Janet. Jackson. Two words that, when printed or spoken consecutively over the last 40 years have adorned countless accolades, created entire movements, and inspired nations of fans to take control of their destinies; all while commanding attention and respect amongst her predecessors, peers, and protégés in the music and entertainment fields. These days, the singular word “Janet” alone is synonymous with the iconic, genre spanning career of the second most awarded female artist of all time; however, when coupled with “Jackson” (arguably the most notable surname in the history of entertainment) these words evoke the type of excitement, interest and intrigue that only an elite few performers can boast. So how is it that those two words (which were the most searched words in the history of the internet at one point), the moniker given to one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential artists of ALL TIME, are completely ignored at the times when it matters most?
At different times throughout her career, there have been enormous hurdles Janet had to overcome in order to ascend to her current level of Mega-Superstardom. Arguably, the largest being the all-engulfing, earth-sized shadow cast by her older brothers and sisters who hit the scene before her. Soon, with the turn of a key earring, a hair flip, and an arsenal of hit songs, innovative music videos, and standard-setting stage shows, the light Janet created for herself became the sun of its own orbit. Still, due to often-biased reporting and the freedom of some copy writers (who clearly preferred some other Pop “diva” over Janet) to have their opinions printed under the guise of ‘fact’ – there were many times she wasn’t given a fair shake, even while being “celebrated.” America’s long-standing history with the mistreatment and misrepresentation of African-Americans AND women have also played their role in Janet never quite getting her just due in comparison to other artists of her caliber.