Stop Domestic Violence: Whitney Houston: Gone Too Soon

WHITNEY HOUSTON: GONE TOO SOON

In light of the recent passing of America's sweetheart, Whitney Houston, I thought I'd dedicate this blog to her struggle

with life, love, domestic abuse, drug abuse, and more. It is unfair to say that Bobby Brown, Houston's estranged husband, is responsible for her death because of domestic abuse because that was not the case. However, it is no secret that their relationship was a major turning point for her and together they were dysfunctional, drug using, and violent. For the sake of this blog's topic of domestic violence, I'd like to highlight how deeply some people are effected by domestic abuse in any form which we all observed with Whitney Houston.

Houston's prolific career started early on when she was just 14 years old as a backup singer on the single "Life's A Party" by Michael Zager's band. Whitney Houston also sang backup for greats such as Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson, and Lou Rawls. Before Houston's singing career blossomed, she was successful as a model and broke racial barriers when she was one of the first women of color to be on the cover of popular magazine, Seventeen. Her legendary singing career began in 1983 when an A&R rep for Artista Records saw her performing at a nightclub in NYC and persuaded Clive Davis to watch her perform. Impressed, Davis signed Houston to Arista and that was the beginning of her singing career that would eventually take a turn for the worst. Houston's role in The Bodyguard as a star who develops a love for her bodyguard who is hired to protect her from a stalker, is probably the most memorable presentation of Whitney Houston to people across the world. She touched our hearts in this film. The same year that The Bodyguard was released is also the same year that Houston tied the knot with longtime boyfriend and R&B singer, Bobby Brown. Their tumultuous marriage lasted 15 years and was nothing short of a spectacle that included heavy drug use, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and other bizarre behavior. The world watched as their once sweetheart deteriorated into someone distant and beyond the help of loved ones.

The Daily Beast's website recalls Whitney & Bobby's troubled marriage: "by the mid-2000s, Houston had endured a roundelay of rehab stays. She admitted she made habitual use of marijuana and crack and specified that Brown’s highs of choice were alcohol and marijuana laced with cocaine." The article goes on to say: "In 2003, police responded to a domestic-violence 911 call to their Georgia home and discovered Houston with a bruised cheek and a cut lip. Brown subsequently turned himself in and was charged with misdemeanor battery for striking the superstar and reportedly threatening to 'beat her ass.'” That is just two of many incidents that took place in their entire relationship. This was a classic case of a man threatened and jealous by his spouse's success and attention and using abusive tactics to control and bring down his spouse. We witnessed the effects of the drug abuse, physical abuse and psychological abuse done to Houston by Brown. There were many times where Bobby Brown publicly humiliated and disrespected her and each time, Houston remained loyal and would go back to Brown who she admitted was "her drug." Despite the eventual divorce between this famously troubled couple, Whitney Houston was never quite able to recover and get her life back in order. The lasting effects of such a traumatic and abusive relationship were evident and she continued to abuse drugs and act strangely in interviews, appearances, and so on. Her shining light and charm had been robbed and she struggled to regain the magnetic effect that she once easily had over so many of us. She had broken hearts across the world who watched her deteriorate over the years that were always praying for her recovery, her comeback and her once compelling spirit. We all rooted for Whitney and were saddened by every report that showed her continuing to allow Brown to victimize her and suck the life out of her. Whitney Houston lost her battle and broke the world's heart on February 11, 2012 when we learned that she had been found dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills Hotel room. An iconic, legendary, once so perfect woman that we loved to love and simply could not get enough of had lost her battle against herself. The effects of an abusive relationship now entombed were everlasting and destructive. We probably won't ever forget the modern day Bonnie & Clyde relationship that Houston & Brown had, and we may never forgive Brown for his role as abuser nor may we ever forgive Houston for not recognizing the power and beauty she had that we all saw before leaving us. One thing we should all learn from this tragic story is that domestic violence/abuse should never be taken lightly no matter how strong or capable we think the victim is.

Saturday, February 19, 2012, an iconic entertainer made her final debut. Whitney Houston's funeral was available to watch live stream across the networks and there's no doubt that most of us were tuned into that spiritual, emotional home-going. I certainly was tuned in for the entire service and it was nothing short of profound and spiritual for me. There were tears, laughs, and maybe even feelings of anger experienced through the course of Houston's home-going. Our favorite American sweetheart, Whitney Houston, has been laid to rest and we got to say goodbye to a woman who once was strong, beautiful, talented, charming, and fierce in such a classy way.

May your troubled soul finally be at peace, Whitney. We love you.