Vestiges of Oppression

 

Today, I have  been moved to share a quote by one of my Seminary teachers, the late Dr. James H. Cone because there is an effluvia(heavy) if not a patina(light)--depending on how you view it-- of oppression and suppression that still permeates and is evident in our society.  Yes, in our workplaces, our houses of worship in our personal relationships and in our less intimate corporate relationships. I pray and I pray and God answers prayer either immediately or eventually. But, there is more needed. Have to give those prayers feet.

"To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it." ~ James H. Cone

Change must be on the horizon,prayed and striven for. We still need social security, ACA- Medicaid and Medicare and end to war and senseless gun violence. Keep praying,keep watching what is happening on Capitol Hill and in the highest seats of government.  I will continue to pray,ask God's direction  and ask you to do the same.

Hallelujah! Judge Orders Federal Workers Reinstatement

Happy to post and thankful to God that Federal workers on probationary status were reinstated by a Federal judge just today.

You can read more about it at the Hill a congressional publication. 

To all the attorneys who have been vigorously fighting for justice in the legal system and to those supporters of fairness, constitutional rights and the just enforcement of the rule of law who have also been praying this is good news.

Lifting up an archived podcast episode on intercessory prayer that I  recorded several years ago, and it is still relevant for praying today. Listen to the episode at this link:

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/glory-of-god-manifest-through-intercessory-prayer-special-episode-14--41650279

 I have been praying  this prayer, and modified versions of it to fit particular circumstances for years.  I know many of you faithful prayer warriors out there have been doing the same.

God continue to bless you and yours. Keep hope alive and the prayer wheel turning for our leaders,including our president, our congressional leaders, our courts and our federal workers. God continue to bless and guide you in all of your endeavors.

Prayerfully,

Cynthia Wilson

 

Cynthia Wilson Updated Contact Information (Updated 3.30.24)&(2.9.25,2.11.25 & 2.12.25)

Email- creativessel@gmail.com

From the Photo Archives-

Cynthia Wilson at left pictured in pink Martha’s Vineyard cap sporting VIP Media Access lanyard in the audience. She chose to view concert from the audience with other fans at special benefit music concert to support and heal traumatized Virginia Tech community as they re-start the Fall school term. Circa September 2007. More about that concert at this  link.

Dear Blog Readers:

Thank you so kindly for making this blog a success. I appreciate your readership of this blog over the past 16 years and both the Heavier Octaves High Notes E-Zine and Heavier Octaves.Org blogs for 21 years. In addition to providing a well of past coverage and reviews of benefit concerts and humantarian projects of musicians for music fans and the general public over certain years, they are also good sources for research and education now that are planned to be located soon, barring any unforseen delays at the Internet Archive. I also hope to have some of the missing links to articles and other related reference media including videos and photos restored.

However, I will still be posting to this blog “Cynthia D. Wilson Speaks and Writes” occasionally.

In the past invitations have been extended for you to subscribe and also to contribute to this blog. Requests for prayer are always welcome. I only ask that you email them at the email address provided.

I am requesting that you leave your email address and other valid contact info so I can follow up with you if you would like to blog as a guest blogger or participate in a future podcast episode.  In the past I have also made an effort to attend concerts and reach out that way. You can contact me via my webpage at http://Aboutme.thecynthiawilson.com.

Updates will also be provided via You Tube, IG( when I get it re-published) and Twitter/X @speakingcynthia or Threads. But contact me first to arrange agreements so I will be clear that we are on the same page.  Please contact me by email if you would like to contribute. 

You can also send messages via my website on the social media links provided on that web page as well.

Past cultural/non-religious podcast episodes containing reviews of concerts, movies and political commentary will be made available periodically for download on my website, in a book or at the Internet Archive (working on it).  (Edited 3.30.24)(Most recent edits 2.9.25, 2.11.25 and 2.12.25.)

