Saturday 1 September 2018

Aretha Franklin Respect



https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/08/14/how-aretha-franklins-respect-became-an-anthem-for-civil-rights-and-feminism/?utm_term=.c1c3abd32b3b

Aretha Franklin is known as the Queen of Soul; she was a singer born in Memphis, America in 1942 who died on August 16th 2018. One of Aretha's most famous songs is called "Respect" and she recorded it in 1967 at the height of the civil rights movement in America. The song became an anthem for civil rights, race equality and gender equality.

Aretha sings: "R E S P E C T, find out what it means to me". The song was No1 in America for 12 weeks. At the time in America black people did not have equality; only ten years previously America was segregated meaning black and white people were not allowed to mix and in many places this continued. Aretha's Dad was a preacher and was famous for the line; "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud!".Aretha's song "Respect" became an anthem for human rights across the world.

In the 1960s Aretha Franklin went on tour with Martin Luther King, singing at his rallies as he called for non-violence in the civil rights movement. She also sang at Martin Luther King's funeral in 1968. Aretha's funeral on August 31st was attended by ex-presidents, artists and over 1000 members of the public; it was televised across America and the world.

Aretha Franklin said, "We all want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right."

Play Respect as children come in to the assembly

What do you see in the photo?
Who is it?
What do we know about this person by looking at the photo?

explain the picture

- Why do you think Respect became such a famous song?
- What do you think Aretha learned from her Dad?
- Why is Aretha's Dad saying he's proud to be black?
- Is the song only about Respect for black people?
- Why does Aretha say man or woman as well as black or white? Who else could she include if she said that today?
- Aretha says respect is a basic human right; what does she mean?
- What law in Britain talks about equality? Who is the law for? Who is included?
- What can we learn from Aretha Franklin?
- Why is this song and story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat

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