Introducing Our Headliner: JESUS!

02/20/2012

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By: Dennis Maurice Dumpson

"He may not come when you want him, but he'll be there right on time. He's an on time God, yes he is..."
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_On Saturday I was intensely enamored with watching Whitney Houston's Funeral/Homegoing ceremony all day and I must admit I expected to see a traditional, HOLLYWOOD funeral likened to that which we've seen with greats like The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Indeed Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy Houston, could have gone the route of doing a huge service at one of New Jersey's prominent venues (NJPAC, etc.), but would have been authentic to her values? Not at all. So she laid her daughter to rest the only way she knew in a true homegoing service. I appreciated the service, personally, because it has all the aspects of church services I have seen my whole life. There was a freedom in the spirit of the homegoing that reminded me of Whitney's spirit as seen in her concerts, via TV, etc. , but also of what cultivated that spirit in her -- the Lord. I watched every moment of Whitney Houston's funeral via BET, CNN, and the Associated Press Online and I was reminded of something I'm a little ashamed that I forgot -- I forgot celebrities, like her, are people...they're human. #Epiphany! During Whitney's funeral I noticed something; people referenced the voice, of course, but more importantly her faith and the roads she traveled in her faith as a person like you and I. Another thing that became very apparent to me was that all these years (and I have been listening and lip syncing to Whitney Houston songs for about 20 years!) that she was preaching. Whitney had been giving out a word and I never noticed until she was no longer able to sing it anymore. Check out this video and I'll explain.
You Don't Need a Pulpit to Preach!
However, although we all tuned to pay our virtual respects to Whitney, if you listened and observed closely and for long enough you saw that the true headliner of this homegoing was our friend, Jesus! This easily could have been surrounded around Whitney's love for the music, her brilliant instrument, and amount of accolades she's gathered over her three decade run as a performer, but instead God intervened and as we say at my church "Had his way!" And it was done just as Whitney had delivered it her whole life through an approachable presentation that everyone could feel regardless of differences. Now many may say that Whitney was another singer and essentially I guess she was, but what makes her different is her ability to be used. You see, many people have talents, but refused to be used, so many times they/we wonder why can't I excel, why is all my hard work not paying off, why am I not as successful as I believe I should be; and more than 90% of time I will bet you it is because they're not allowing their gifts to be used for something greater than themselves. Those that knew Whitney reinforced this by mixing contemporary, popular, unifying themes and music and adding the message in, ever so inconspicuously. Check out what I mean as Kim Burrell uses the popular classic by Sam Cooke, "A Change Gon' Come," while inserting important points about the spirit of Whitney and the grace of God.
OK. Before I go any further let me share that every blog I do has a merge between marketing and public relations (because they line up with my profession) so that the reason for the reference to brands and public awareness that you will see throughout my blogs.

Jesus is the best Publicist Around
Whitney could no longer sing her song, preach her word (if you see it that way), or share her gifts...so the Lord stepped in, intervened and made the message clear. What do Publicists do? They make sure people know how good you are and give you good 'press' and God made the world take attention to how good Whitney was...he's the best representation around!

So what's my point? Well, hire a Publicist, Marketer, or Outreach professional, but if you do not have substance beyond "the brand" and connection to something greater than superficiality of fame you will never go beyond being a talent that nobody truly connects with. I know that's a huge statement, but it's what I believe! Get some great PR and be in a magazine for a month or on a TV for an evening; but get you some God (whatever that may mean to you!) and ensure some longevity that people believe in are unafraid to hold onto.

Never would I have thought that I would have such a deep and pivotal epiphany about God and my relationship to the Lord through Whitney Houston, but this just reminds me that we can learn, grow, and rejuvenate ourselves through the gifts of each other. AMAZING! Thank you, Lord!

