Aaliyah

THE LEGACY

There have been Billboards of Aaliyah’s “One In a Million”album as well as her self-titled album “Aaliyah” all over the streets of Detroit, bringing us all pure nostalgia. If you’re old enough, you probably remember that’s how upcoming albums were once promoted. There would be posters in heavily populated areas, billboards on the streets and posters in the music store. I remember seeing Aaliyah perform at the very first Family Funday event in Detroit, which was held at Rouge Park. The music always takes me back in time. Us fans have literally been waiting 20 years for Aaliyah’s music to be released on streaming platforms.

Ever since her albums were released this month, they’ve been charting on all main stream platforms, which is pretty amazing! It represents how powerful her talent was to fans and how even though her life was cut so short, she was never forgotten. Needless to say, Aaliyah has been making headlines again. Actually, I think it’s safe to say she was still making headlines before her music was re-released. People seem to have an obsession with celebrities in general, but when they die young, there seems to be a common theme of wanting to know their highs, lows, and in-betweens in life.

LET’S GET PERSONAL

Aaliyah comes from a musical family. Music was in her DNA. If you ask people that Aaliyah knew personally, they seem to all say the same things. They all say that Aaliyah was so kind, funny, sweet, spiritually inclined and chill. If there was anything more to be said about her, believe me, people would be coming out of everywhere in an attempt to run their mouths! Aaliyah was well liked by other celebrities- mainly due to her down to earth personality- and therefore became friends with both men and women in the industry. We know that Kadida Jones and Aaliyah considered themselves to be more like sisters than best friends. We also know that Aaliyah was in a relationship with Dame Dash when she died. 

AALIYAH IS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT BLACK WOMEN NEED PROTECTION AGAINST PATRIARCHAL STEREOTYPES EVEN IN DEATH!

As I previously stated, Aaliyah has been recently making headlines. However, some people want her to make headlines for the most ridiculous reasons. There is a picture online of Aaliyah, Diddy, two other girls, and two guys all fully dressed laying in what looks like a huge comfy bed at one of Diddy’s white parties. They are literally posing for the picture. There is not a single thing that looks remotely sexual about the picture, yet there are people- mainly men- that had the audacity to post the picture and state that she was “loose” and had sex with Diddy and other people in the industry. I’m just trying to figure out why men are worried about the vagina of a deceased woman that they would never be able to experience if she were alive?

Furthermore, if she did sleep with those people, why is that a concern and why does that make a 22 year old woman “loose”? Why are so many people interested in inserting what is perceived as negative rumors and stereotypes upon Aaliyah’s name? Why the low budget smear campaign? I am honestly baffled by some of the dialogue I’ve read from Black men regarding Aaliyah. It’s almost like they have to say something distasteful about her because they’ve read so many positive view points about her. It’s the system of Patriarchy that relates a woman’s character or worth to her sexual partners and relationship status, but in all honesty, those same men should be concerned about their daughters, wives and their children’s mothers’ sexual history. 

CONCLUSION

If anyone reading this finds themselves trying to smear Aaliyah’s name based on rumors regarding sex, I suggest you check yourself. Ask yourselves why you’re concerned and trying to pass judgement on her. You could even ask your Mothers about their sexual history at 22, or think about your own. 

Let Aaliyah’s legacy of music and acting continue to shine. Allow her soul to rest without her mother and brother having to constantly protect it in her death. 

We all have to die one day. I think it’s much more important to think about what legacy you may or not be leaving behind and what kind of person folks will say you were. Of course the quick and lackluster response will be ” I don’t care.”, which is fine, but you do care about your loved ones and that’s who it will hurt and affect in the long run..