Black History Month Celebration Day 9- Mother Rosa Parks

 

Today’s blog update includes a video podcast episode below.

Today’s Black History Month Celebration honors memories of Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks whose birthday was recently celebrated. Detroit Pistons honored her by partnering with the Rosa Parks Estate to provide free bus transportation to Detroiters on February 4 and February 7. They also provided free jackets to Detroit’s transportation department.

I am sharing with you both a collage of selected photos as well as single photographs from my archive database that I snapped or that were taken with my camera at several community events, including Living Stones/Imani Day programs held at Calvary Baptist church and Ms. Park’s 100th birthday celebration and postage stamp unveiling held at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History. 

 Many of us in the community have had the opportunity to participate in events and activities involving Mother Parks over the years because of her commitment to reaching out to churches, schools and neighborhood organizations through the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self- Development’s Pathways to Freedom Program, Imani Day Interfaith celebrations and the Parks Legacy Program. I am blessed and consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to not only interact with Mrs. Parks, but also to have Co-Chaired both the Imani Day and Living Stone events held at Calvary Baptist church in her honor when I served as an Assistant Minister there.

Thanks to all who contributed in their own way to the historic significance of all programs. A special thanks to Michael Joseph (not pictured)who served as videographer of all of Calvary’s Imani Day and Living Stones programs circa 1995-2000.

All photos are captioned.

Blessings,

Cynthia Wilson

Praying for Oxford’s Healing and Manifestation of God’s Mighty Good

 

“Mighty Good” (see link below)

https://cynthiadwilson2.blogspot.com/2018/03/mighty-good.html

“Unarmed—Aim for Love”  Illustration by ASM Art Media &Graphics

In light of recent events-the school shooting in Oxford, Michigan which left 4 dead and 11 injured,  let us keep the community especially the families of those students and others whose lives were taken by yet another senseless act of gun violence supported with our care and compassion.  Let us keep that community, our nation and other countries that are besieged by gun violence and inadequate gun safety laws, saturated in prayer and constructive follow up actions, giving our individual and corporate prayers feet as we aim to obtain social justice. Above is a link to an inspirational message I gave three years ago as a blog post. 

I offer it up today as a prayer, a message of hope and encouragement. God bless you. You can listen to it now as a podcast episode. Video forthcoming.

Blessings,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Speak Hallelujah (original podcast broadcast January 21, 2021)

 “Good morning, and praise the Lord. This is Reverend Cynthia Wilson, and welcome to my podcast this morning. Today is a day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today is Thursday, January 21st, the day after Inauguration Day, where the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, was sworn in, took the oath of office yesterday, and it was a very peaceful, very orderly program. The Capitol building where the platform for inauguration was constructed, and where everyone sat was well lit, and the weather was really nice.

And the performances from Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks and Lady Gaga, and our youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, it was all very delightful and elegant. And the music was uplifting in a very comforting and soothing way. And God was definitely in the presence, was definitely there yesterday.

And thank God for a peaceful and nonviolent program, which was beautifully presented. Today is Speak Hallelujah. That's the message for today.

And there's a song that I wrote, which we will begin with, called I Speak Hallelujah.

I shout out praise. I trust in Jesus.

I shout out praise. I trust in Jesus, never leaning on my own ways…

From Cynthia D. Wilson Speaks (EPS.20-32): Speak Hallelujah! Episode 28, Jan 21, 2021

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cynthia-d-wilson-speaks-eps-20-32/id1552817878?i=1000508264621&r=2

This material may be protected by copyright.

ACA Survives Third Major Supreme Court Hurdle

 Recent ruling by the Supreme Court rescued President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare legislation, the Affordable Care Act a viable health insurance coverage plan for millions  of Americans from another attempt by Republican factions to defeat it. From the looks of this outcome the ACA appears to be on a secure path to providing affordable coverage for those who need it most.

Links to other articles on the ACA:

Alicia Keys Gets Exquisite Introduction at Sunday's Billboard Awards by Former First Lady Michelle Obama

 Alicia Keys is certainly one of my music favorites. I have always enjoyed covering her concert appearances and her caring humanitarian projects such as " Keep A Child Alive", a program she implemented to provide needed medicines to children suffering from AIDS in Africa. She appeared with Bono on a special episode of Oprah to promote the AIDS program and to promote a song she recorded with Bono to encourage Africa.

She performed a medley of some of the songs that made her a pop music icon in the soul and rhythm and blues genres. Michelle Obama proclaimed Alicia a "shining light and singular force" for her contributions  and mentioned how the music icon's song "Fallin'"  from her Grammy award winning debut album "Song's in A Minor" had such a profound impact on her musically, inspiring her as a young woman. Paraphrasing Obama, she said listening to that song made her feel like she was at church and the symphony all at the same time. 

Alicia entered Billboard center stage dressed to the nines. She was adorned in a fabulous sky blue tie dyed-ish pantsuit that fitted the occasion and Alicia like a glove. It was topped off by a stunning hat that accentuated  her beautiful facial bone structure. 

Alicia yours was certainly a key performance of the evening and you remain a Creativessel Inspiration for sure. All the best in your music career, Key's Soul Care venture and your role as nurturing mother to your incredible sons. Be sure to tune into my podcast at the link provided in the blog header above

 for additional highlights of the Billboard Awards and inspirational messages, reviews and updates.

To view the video so graciously provided by Access please click on this link or click on the Web Version link located in the bottom column of this blog.

Blessings,

Cynthia Wilson