Cynthia Wilson, affectionately dubbed “Chaplain of Pop” has built a bridge between theology and popular culture as a blogger for twenty years providing commentary on faith,art, politics and music. Listen to her podcast by clicking the web version link at the bottom of this blog and at the top of the web version after the jump.
Saturday evening marked the third night of the city of Detroit's 19th Annual Diversity Festival, the multicultural and multi-genre Concert of Colors. Don Was' Detroit All-Star Revue concert venue was abuzz with performances from a variety of Detroit legends including Martha Reeves,Mitch Ryder, Melvin Davis and United Sound,Ivan Kral,Carolyn Striho, Black Irish,Jim McCarty and jazz musician Wendell Harrison.
Most of them have been around for many years rocking the house down and waving various genres of the rock and roll flag. They all showed the packed house what they had, some even shook what their momma gave them while exhibiting what has made many of them household names locally as well as recipients of international acclaim. Don Was with a Detroit cool and subtle panache wizzed his way around stage flipping hats between Masters of Ceremonies,guitar and bass acompaniment throughout most of the performances. Was is a producer and has been in the studio with multiple Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, Rolling Stone guitar god John Mayer, working on his upcoming release "Born and Raised" which is scheduled for an October release. While Was' presence on stage was subtle, there was no mistaking his maestro regard and respect among the artists who were a part of his revue.
The stage was lit up for almost two hours with jazz,blues,rock,soul,funk and rock and roll with what sounded like a little folksy polka during the Striho set. Motown legend Martha Reeves with back up singers and dance routines in tow, rocked the house with an energetic performance of Dancing in the Streets. Her performance started out with great energy which had the audience dancing in the aisles and up front near the stage throughout her set. She was backed by two family members who were as energetic and full of enthusiasm as she. A celebration of her 70th birthday that night involved everyone in the house and a multi-layered cake was rolled out on stage along with directives to the audience to sing Happy Birthday. She thanked Don Was for inviting her, gave him a warm hug and appeared genuinely happy to be a part of the show.
Other show highlights included the performance by the legendary Mitch Ryder leader of the Detroit Wheels back up band. Mitch was joined by Detroit Wheel Jimmy McCarty who had earlier in the concert performed a stellar blues guitar on "Got to Help Me" which received a standing ovation from the audience. Ivan Kral performed a song which he said he had to have someone special to write the lyrics. He revealed that someone as Patti Smith in homage to the famous singer songwriter as he segued into a performance of the song.
Melvin Davis backed up by his band United Sound gave an electrifyingly soulful performnce and Black Irish a rock band nearly blew the roof off the Max Fisher Center with some rousing rock guitar. When the concert drew to a close, one of the show's organizers who came from the backstage area to celebrate Martha Reeves' birthday made a point of making closing remarks to the audience which reminded me somewhat of the benediction of preacher gives the congregation at the close of a Sunday morning worship service. He expressed thoughts of togetherness and harmony as he sealed the close of the concert with " remember we are all in this together." It was a "Concert of Colors" to remember.
When I read the news yesterday about how Serena had been relegated to Court Two (2) I was baffled. The inferences being drawn and the questions it has stirred concerning racism and sexism at Wimbledon has sparked a lively interest in the goings on in that rather prestigious competition. I thought I was reading perhaps a very dated article from a very old publication There must have been some time warp that had taken place in the media and real time. I obviously had not gotten the full scoop or had read the print clearly. After all this is the 21st century and we are definitely not in the 50's or 60's when racism frequently reared its ugly head. Selena and Venus were not even born then. And, of course Europe was usually a safe haven, a destination of escape from the limitations of race politics, particularly for black entertainers and athletes of renown.
Sometimes blatant and frequently subtle, psychological assaults laced with innuendoes of inferiority were standard fare for black people in America. Whether they lived South under the constant restrictions of Jim Crow laws which created separate areas for blacks whether at "colored only"drinking fountains, restaurants and bus passenger sections or up North, where blacks were contained by urban blight and underemployment. Northerners were just a smidgen more sophisticated, sort of like the Brits were at Wimbledon about how they ,whether on purpose or by accident, meted out the subtle doses of superiority. Call it a 'supremacy cocktail' served with a twist.
The message--resolve to dominate at all costs regardless of expense, hurt or slight to others. No. It could not possibly be racism. There's no such thing.