I hope you enjoyed this and I know it's heavy, but here's a little smileage for you *yes, SMILEAGE...like mileage, but with smiles!* Thanks for reading!
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Whitney, Wendy, Words, and Worth

02/13/2012

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By Dennis Maurice Dumpson

It's so ironic that I just did a blog about how Roland Martin could learn a thing or two from Wendy Williams and today Wendy goes right ahead and proved my point on topic of Whitney Houston. I said in my blog, if you remember, that we do NOT have to comment on every single topic and provocative moment in history and time. I also wrote in that same blog that Wendy follows a format and doesn't detour from that too much. Today she showed us that she can say it as she means it, but also has a level of integrity in her profession. I'll explain. More below. Note: I recently got back into blogging again, I promise this isn't a Wendy Williams tribute blog, just a coincidence that she is in two blogs in a row!
_Integrity...How Many Of Us Have It?
Today, Wendy showed why integrity is so very important. On her syndicated talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, she covered what she knew of Whitney Houston's death and then said she would not cover Whitney's death any further after today's show. She also said, if you want to hear something about her death go to The View or Entertainment Tonight, because she's out (as it pertains to Whitney's death and the details still uncovered). Wendy knows her issues with drugs and has always been upfront about them and in the end that's why so many love her. I really respect Wendy's position on this topic. Granted Wendy has "Said It Like She Means It..." in reference to Whitney's struggles with substance abuse, etc. However, if you look below she's approached it from a sisterly perspective -- having been a former substance abuser herself. See a previous conversation Wendy had about Whitney and her hopes for her sobriety (in a way that only Wendy could pull off).
Now some would say, "Wendy hasn't done anything but talk about her issues and joke about it." I don't see it that way. I think Wendy tried to keep it light, because that's the sensibility of her show, but I see her plea to Whitney. Which made her feelings and sentiment in the video below that much more honest and heartfelt -- which is Wendy's brand of Authenticity and "Say It Like You Mean It."
_I cried after seeing this, because Whitney was so iconic and I love her and I am sad that she passed so suddenly and in a very tragic way, but also because Wendy's transparency was so beautiful. Whether Whitney succumbed to drugs or this was all an accident, does it really matter? She is a woman...a woman whose songs have been part of the soundtrack of our lives. Greatest Love All: My cousin and I singing I believe the children are the future at church. I wanna Dance with somebody: My family reunion back in the day. Shoop Shoop Shoop: Seeing Waiting to Exhale on bootleg with my mom and her girlfriends and listen to their conversations about life and relationships. Whitney gave to the world and that's what we are here for. I think Wendy had a breakthrough on camera about her own journey and it was just beautiful to watch and no other journalist will take this stance...TRUST ME!

My Little Marketing Insight... I can't help it!
From a marketing perspective (I can't help it!) She set herself apart from others that will dive in on this story and I realize it's because it's personal for her, she let people into something a little deeper. Wendy is unassuming and she's calculated, but not calculated in a bad way, but she's done the math before hand. She knows that as long as she is herself and she sees herself in all she does that it will always ADD UP in her favor and I like people (especially folks of color) who know the power of being clear on who you are and where you stand in this world and in any industry.

Remembering the Legacy: It was Worth the Toll.
What are your words worth? We all have an opinion...I enjoy opinions and perspectives, but after all of those words what do you have left...nothing if you weren't clear on what you were saying. Whitney always had a clear message...try your best to love yourself. Listen to the music, the theme is consistent. Many people think I always refer to branding because I am a marketer, but that's not it. When I see people who are consistent in their messaging I appreciate it. Doesn't mean you can't fall, make mistakes, or missteps, it just means on everything you shared you were HONEST in what you believed. Want to know when someone is spitting bull? Listen to them talk for an hour...if they sound like four different people...don't trust it! Whitney always sounded the same to me and words were consistent and that is WORTH it's weight in Solid Gold or Platinum (music pun!). After all is said and done, Whitney, I hope the journey was worth the toll. I feel that it is -- I have been touched. Sad that I see how deeply in your death. However, see someone who knew her well talk about her faith and her resilience. This will gives fans and friends clarity that Whitney is in a great place with the Lord. This I am sure...no I didn't know her, but I feel that and I believe what I feel.
_Miss and Love you, Whitney! R.I.P. Here's Whitney singing about what I feel she always sang about...LOVE!
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