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“How I Got Over”: Celebrating Aretha Franklin with Comprehensive Playlist of Her Cover Songs on Her Birthday (LISTEN)

“How I Got Over”: Celebrating Aretha Franklin with Comprehensive Playlist of Her Cover Songs on Her Birthday (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on March 25, 2021

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

It’s always nice to have an excuse to celebrate the Queen of Soul and her music. Although this week in particular it’s been a somewhat fraught proposition, as the National Geographic Channel began airing its Genius: Aretha series starring Cynthia Erivo on Sunday, to which some of Franklin’s immediate family publicly objected.

But if, like me, you’re inclined to want to celebrate Aretha on what would have been her 79th birthday and can’t wait for the MGM feature Respect starring Jennifer Hudson (which, so far, the family does approve of) to come out, you can always rewatch the glorious Amazing Grace concert film released in 2019, or go right to the source and listen to all Aretha all day.

For my 2020 celebration, I compiled a collection of her original works in a Spotify playlist called  “Rock Steady”: Songs Aretha Franklin Wrote, in honor of her ability to compose incredible music and lyrics that have stood the test of time, a talent which is often overshadowed by Aretha’s unparalleled singing mastery.

This year, I chose to celebrate Aretha Franklin’s lifelong love of all musical styles and her unmatched ability to turn any song from any genre from any time by anybody into her own unique moment. Below is the compilation playlist “How I Got Over”: Aretha Franklin’s Cover Songs: 

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:1ThrnFZemc4yzpq8cMEQPe”]

In it, you’ll find the songs you already know were recorded by others that Aretha made her own signature songs (“Respect,” “Spanish Harlem,” “Until You Come Back to Me”), along with songs where her version became as famous as the original, if not more (“You’re All I Need To Get By,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Wholy Holy,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Don’t Play That Song,” “Son of A Preacher Man”).

Also included are songs you may not know she covered (many were deep cuts on LPs or only recently released) but as soon as you hear Aretha’s version you won’t be able to forget it (“At Last,” “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “A Song For You,” “What a Fool Believes,” “I Want to Be With You,” “My Kind of Town (Detroit Is)”).

Aretha also dips into her Detroit roots with her covers of Motown classics like “My Guy,” “Tracks of My Tears” and “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” as well as her love of her British Invasion contemporaries with covers of The Beatles‘ “Eleanor Rigby,” “Let It Be” and “The Long and Winding Road” and The Rolling Stones‘ “Satisfaction” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

Franklin effortlessly shows off her jazz chops on “Moody’s Mood,” “Skylark,” “How Glad I Am” and “Crazy He Calls Me” and her devastating blues acumen and feeling with “Today I Sing The Blues,” “The Thrill is Gone,” “Night Time Is The Right Time” and “Why I Sing The Blues.”

“Over The Rainbow,” “Somewhere” and “I Dreamed A Dream” let us all know a career on Broadway or movie musicals, should she have wanted it, would have been Aretha’s for the taking, and her takes on traditional gospel classics like “How I Got Over,” “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Oh Happy Day” (with Mavis Staples), and, of course, “Amazing Grace” make it simple for anyone needing proof of God to listen and say, “Oh, okay. THAT.”

For those who love holiday fare, Aretha’s got that covered too, with undeniable versions of “Winter Wonderland,” “Silent Night” and “The Christmas Song.”

As late as 2014, at age 72, Aretha Franklin was still showing the world what she could do to a song she deigned to sing.

Franklin released an entire album of covers entitled Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics, where she famously took on “Rolling In The Deep” by Adele, Alicia Keys‘ “No One” and created must-listen mash-up versions of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman/Respect” where Aretha blends those two classics together, and Gloria Gaynor‘s “I Will Survive,” which she mixes with Destiny’s Child‘s “Survivor.” 

All the songs mentioned and more are on the 85-track playlist above. There are even more enticing covers in the Aretha Franklin catalogue worth exploring, but at five and a half hours, I definitely feel this playlist is a great place to start. 

Enjoy, and all hail the Queen!