In today's world what was done to Serena would be almost laughable, if it weren't so demeaning... deriding one of the most accomplished women in tennis history with that kind of slight. In modern parlance Serena was"dissed" by Wimbledon officials--those who are responsible for doing the "behind the scenes logistics". A white counterpart with no winnings or championship status on a par with she and her sister Venus was assigned to play in center court before the Queen of England. That's right... center court while an icon of the game was discreetly set to the side effectively cut off from the opportunity and obscured from the honor. She was placed in an off center area restricted from center court view and yes, maybe even 'Royal' juice.
The timing for this slight could not have been better. Serena unlikely as she currently is to make a big stink about it, certainly out of respect for the Queen. And, after a bout with a physical illness, she recently gave a testimony, eyes filled with tears, about how overjoyed she was to be healthy enough to return to the game. Then there was the media play up of disgruntled remarks she made last year in response to a referee's call resulting in very bad press...
With all due respect for the Queen who undoubtedly had nothing to do with the placement, and those at Wimbledon, who seemed sympathetic, the situation still bears correcting. While Serena may not demand it, those who love the game and all that she has contributed should be concerned. Yes. She is rich and has won numerous Tennis championships,including four (4) Wimbledons singles titles. So, what's the big deal? Well, speaking up is a start in preventing wrong signals from being perpetuated in the future either inadvertently or intentionally by future 'court assignment engineers' and will contribute to the healing process. She must have had her feelings hurt if nothing else by this incident. A show of support by making caring comments of concern should boost her morale. If the Court 2 assignment was indeed made based on the fact that she was black then that only compounded the injury.
Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; for by wise guidance you can wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory." Proverbs 24:5-6
It is an established truth that the pen is mightier than the sword. Ask the authors of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution-if you could go back in time- and the average U.S. citizen who writes letters,makes regular comments or undertakes an email campaign to make their opinions known and counted by our government of the people,by the people and for the people. It is also true that the faithful who walk and not faint as they face the trials of life will have their strength renewed if they wait on god. The word says that no weapon formed against you will prosper. To borrow a line from Fred Hammond's gospel song "It won't work." Of course, those who have seen how real weapons work in real war may consider these statements and beliefs out of touch with the reality of actual war.
With these precepts in mind as you journey through life and each day facing enemies seen and unseen in the battles of good versus evil,right against wrong and doubt versus belief, "take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." Ephesians 6:10-18
I found these scriptures very instructive and a source of strength.
I hope they will be the same for you. We all face daily challenges with unseen enemies and wage the war of keeping faith in the face of reality every day. Some enemies are very real. Some are in the spirit. Some are in the mind. Some are imaginary. Pray that god will equip you with the courage and strength to stand when you need to and to say what you need to say. And if need be, to write what you should write even when you are not sure who the letter or correspondence should be addressed to.
Above art print "Moon Lady:Warrior Queen" copyright 2011. Cynthia Wilson, the Chaplain of Pop. All rights reserved.
Oprah's parting words on today's farewell show was not a goodbye,because she did not want to use that term. Instead she told her studio audience and millions of viewers worlwide, "Until we meet again. To god be the glory." Oprah has been a tremendous inspiration to me over the years and I join with millions of friends and viewers to the show in wishing her well. Oprah's humble manner and graciousness won me over as a fan and admirer from the beginning. I have been a loyal viewer for years.
The farewell season has been phenomenal. The United Center Spectacular was riveting. But,this show today was my favorite one of all. Why? Because Oprah in the way that only she could, came full circle and stressed the importance of her viewing audience, proof positive of the magical connection she has with everyday people.On the show,Oprah has no guests onstage. There is no fanfare and she says there will be no makeovers,no cars She stands regally, yet humbly before her guests with the presence of a spiritual leader or Guru as she reminesces in her "love letter" to us about how she got her start , humble beginnings in a rural Mississippi town , video clips of her first television show and other memorable show segments. There was no studio audience at her first show taping years ago. The studio she mentioned had no heat, only her and a couple guests in the throes of cooking chili. At this stage in her career, and in view of the luminaries and celebrities she has interviewed and the vasteness of her current audience, it is difficult to imagine that she was in a television broadcast studio with no people to bounce her interviews or shows topics off of.
She makes a point to today's audience that they have been as important to the shows success as she and her team and segues into the importance of "calling" and says that the "Oprah Show" and what she does is her calling. It is her passion. She emphasizes her wish that everyone of her viewers find their calling. She feels this is one of the true keys to success.
Segments of the show that stood out to me and which Oprah highlighted as some of the best moments were the ones in which friend and producer Tyler Perry revealed he was a victim of sexual abuse. This was the show where a large audience of men were liberated from the emotional trauma as well. It is a subject Oprah has discussed intimately in sharing her personal stories over the years with viewers in what has been a very illustrious journey.