Listen to Cynthia D. Wilson Speaks podcast archives at the following link:

https://www.spreaker.com/show/cynthia-wilson-speaks-out

Creativessel@gmail.com has been my email for nearly 20 years. So, that's a stable one to use. I’m making an effort to consolidate and keep things very clear and straight forward amidst significant communication challenges I have experienced over the years.

Peace and blessings,

Cynthia Wilson

Founder, Principal Writer & Editor (since 2007).

Grammy Elegance: Beyonce, Alicia,Doechii, Roan et Al

 

Alicia Keys Global Impact Award Acceptance Speech

Beyonce Wins Album of the Year Award 

The Grammy Awards show last night, I would describe as pure elegance from the set,stage decor,the performances and of course the acceptance speeches, of which the most vibrant were Beyonce, Keys,Doechii and Roan. Trevor Noah excelled again as host.
It was good and was glad to see Beyonce I
(and vicariously hubby Jay-Z) finally get that album of the year award even though Beyonce has won the most Grammys than any other artist ever with 27 wins before she won the coveted Album of the Year Award and a few others last night. Now with a total of 35.Kudos to her and the graceful manner in which she and daughter Blue lvy accompanying her on stage,accepted the long overdue bonus. I say bonus because her range and excellence in the pop music field had been proven time and time again
by her numerous Grammy wins in the past. And, quite frankly it was a shrewd move to go country.

 If Swift could cross over from country to pop and skyrocket up the charts why not Beyonce switching over from pop to country. It definitely paid off in more ways than one. Shaboozey, Lil Nas, Darius Rucker deserve their cross over propers as well and Mickey Guyton for paving the way as well in country genre are all blacks in country. Beyonce did Charlie Pride and many more little known Black country artists proud while elevating the genre in the black community and globally. While showing her country roots Texas style. Savvy move. 

Alicia Keys was simply stunning from her approach to the stage accompanied by one of her children to the dynamic way in which she lauded the artists community for how they were coming together to support one another inserting a well timed reminder in light of recent events by the current administration. She mentioned and I am paraphrasing, about how diversity is a gift and not something to be discarded or frowned upon. It should be welcomed and nurtured.How she reached out to the community of female musicians and opened up doors with. She is in the Music, helped children in Africa with Keep A Child Alive and other programs she initiated and developed over the years. Queen Latifah's introduction of Alicia was beautiful. She lifted her up as a good friend who is always there when you call on her. The camera zoomed in on Alicia returning a warm and appreciative smile for the props.Alicia not only received the Dr. DRE Global Impact Award,but she also received a Grammy for her Broadway bioplay Hell's Kitchen.

I especially resonated with Roans speech and how she in a soft spoken manner. Her slogan,sure to become a popular adage among artists was "labels we got you, but do you have us"?  Well done Roan in an unassuming,yet forcefully gentle way.
She spoke out about the need for health coverage and other financial benefits that often go missing from artists compensation in a multi million dollar industry. Right on Roan!

Link to my podcast episode here for more commentary on the show.

Special Prayers for Fire Aid and the Victims and Survivors of the Fires

  I am praying mightily for the safety and well-being of every musician, every first res p onder  every fireman  every public safety officer,every volunteer, every worker, every organizer,every logistics personnel, every security person and every concert attendee this evening  who will be there in person at both  venues this evening  for this beautiful humanitarian act of outreach to restore the Los Angeles families and first responders who lost and gave so much in the recent fire disasters.

 

 

I regret that due to health challenges I can't be there in person to cover by live blogging, podcast and participate in this music benefit as I have in the past at other benefit concerts like Live Aid, Virginia Tech, Tsunami Aid, etc., to comfort with music, to raise awareness, to raise funds, to educate and to uplift and encourage communities that have been devastated by unexpected events such as the wild fires in L.A.

I will be watching the live stream.

God bless you and keep you safe from all hurt, harm and danger as you lift your voices to help your neighbors in need.

Peace,

Cynthia Wilson