A tribute to the music Diva, Aretha Franklin, who blossomed into a fine acclaimed artiste, but also a Civil Rights advocate, Native Americans’ rights supporter, Women’s rights advocate, varied causes that she supported silently, or through performances, and with money. Rupa profiles the African American icon, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.
Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, with her powerful hallmark voice in music, came from a broken home of a successful circuit preacher father, with a voice that captivated and a mother who was a vocalist and pianist. By age six, her parents separated due to father’s roving eye, mother moved away, though she visited the children and they also spent time together in summers.
By age 10, Aretha lost her mother, she got into singing hymns, choir music at father’s church. Her dad’s visitors included who’s who from the musical realm, Civil Rights royalty, and celebrities. She blossomed not only into a fine acclaimed artiste, but also a Civil Rights advocate, Native Americans’ rights supporter, Women’s rights advocate, varied causes that she supported silently, or through performances, and with money.
Through her struggles on personal, family, relationship, career fronts emerged a shining star, whose multitude of accomplishments in life came to a halt with on losing her battle with cancer. Her last viewing was befitting the Queen that she was in a grand red outfit, with Louis Vuitton heels, netted lace red dress, she lay cross legged in a gold plated coffin surrounded by huge lavender and pink spray of roses.
The Diva was dressed in powder blue for 3rd day where the thronging ocean of die-hard loyal fans mourned loss of Detroit’s daughter, few sporting tee-shirts with her name, image, some singing her numbers, others humming along, while her music played on, filling the expanse of African American History museum.
Her last goodbyes will include eulogies from Bill Clinton; letter would be read from Obamas, whose inaugural ceremony featured her performance, A-list artists who will perform and glitterati.
In fact, 130 pink Cadillacs will pay tribute to her winning number from 1985, “We’re going riding on the freeway of love in a pink Cadillac.” The hearse that carried her late father Rev CL Franklin, and Rosa Parks will transport her to her resting place and mark her sojourn on this planet for posterity.
Aretha was a child of Gospel music, church, and faith, stayed true to her roots. Her soulful singing, powerful writing, poignant composing, uplifting causes, impactful words unified every color, race, age, and background. Among her many memorable quotes is the one that is call of the hour for every community; all strata of society, any race or nationality, in fact it encompasses entire human race, “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right,” said Aretha Franklin
©Rupa Rao
Photos sourced the author from the Internet
Rupa is an army child who schooled in 9 towns in 12 years. She graduated from Jabalpur; did MBA, and Law from Mumbai. Travelling, learning about cultures, imbibing differences, dialects are a blessing of a nomadic life. She has been to Japan; Hawaii; Crete; Greek Islands; Amsterdam; Bermuda; the Bahamas and some exotic places within India. She has dabbled in poetry, interviews, articles, painting, Deejaying, etc. She seeks to explore places, people, adventures, experiences, colours, textures, stories waiting to be tapped.
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