R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates

Admiration, value, deference to or having a high regard for something or someone you have reverence for or hold in high esteem. In these torrid times of sensational headlines and Twitter rampages that utterly destroy any semblance of civility or thoughtful and complex civil discourse, actual respect, one for another, seems in limited supply. Aretha Franklin, the iconic Queen of Soul, who made us spell out R-E-S-P-E-C-T, just to make sure we fully comprehended the meaning and the message of her signature chart-topping song, has left us. But, her music will live on forever. As we reflect upon her life and her legacy, we recognize something about Aretha’s music. It spoke to us; all of us. Regardless of race, culture, gender, class or national origin, there were lessons to be learned from the long list of chart-topping hits that the Queen of Soul released to the public. She respected her audiences and always endeavored to give us her best. She exuded the grace and the dignity of a Queen, while never losing her roots and connection to her beloved community. She was an example of generosity and she always recognized the responsibility that she had as a star, a Black Superstar with an incredible gift...To read more, click here!