Obamacare Enrollment Period Extended to August 15 by Biden Administration; Premiums Decreased

Obamacare Enrollment Period Extended to August 15 by Biden Administration; Premiums Decreased

By goodblacknews on March 24, 2021

According to usatoday.com, the Biden administration is extending a special opportunity for people to sign up for government-subsidized health insurance through the federally run marketplace, commonly referred to as as Obamacare.

The special enrollment period will no longer end May 15 but extend to Aug. 15 to give people more time to take advantage of the expanded subsidies included in the recently passed $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

The package increased the subsidies already available to people who don’t receive health insurance from an employer or through a government plan like Medicare or Medicaid.

The package also makes the subsidies newly available for people earning more than four times the federal poverty level, which is about $51,520 for a single person.

Additionally, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, insurance premiums will decrease an average of $50 a month per person, but some people could possibly save several hundred dollars each month. The savings are available starting April 1.

President Joe Biden made the announcement yesterday on the 11th anniversary of the day former President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.

“[O]n this anniversary, we should remember just how close we have come to losing that act we so fought so hard for,” Biden said during an event in Ohio. “And we have a duty not just to protect it, but to make it better and keep becoming a nation where healthcare is a right for all and not a privilege for a few.”

People who already have insurance through an exchange can either apply the new subsidies to their existing plan to lower their monthly payments or can switch plans. Switching could allow someone to buy a plan with a much lower deductible, with the higher subsidy covering that plan’s higher premium.

To learn more: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/how-to-apply/

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/23/obamacare-enrollment-period-extended-health-insurance-subsidies/6972257002/

MUSIC MONDAY: “Everyday People” – A Sly and the Family Stone Collection (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Everyday People” – A Sly and the Family Stone Collection (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on March 22, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Sly Stone turned 78 years old on the 15th of this month. I thought it was a good time to spotlight him and The Family Stone with a playlist.

His work has had a potent effect on the course of modern music. Sly and The Family Stone served a dazzling fusion of psychedelic rock, soul, gospel, jazz, and Latin flavors.

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:340416PmTxLhvdsuO54cqQ”]

The trailblazing classic “Dance To the Music” has the distinction of being chosen for the Grammy Hall Of Fame, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock,” and Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.”

This collection gathers many of his hits including “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again)” and “Family Affair,” “Stand!,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Runnin’ Away,” “If You Want Me To Stay,” “Time For Livin’,” and more.

From Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock to the halls of Motown and George Clinton’s P-Funk, from Michael Jackson and Curtis Mayfield, down the line to Bob Marley, the Isley Brothers, Prince, Public Enemy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Eyed Peas, Beastie Boys, The Roots, OutKast and on and on, Sly’s influence can be felt throughout popular music.

This is another one that comes with Rumpshaker Warning. Have a great week.

And always, stay safe, sane, and kind.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)

National Museum of African American History and Culture Announces Children’s Booklet Series and Weekly Children’s Programs

National Museum of African American History and Culture Announces Children’s Booklet Series and Weekly Children’s Programs

By goodblacknews on March 20, 2021

Inspired by its children’s book A Is for All the Things You Are: A Joyful ABC Book, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture recently launched a new activity booklet series designed for infants, toddlers and early learners.

The Joyful ABC Activity Booklet series provides caregivers and educators with guides to support children’s positive identity development while also growing their language and literacy skills using interactive learning activities, museum objects and vocabulary based on characteristics featured in the book.

The booklet series centers Black joy in childhood as an act of resistance and strength in the face of this past year’s unprecedented challenges. It includes two editions: one for infants and toddlers (ages birth to 3) and one for early learners (ages 3 to 5). Each Joyful ABC Activity Booklet provides early childhood caregivers and educators with:

Morehouse College and Spelman College Co-Create Center for Black Entrepreneurship with $10 Million in Funding from Bank of America

Morehouse College and Spelman College Co-Create Center for Black Entrepreneurship with $10 Million in Funding from Bank of America

By goodblacknews on March 20, 2021

According to jbhe.com, the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, HBCUs Spelman College, Morehouse College and Bank of America have announced plans to develop the Center for Black Entrepreneurship, the first-ever academic center to assemble, educate, and empower a new class of Black entrepreneurial talent.

