn’t speak ill of any of them. Last year is the first time Justin Timberlake said for the record that she’s one of the loveliest people he’s worked with and far from shady, during an overdue public apology and statement about white male privilege.

Memorable Moments and The Making of a Mural

The most memorable moment of the docuseries for me was the beginning where she’s riding in the car and saw a visual tribute to the Jackson 5 in her hometown. When she started crying, so did I. She noticed the image had them looking to the heavens. But Michael was looking forward. She called him nosey and I laughed. Well, I plan to be a little nosier. How will she decide to raise her son?Will he respect black women? I’m wondering if she will tell us more about her unbreakable story that’s still unfolding.

Funny how Time Flies

The storytelling went by so fast and am I the only one that didn’t want her mother to talk about Michael? The pain in her eyes was enough. I wanted to know more about what her mother thought about her most decorated daughter. I guess when you’re in the shadow so long, you are trained in giving the people what they want, versus what they need. Yet what I think we all need is more stories that center black women leaders. Am I the only one that wants to see women putting their mental and physical health first like she did in the Flyte Time studio? Am I the only one who wanted to see how she learned to lead without Rene by her side? Janet also deserves a mural in Gary. Show me where the mural of Janet is. Janet Jackson rose. She rose since age seven, just like her brothers, and she had big penny loafers to fill. And just like her famous character Penny on Good Times, she doesn’t deserve any more unnecessary abuse. She deserves commemoration that shows that she knows how to keep her head up too.

 

~ Venus Jones

“Helping You Be More Poetic, Poised, & Powerful Under Pressure”

Author of She Rose, Entertainer, Poetic Keynote Speaker,  & (S)hero Trainer

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