THINK PIECE: Janet Jackson also deserves credit for contributing to (BLACK) women freely expressing their sexualities...

Let's flashback to 1993, when Janet Jackson set a template for black female sexuality in the music industry. In September 1993, a topless Janet appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, her boobs covered by the hands of her then husband Rene Elizondo. The cover was an introduction to her new sexier image and sexually intimate album ❝Janet,❞ which was released that same year. Matter of fact, the Rolling Stone cover was partially used for the album cover. Lyrically, the project explored everything from foreplay to oral sex (as well as other themes like aids and racism). The year before that, Madonna dropped her ❞Sex❞ coffee table book, which was released in conjunction with her very sexualised 1992 album ❝Erotica.❞ This week, Madonna did some reflecting since that era finally met its 30-year milestone. In doing so, she took full credit for women freely being able to express their sexualities through the mainstream music industry. Newsflash. Janet Jackson deserves the same credit. Maybe even more. 

I say this because she opened doors for not just women in general but younger BLACK women who would have faced harsher backlashes and criticisms than their white competitors. That's privilege. The way Janet was SEVERELY blacklisted and ridiculed after the Super Bowl scandal will always serve as a constant reminder of that. As far as being honored goes, Beyoncé, Ciara, Teyana Taylor, Normani and others have all paid Janet their respects publicly and rightfully so. Just like how Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have always paid their respects to Madonna, so there really wasn't any need for Madonna to demand respect and acknowledgement when the truth is, she always had it.