Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation Center

Janet Jackson took the stage at the BET Awards in Los Angeles looking visibly shaken. Just three days after the death of her brother, Michael, she told the audience after a long pause to gather herself, “My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful. So they elected me to speak with all of you.”

Promising to keep it short, she added, “To you, Michael is an icon, to us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank wewe for all of your love, thank wewe for all of your support. We miss him so much. Thank...

Have wewe seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the Lost and found of my heart...

No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...
People say I'm not okay
'Cause I upendo such elementary things...

It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood I've never known...
Have wewe seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates and adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...
Before wewe judge me,
try hard to upendo me,
Look...