The Center for Black Entrepreneurship is powered by $10 million in funding from Bank of America and will be co-located on the Spelman and Morehouse campuses. The Center will support the development of an academic curriculum, faculty recruitment, co-curricular programming, and the development of new physical space.

Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman and part of the Black Economic Alliance said “our students will learn to build strong businesses and create wealth for their families and their communities, all while obtaining a first-rate liberal arts education. We’ll hire top-tier faculty, support our students financially, continue to grow co-curricular programs that offer real-world experience, and offer courses online for those adults who are already in the workplace.”

In addition, the CBE will allow current student-run initiatives, like Spelman’s Entrepreneurship Club and the Black Venture Capital Consortium, as well as popular programs like Spelpreneur, to create a stronger network of young leaders.

“As an alumna of Spelman College, I know firsthand the lasting and meaningful impact the institution can make on its students and surrounding community,” said Cynthia Bowman, chief diversity and inclusion and talent acquisition officer for Bank of America. “This collective partnership will work to eliminate existing barriers by providing unique opportunities to Black entrepreneurs, ultimately fueling Black innovation and economic mobility within the next generation.”

The CBE seeks to eliminate the access barriers among Black entrepreneurs, professional investors, and business builders by leveraging education, mentorship, access to capital and opportunity.

Read more: https://www.jbhe.com/2021/03/the-center-for-black-entrepreneurship-established-at-morehouse-and-spelman-colleges-in-atlanta/

https://www.spelman.edu/about-us/news-and-events/news-releases/2021/02/22/bank-of-america-supports-creation-of-new-center-for-black-entrepreneurship-at-spelman-college-and-morehouse-college

[Photo credit: spelman.edu]

California’s State Board of Education Unanimously Approves Ethnic Studies Curriculum for K-12 Schools After Years of Debate

California’s State Board of Education Unanimously Approves Ethnic Studies Curriculum for K-12 Schools After Years of Debate

By goodblacknews on March 19, 2021

California’s State Board of Education yesterday unanimously approved a model curriculum of coursework in K-12 schools to guide how the histories, struggles and contributions of Black, Asian, Latino and Native Americans — and the racism and marginalization they have experienced in the United States — will be taught to millions of students, according to latimes.com.

Across the nation, so far Oregon and Vermont are the only two states to require ethnic studies classes be taken by its students. A bill in California to make a high school ethnic studies course a graduation requirement is currently making its way through the Legislature.

To quote the latimes.com article:

Although criticism still emerged Thursday, the curriculum approval culminates two years of difficult discussions, protests and rewrites over which groups should be included and how their stories should be presented. Drafts were alternately pilloried for being left-wing propaganda or capitulating to right-wing agendas, and defended as providing an essential means for students of color to see themselves reflected in public school curriculum. It comes at a time when educators are seeking concrete lessons and strategies to address racism.

“The passion that we hear about this topic illustrates why ethnic studies is so important,” board president Linda Darling-Hammond said after nearly eight hours of presentations and discussion. “Much of it is a quest by each person or each group for a sense of belonging and acknowledgement.”

“Ethnic studies demands that we understand the forces that stand in the way of our shared humanity so that we can address them,” she said. “We need the more complete study of our history that ethnic studies provides and the attention to inequality that it stimulates.”

For now, the model curriculum serves as a guide for school districts that want the option to offer ethnic studies. But its lessons stand to become a flashpoint for debate again in the months ahead, as a bill to make a high school ethnic studies course a graduation requirement — believed to be the most far-reaching law of its kind nationally — makes its way through the Legislature.

The final vote came four years, four drafts and 100,000 public comments after state law mandated that educators create a model studies ethnic studies curriculum.

