In 1967, “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin recorded a song, written by Otis Redding, that became both a feminist and civil rights anthem:“Respect.”
As we watch the last year of President Obama’s second term in office, and think about the dis-respect he and his family have been shown since he ascended to the highest office in the land we should repeat that word.
Respect.
As a black person, I feel that dissing him disses me.
Respect.
We need to demand that word. For our POTUS and for ourselves. I often hear in my mind the sound of Aretha shouting out that tune, spelling out the letters of the word that means so much to many of us who are sick and tired of watching the man, and what he represents be dissed by blatantly racist elected officials, political pundits, and members of the populace who didn’t vote for him.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Aretha belted out the letters of the word in staccato and pointed phrasing. I also feel those words deeply as a woman. As I watch a woman fighting to be nominated to carry the Democratic Party standard in the upcoming battle for the presidency, I feel the ugly cuts of misogyny hurled at her.
Respect.
Born, March 25, 1942, Aretha Franklin turns 74 today. Let’s give her back some respect and love for all the music she has gifted us with throughout her career.
From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
Aretha was born in Memphis and grew up in Detroit. Her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, was the charismatic pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, which he turned into a large and thriving institution. His services were broadcast locally and in other urban markets around the country, and 60 of his sermons (including the legendary “The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest”) were released in album form. One of the best-known religious orators of the day, Rev. Franklin was a friend and colleague of Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and other key figures in the civil-rights movement.
On the musical side, some of the greatest vocalists of the gospel age were acquaintances and guests in the Franklin household. Aretha and her siblings – sisters Erma and Carolyn and brothers Cecil and Vaughn – grew up hearing the likes of Clara Ward (her greatest influence), Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland both in their father’s church and the family’s living room.
From an early age, Aretha sang at her father’s behest during services at New Bethel. Her first recordings turned up on an album called Spirituals, recorded at the church when she was only 14. (It also included material by gospel singer Sammie Bryant and C.L. Franklin.) Spirituals was released locally on the J.V.B. label in 1956 and re-released on the Battle label in 1962. Aretha’s five tracks formed the basis of the 1964 album Songs of Faith: The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, issued on Checker (Chess Records’ companion label), with additional material recorded by Franklin at services in other locales. In her autobiography, Aretha notes that some of it came from a performance at the Oakland Arena. As a teenager, Aretha accompanied her father on gospel bills and services as far away as California and the Deep South.
As a 24 year old, I doubt Aretha could have even imagined that her recording and rendition of “Respect” would go down in history:
...often considered as one of the best songs of the R&B era, earning her two Grammy Awards in 1968 for "Best Rhythm & Blues Recording" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female", and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2002, the Library of Congress honored Franklin's version by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It is number five on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
We know how the President feels about her. She’s performed at the White House and helped kickoff his presidency by singing at his inauguration on January 20, 2009:
We recently watched Ms. Franklin bring the president to tears at the Kennedy Center Honors concert tribute to Carole King.
Over her lifetime, she has received an amazing list of awards and honors. With deep respect, join me in wishing Aretha a very Happy Birthday.