Munya Vomo
America, the land of opportunity. The place where you can’t afford to sleep without knowing how you’ll capture the elusive American Dream.
I have friends who are languishing in the US because they, too, fell for the facade of the Stars and Stripes.
Everybody is trying to get paid, even the late Whitney Houston’s family. You’d think she’d have left those close to her with some financial cushioning, but a docu-series coming our way reveals they want more.
In The Houstons: On Our Own, we meet the singer’s radical daughter Bobbi Kristina (Krissy), Whitney’s sister-in-law and manager, Pat Houston, Pat’s daughter Rayah, Whitney’s brother Gary, her mother Cissy and the so-called family friend Nick Gordon.
The doccie was filmed right after the singer’s death and everyone is trying to pick up the pieces. If you followed the events that took place right after her death you will know that Bobbi is the one to look out for. While her aunt Pat tries to rope her into family and career activities, the rebellious Bobbi will hear none of it. She would rather spend time with her fiancé, Gordon. Wait a minute, isn’t that her brother? She says ‘no’, but we heard otherwise and now the couple plan to get married. And you thought The Bold and the Beautiful was sick.
So we see Pat try to rein in Bobbi, whom she feels can do better in life. However, you also feel like telling Pat to move on. If Bobbi said she wants to pursue a music career, we all know who’d want to manage her.
This is the problem with America: most parents want to make money off their children. From the Jackson family to the Williams sisters, you almost feel that children are bred to make money for the parents. It’s almost like the Chinese kids in the sweatshop situation. So perhaps Bobbi is right; it is better to concentrate on the incestuous relationship than to try to make money for Pat.
Granny Cissy is like any other gran; she worries about those around her and that gives this show heart.
The Houstons: On Our Own, tomorrow at 7pm on Channel O.