Remembering Aretha Franklin

This month, the world lost a legendary voice known as the Queen of Soul -- Aretha Franklin. 

A symbol of Black pride to many, Franklin's songs such as "RESPECT," "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman," and "Think" became anthems reflecting the growing militancy of African Americans in challenging  racial oppression  in the late-60s and early-70s. 

Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and has the largest number of Top 40 singles of any female performer. She was the youngest recipient of the John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 1994, the first Black entertainer to grace to cover of TIME magazine in 1968 and  the recipient of 17 Grammy awards. More than just a singer, Aretha Franklin will always have a place in our hearts and souls as a prime example of an individual who was able to use her celebrity for the good of all people. She offered a realness by projecting blackness to the world in all of its nuanced beauty by being assertive, strong and never letting anyone make her feel less of herself. 

Sweet Blackberry would like to extend its condolences to the family and friends of Aretha Franklin. May we all grace through life with the strength and passion she showed us all. 

Respect - Aretha Franklin

The Flint Water Crisis Continues 

The Flint Water Crisis began four years ago when the drinking water source for the city of Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the cheaper Flint River. 

Due to insufficient water treatment, lead leached from lead water piped into the drinking water exposing over 100,000 residents. The water is dangerous to drink. Supported by scientific studies and declared a federal state of emergency in 2016, Flint residents were instructed to only use bottled or filtered water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. While work has been done, 6,000 - 12,000 children have been exposed to lead and water quality will not return to acceptable levels until all of the lead pipes have been replaced (expected 2020). 

If you have been following this crisis, you may have noticed 10 year old Mari Copeny (Little Miss Flint) has been using her voice to raise attention to Flint's crisis as well as gather donated water to provide to Flint's citizens. 

If you are interested in supporting this cause, check out Mari's latest GoFundMe to offer free bottled water to Flint residents after Michigan Governor Rick Snyder ended the city's free water program. 

The Atlantic - What Does It Mean to 'Sound' Black?

NPR - FACT CHECK: White House Apologizes For False Claim About African-American Jobs

EBONY - For the First Time, Black Women Will Run Four Schools at Harvard University

CNN - How Aretha Franklin blew open the doors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for Black women 

The Atlantic - The Democratic Party Apologizes to Black Voters 

Earlier this month our founder Karyn Parsons announced that she has a brand new project underway. 

In Spring 2019 Karyn is expected to release  "How High Is The Moon," her debut novel set in the Jim Crow south. 

Check out this Karyn's recent interview with ESSENCE Magazine discussing her novel and her work with Sweet Blackberry. 

Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? 

These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people's lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more - inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter.

Find the book on Amazon Smile, here.