Blogs

February 23, 2012

Raynard Jackson

Whitney, as you began to take your heavenly journey,

We all saw a picture of you on a medical gurney.

Then all kinds of thoughts flooded into my head,

Because I knew many things were about to be said.

The show must go on they all said,

While they were partying, you laid dead.

All sorts of people began invoking your name,

This seemed more about cashing in on your fame.

Kelly Price was all over CNN,

Was that the best way to remember your friend?

Every time I turned around ,

On another network you could be found.

CNN’s Don Lemon was almost in tears,

Saying your music had touched his life for years.

My, my, my, what a difference a day makes,

Because the next day he had quite a different take.

He began rampant speculation on your cause of death,

Your spirit, from your body had barely left.

He claimed you had such a heavenly voice,

But the tools of speculation were his journalistic choice.

So-called friends who were with you days before,

Have turned into such media whores.

Before your body was placed in the ground,

All over TV they could be found.

To the media, do you know no shame?

Even in death, it’s all just a game.

It’s all about ratings and making money,

But, when it happens to your family it won’t be so funny.

To the media, public figures are mere sport,

Calling an 18 year old child they did resort.

Bobbi Christina doesn’t deserve this type of attention,

So, why in your stories is she even mentioned?

Though Whitney had her own demons to bear,

In her death she was treated so unfair.

When you look at her life as a whole,

She seemed to be such a beautiful soul.

Cissy, no parent should have to bury a child,

But, you will see her again after a while.

You have handled this situation with class and grace,

I pray God will continue to shine his favor upon your face.

Cissy, Whitney’s home going celebration,

Filled my heart with great jubilation.

You only had Whitney for 48 years,

So I understand why your eyes filled with tears.

That’s such a short time in the big scheme of things,

But just think of how many hearts she made to sing.

God gave you that gift of song,

This gift will help you to be strong.

Stevie, isn’t it amazing that love’s still in need of love,

Alicia, you are that angel from above.

The way you sang that song it was very clear,

That Whitney was someone you held very dear.

But, then there was another side to this event,

A side that had an ugly bent.

One person made me so furious,

Why he behaved so, I’m just curious.

Could Al Sharpton not watch and pray?

Why would he send out tweets while your funeral was underway?

Could he not sit there and show his respects,

As long as he got in the media, he figured what the heck?

Maybe he was angry because he was not asked to speak,

So, other ways to get into the media he did seek.

Al, I can’t take you anymore,

You are the biggest media whore.

You claimed in your tweet you told Bobby Brown not to be a distraction,

But then you became one by your very action.

Tweeting during Whitney’s funeral was a classless act,

But, then again, your history of this type of behavior is a known fact.

Whitney deserved her one moment in time,

Sharpton, your behavior was such a selfish crime.

Do you see no shame in upstaging the dead?

Maybe next time you should use your heart, not your head.

Whitney, now that you have completed your journey, may you be at rest

For 48 years you gave us your best.

Though you were an icon all over the world,

To Cissy, you were just her little girl.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm.  He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (www.freedomsjournal.net), and U.S. Africa Magazine (www.usafricaonline.com).