The most memorable highlights of the show for me were:
• Her sharings about "calling" and passion
• The video clip of Iyanla Vanzant and how she transformed that into a powerful lesson about validation.
Oprah sealed it with the statement that we should always take the time to validate others.
• The heart and we should be of service and let our light shine
• the show clip on sexual abuse and Tyler Perry's revelation
• when Oprah imparts line from Color Purple "Everything Done to Me, Already Done to You", urging those in abusive relationships to leave them. The scene in the movie also prompted a lesson in what comes around goes around.
The statement she made about the importance of children and wanting to prevent sexual abuse and molestation to them.
The farewell spectacular at Chicago's United Center was the party that will never be forgotten with Oprah breaking down in tears as 300 men from Morehouse college walked down the isles with candles as an expression of appreciation for help she has given by way of scholarships to them to pursue their education. Celebrity after celebrity paraded on stage with phenomenal performances accompanied with creative and power packed accolades.
Twenty thousand fans filled the United Center to celebrate her generosity,humanitarian stands and her involvement in matters that have touched their lives including mega stars Aretha Franklin,Stevie Wonder,Alicia Keys,Beyonce,Usher,Madonna, Patti LaBelle, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning,Diane Sawyer,Josh Groban,Rascal Flatts, Rosie O'Donnell,Tom Hanks,Tyler Perry,Tom Cruise,Dr. Oz,Dr. Phil,Nate Burkus and ordinary viewers. Close friend Gayle King and partner Stedman Graham. Regular people traveled from all over the country to express their appreciation,support, and some, even sadness about the void they anticipate will be left on the tube in their living rooms during the time her broadcast usually fills for the first time in 25 years.
No matter what the controversy, the need to be met after a disaster, individual, family or community tragedy Oprah has always been a comforting presence. Two of my most poignant memories of her care and humanitarian range was the handling of the New Orleans Metro Dome disaster after Hurricane Katrina and her involvement in Barack Obama's Presidential campaign. She was there on the scene early to find out just what was going on and doing all she could, lending her influence in correcting the situation while making sure the news got out to the world. The second is the role she played in the election of President Barack Obama.
The courage to stand up for a presidential candidate in light of the risks and backlash she received was profound. Many have credited her with playing an instrumental role in the election of this nation's first Black President, Barack Obama. She while playing the feat down and being extremely modest about it--it wouldn't have been Oprah-ish to laud those laurels--will undoubtedly go down in history as achieving that whether it be an oral one in the griot tradition or substantiated on the books. I have also enjoyed blogging about several of her show episodes involving major celebrities and their involvement in humanitarian projects, which she has also embraced on her program including Alicia Keys, Bono, John Mayer and others. I enjoyed attending an Oprah taping at the Fox Theater in Detroit years ago and it was a singular experience. She was gracious and very down to earth. People,mostly women stood around the block waiting for hours to get a good seat in the audience.
Her "Oprah" show will be missed, but I feel that she is going on to broader purpose and influence on the OWN Network which has gotten off to a tremendous start with insightful, self help and life improving programming. I hope she can continue with her book club somehow as well as some spin off of "Oprah's Favorite Things" with an expansion into favorite causes and programs. Perhaps I've just summed up OWN?
I also fervently hope that I will have the opportunity to meet and work with her one day. I've been blessed with meeting many celebrities over the years,but only an audience encounter with Oprah. And,while you gave viewers and those wanting to get in contact with you your personal email address with an open invitation to send one, I can't help but think of the millions and millions of emails that will come flooding in. How will you possibly be able to answer them all? Well,I suppose in the same manner as you answered so many dreams,letters and emails of those who faithfully wrote you during your 25 years on television.By the grace of god,you answered so many.
For every tree is known by his own fruit.-Luke 6:44. I think we can all agree that Oprah has been a bearer of exceptionally good fruit.
Japan indeed is a wealthy country and the yen has amazingly soared after the worst natural disaster in its history. However, Japan is still very much in need of support in moral,spiritual and financial form. It was reported recently that fundraising for this disaster has lagged behind the last two disasters,including Haiti, Katrina and the Tsunami which all but demolished areas of Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Efforts are underway to raise funds and people from ordinary citizens doing art fundraisers to our national government sending in troops and supplies are all pitching in to save Japan. Please do what you can whether it be one dollar or a million dollars. The important thing is to give from your heart sincerely and with love.
