I woke up on Friday August 25th, a couple of weeks ago with feeling. For a long time I have “felt” things before they were about to happen; as well as I can feel when my family members or those I love need me. I can’t explain how it works, nor how the ringing in my ears relates to things, as I have only recently been able to accept my own latent abilities that I covered up under years of functional alcohol abuse and being on birth control from the time I was 14. Back to what I was saying. On this day, I told Kevin that I have to finish my Astro presentation on Aaliyah. It was like a call to motivate me to finish my analysis so I could make my next video. It felt important.
And so, as I put together the presentation I found that Friday August 25th was the 22 year anniversary of Aaliyah’s death in 2001. This also makes it 22 years since the two towers fell. Aaliyah was just 22 years old when she died in a plane crash that had no survivors. Her funeral took place in the city of New York on the last day of August. Remember that New York is where the two towers fell, and so they had a funeral ceremony for a princess one week before the two towers fell.
I do not believe in coincidences. We ae able to ascribe our own meaning to events, especially with the ultimate navigators - the stars - to help guide us. I also have realized that I have a mission to share the stories of the ones who have left this realm, to remember them, to learn from them. I feel like in another universe, perhaps me and Aaliyah are great friends and I became her backup dancer. Kind of like the relationship Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson had. I miss those kinds of deep female friendships.
After all, “Are you that Somebody?” was the first song myself and my friends choreographed and performed for our whole school in Grade 8. Before I had my innocence and dreams ripped away in front of my eyes. I do think, now, looking back at Aaliyah’s life and her passing, that I owe her the ability to talk about her. Did you know she was married to R. Kelly when she was just 15 in a secret marriage because she was pregnant? As beautiful and sexy and talented as she was, she wasn’t able to wield her own power - she was still a child. I don’t know the details of what exactly happened, but Aaliyah has been quoted as calling R. Kelly “a bad man”.
And as all of these allegations about Russel Brand are making headlines, I feel a sense of dread because it feels like such a distraction. Women have been and continue to be abused and shamed for their own beauty, and because they “look” sexual. It’s not going to be the system that saves us. We will have to speak up, demand to be the hero of our own stories, and find the love that comes absolutely free.
Aaliyah’s manager was also her uncle, and this comes with it an extra layer of not necessarily being in control of her own image. Did she actually want to play the role of the Queen of the Dammed? Did you know she was supposed to star in the Matrix sequels? So many questions about what happened. But I am not going to dwell on that for now, instead on her music, which to this day continues to inspire. Her song “Your Love is One in a Million” is what I will be making a dance to coming up.
This post is not meant to be depressing, instead its about honoring those who have come before us. I miss you and still love you miss Aaliyah. Rest in power - your music makes you immortal!
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