To read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-18/ethnic-studies-finally-approved-california-schools

[Photo credit: Melissa Minton via Flickr/creative commons]

Eleven Years Ago Today: Good Black News Was Founded

Eleven Years Ago Today: Good Black News Was Founded

By goodblacknews on March 18, 2021

GOOD BLACK NEWS proudly celebrates its eleventh anniversary today, March 18, 2021. GBN initially launched in 2010 as a Facebook page (read the story behind GBN’s creation here), and in 2012, we created a dedicated website, goodblacknews.org, which has allowed us to provide archives, search functions and easy access to our most popular social media to you, our readers.

The outpouring of appreciation you’ve shown us over the years via follows, likes, comments, shares, reblogs, DMs and e-mails means the world (even when we are overwhelmed and can’t respond to them all), and inspires GBN to keep working to find ways to expand, improve, and offer more content on the main page as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, RSS feed, LinkedIn and Flipboard (new)!

In the past year, we were honored to not only have GBN’s 2016 Editorial “What I Said When My White Friend Asked for My Black Opinion on White Privilege” recirculate across the internet, but also to see the May 2020 editorial, A Letter to Friends Who Really Want to End Racism, spark much-needed conversation on both topics.

Additionally, GBN was featured in the April 2020 New York Times article “The News Is Making People Anxious. You’ll Never Believe What They’re Reading Instead.” and the June 2020 Good Housekeeping piece How To Explain White Privilege to Someone Who Doesn’t Think it Exists.

In July 2020 GBN Founder and Editor-in-Chief Lori Lakin Hutcherson was interviewed about Good Black News on Barry Shore’s Joy of Living podcast and in Fall 2020 finally spoke with Jason, the high school friend whose Facebook post lead to “What I Said When My White Friend Asked for My Black Opinion on White Privilege” on the premiere episode of the Three Uncanny Four podcast Do The Work:

In 2020, Lori also started a Q&A column entitled “Dear Lori” where she responds to questions about white privilege and race she’s been asked by readers that she intends to resume shortly, because the questions just don’t stop.

And after years of promising in these anniversary posts, we finally launched the GBN newsletter via email. The intention is for it to be weekly but for myriad reasons, it hasn’t been consistent. In the coming months, we aim to make it so.

GBN is super proud to announce that in Fall 2021 Workman Publishing will be offering our first physical product: a Page-A-Day® Calendar entitled A Year of Good Black News for 2022, chock full of history, trivia and fun Black facts to enjoy every day of the year. We will offer more information on the calendar and its availability in the coming months.

Good Black News remains a labor of love for Founder/Editor-In-Chief Lori Lakin Hutcherson and co-editor Lesa Lakin, and we must gratefully acknowledge 2020’s volunteer contributors: Susan Cartsonis, Julie Adelle Bibb, Beck Carpenter, Hanelle Culpepper Meier, Jessie Davis, Dan Evans, Gina Fattore, Julie Fishman, Michael Giltz, Eric Greene, Thaddeus Grimes-Gruczka, Ashanti Hutcherson, Warren Hutcherson, Fred Johnson, Epiphany Jordan, Brenda Lakin, Joyce Lakin, Ray Lancon, Lois Leveen, John Levinson, Rob Lowry, Catherine Metcalf, Lara Olsen, Flynn Richardson, Maeve Richardson, Rosanna Rossetto and Becky Schonbrun. 

Special thanks to Zyda Culpepper Mellon for allowing GBN to share her powerful video testimony on how white friends and family can be allies, to TedX speaker and contributor Dena Crowder for creating and sharing her Power Shot video series on GBN, to incredible Tech Jedi Samer Shenouda for migrating and revamping the GBN website to make us bigger, stronger, faster, and to Jeff Meier, Teddy Tenenbaum and Marlon West for creating incredible Spotify playlists and posts covering a variety of genres, sub-genres and artists celebrating the musical diaspora, past and present. You are all deeply, greatly appreciated.

Please continue to help us spread GBN by sharing, liking, re-tweeting and commenting, and consider following GBN here on the main page, as well as wherever you are on social media.

Please also consider joining our e-mail list via our “Contact Us” tab. We will only use this list to keep you updated on GBN and send you our e-newsletter. And, of course, you may opt out at any time.

