NEW YORK — The backlash was swift for Madonna's rambling, egocentric tribute to Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards, with media and Queen-of-Soul fans wondering why she got the gig in the first place. Dressed in flowing black with grandiose flourishes of African jewelry, Madonna's send-off came before...
In Franklin’s Anthems, Women Heard an Empowering Message
NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin never saw herself as a feminist heroine. That, she quipped, was Gloria Steinem's role. But she leaves a legacy of indelible anthems that resonated deeply with women by celebrating their strength and individuality — and demanding, well, just a little respect. "I don't think I...
Cancer Claims Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, at 76
NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," ''I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, "Respect," and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn...
Teachers Deserve More Pay, Respect: Zakaria
Teachers in states across the country have walked out of classrooms in recent months to draw attention to low wages and a lack of support from lawmakers — and by extension, the voting public. In his May 18 commentary, Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria says the teaching profession has become...