GBN believes in bringing you positive news, reviews and stories of interest about black people all over the world, and greatly value your participation in continuing to build our shared vision.

Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to providing you with more Good Black News in the coming year, and beyond!

Warmly,

The Good Black News Team

Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit Becomes New Home of Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Virtual Grand Opening on 3/22

Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit Becomes New Home of Tuskegee Airmen Museum, Virtual Grand Opening on 3/22

By goodblacknews on March 15, 2021

The Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, which honors the legacy and achievements of the nation’s first all-Black air fighter squadron, has moved to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.

Housed in the Coleman A. Young Gallery – named after Detroit’s first Black mayor who was himself a second lieutenant, bombardier and navigator in the Tuskegee Airmen.

A virtual grand opening is scheduled for March 22 – 80 years after the squadron’s activation by President Franklin Roosevelt.

“As we observe the 80th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen, we honor their courage, remember their sacrifice, and celebrate their amazing feats and contributions,” said Brian Smith, president of the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum.

The grand opening will include a ribbon-cutting, virtual tour and remarks by Airmen Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr. and Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson. The Detroit Youth Choir will perform a special rendition of the Tuskegee Airmen fight song (see below):

Stewart and Jefferson were featured in the 2019 Ford Fund documentary Our Voices: Our Stories – The Tuskegee Airmen available on YouTube. You can also watch the 2011 documentary In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen on Amazon Video.

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2021/03/13/tuskegee-airmen-wright-museum/115555474/

MUSIC MONDAY: Mulatu Astatke and the Vanguard of Ethiopian Jazz (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: Mulatu Astatke and the Vanguard of Ethiopian Jazz (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on March 15, 2021

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Mulatu Astatke was born in 1943, and is widely sighted as being the greatest innovator of Ethiopian jazz. Astatke took the fusion of traditional Ethiopian folk music and American jazz to a new level.

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:4Z7K7bGKL93XRpxM9vKLNb”]

He explained its roots to the BBC:

‘There are tribes in the south called the Derashe They are surrounded by people who play five tone music but they have created a diminished 12-tone scale. Diminished scales are very important in jazz music especially for improvising. We learn how Charlie Parker came up with diminished scales as well as Claude Debussy and Bach. But always on my mind is the question of who were first with the scale, these people or the Derashe tribe?”

By the late 1960s, he helped create a ‘golden age’ in Addis Ababa. It was in full swing in 1973 when American jazz legend, Duke Ellington, came to town and performed with with Mulatu Astatke.

Much of that thriving Ethiopian jazz scene came crashing down the following year, when a Soviet-backed military junta known as the Derg overthrew the government. It left tens of thousands dead and nearly destroyed the thriving musical community.

When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, and the Derg was subsequently overthrown, and the budding democracy quickly became a thriving home of musical creativity.

Ethiopian Jazz hit new global audiences through CD releases that included the Ethiopiques series and Rough Guide albums. Astatke’s songs fueled the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch‘s film Broken Flowers in 2005.

Samples of his were used by Nas, Damian Marley, Kanye West, Cut Chemist, Quantic, Madlib, and Oddisee.

Today, Mulatu Astatke is still active, and collaborating with a new generation of artists including The Heliocentrics and Black Jesus Experience. His most recent album was released in 2020 at age 76.

Stay stay, sane, and kind, you all.

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)

Beyoncé Breaks Record to Become Singer with Most Grammy Award Wins of all Time

Beyoncé Breaks Record to Become Singer with Most Grammy Award Wins of all Time

By goodblacknews on March 14, 2021

As she won her 28th Grammy Award for R&B performance for Black Parade, Beyoncé made history as she surpassed country-bluegrass artist Alison Krauss’ former record of 27 Grammys and became the most honored singing artist of all time.

Beyoncé has also tied legendary producer and musician Quincy Jones for second-most Grammy wins ever.

Jones, who turned 88 on Sunday, has won 28 Grammys during his career. The late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti holds the all-time record with 31 Grammy Awards.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-03-14/beyonce-breaks-record-grammys-female-artist?utm_id=25322&sfmc_id=2415824