Inez Andrews

Inez Andrews, legendary gospel singer, died recently at the age of 83. Along with her group, The Caravans, she was part of the golden age of gospel in the late 1950’s and early ‘60s. Not only a singer, she was also a preacher and an actress. Over 300 people attended her funeral, and her send-off was a meeting of gospel legends. Yolanda Adams brought the crowd to their feet when she sang “The Battle is Not Yours”. Andrews’ son, Richard Gibbs, played keyboard during “Wind Beneath My Wings”. He carried on her music legend as the pianist for Aretha Franklin. Andrews will certainly be missed; she leaves impossible shoes to fill.

Worship Soul

Anita Wilson’s album, “Worship Soul” has been named among Ben Ratliff’s New York Times Top 10 Albums of 2012. The 11-song compilation also gained nominations for a Grammy Award and three Stellar Awards. Wilson commented, “I am incredibly grateful that my debut project Worship Soul, has been nominated for a Grammy. How humbling to even be considered among such amazing artists who consistently inspire me. All glory to God!”

Going Gospel?

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss has announced that she is planning to join up with Marvin Sapp for a new gospel single called “Prayed Up”. But many in gospel community say they’re fed up, and some aren’t so excited to have Kandi blasting from their radios anytime soon. Some think she’s only in it for the money, and her image thus far hasn’t been one of the devoted church goer. If her new hit is a great listen, will the gospel community want to tune in?

P-Man Music

Earnest Pugh is broadening his horizons by starting his own record label, P-Man Music. He is partnering up with Vicki Mack-Lataillade, who has worked with names like Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, and more. P-Man Music’s first CD is scheduled to release around July of this year. Pugh’s EPM Music Group will still continue to turn out hits, and they

have at least four albums scheduled to release in the upcoming year.

Honor & Discussion: Jesse Jackson honors those who have furthered civil rights

Jesse Jackson’s Wall Street Project Economic Summit is a platform to honor those who have furthered civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunities. The summit this year is no exception, and the three main honorees have certainly earned their places. In an event attended by former president Bill Clinton, Jamie Foxx, Dionne Warwick, and featuring a performance by Mary Mary and the cast of “Motown: The Musical,” it was as star-studded as it was impactful.

The three honorees for this occasion were attorney Willie Gary, music legend Berry Gordy, and former New York Governor David Paterson. Rev. Jesse Jackson stated “We are proud to present our honorees this year as they have set the foundation and raised the bar for our economic success. This year, we are expanding the opportunity for access to capital, industry and technology. As we reach the pinnacle of political achievement, we realize that we still have a great deal to accomplish. The Summit will assist us in those efforts by providing participants with information and the resources needed to restore confidence and financial stability.”

Attorney Willie Gary is a notable figure in law, winning over 150 multi-million dollar lawsuits. He is also a motivational speaker and cable executive, and has went up against big names like Disneyland and Anheuser-Busch. Governor Paterson was the youngest state senator in New York history, and the first African-American governor of New York.

Berry Gordy is the founder of Motown Records. His company was founded in Detroit, and propelled such names as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Tempatations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, and more to stardom. The cast of “Motown: The Musical” performance will also be a testament to the vision of Gordy, as he wrote the book for the Broadway show.

Not only will the event honor those who have made an impact, it also seeks to make an impact in its own right. Titled “Wall Street to Main Street: Economic Parity – The Struggle Continues…”, the summit is a platform for economic leaders to come together and address the issues of the day. This year the three-day event included Wall Street Project Career Symposium, Raising Our Voices on Advertising in The Marketplace, Parity in Public Procurement Opportunities, Strength Through Diversity, and The Business of Hip-Hop.

Addressing the high unemployment rate, especially in the black community, the high rate of foreclosure and high healthcare costs, Reverend Jackson condemned some of the actions thus far of President Obama. He stressed that too little has been done to increase economic standing for black Americans. Jackson said that “painfully little has changed,” and he called for action that would stop giving all the power to big companies and start helping out those individuals who are struggling to make it. Mark Morial, president of the National Urban League also announced plans for millions of jobs.

Appeal Denied

Robert Sherman, an atheist, sued the state of Illinois in protest of a grant they issued for a $20,000 renovation of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, an 11-story tall cross. He began the suit in 2010, claiming that the grant advanced a particular religion. The lower courts ruled that he didn’t have the standing to sue the state. He responded, “The court’s refusal to take my case means that any legislative (body), whether it be Congress, a state legislature or a municipal board, can make blatantly unconstitutional grants to advance religion simply by naming an executive branch agency as a middleman in the transaction.”

March for Life

March for Life took place at the National Mall where thousands showed up to protest on the 40-year anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, where women were given the right to abort babies during the first trimester of pregnancy. The event was attended by many in the younger generation, some even coming on high school trips. The day was marked as well by freezing temperatures, but protesters didn’t let that discourage them from their cause. Some who have even had abortions in the past came to tell their story of pain and regret.

Charges Dropped

The gospel community was astounded when Creflo Dollar was charged with assault against his 15-year-old daughter. Now, the charges have been dropped against him. However, he was ordered to pay $1,072 in court costs and required to attend an anger management class. He still denies the allegations that he abused his daughter in any way.

Animal Rights

DeWayne Woods is an award-winning gospel singer, but he has another cause very close to his heart. DeWayne has dogs that he treats as a part of his own family, and he is encouraging everyone else to do the same. Speaking out against dogs being kept outside in the elements, DeWayne teamed up with PETA to spread the word that animals are not inferior, but instead should be treated with love and respect. He is speaking out for those who can’t speak for themselves. You can see a video message from DeWayne on YouTube about this cause. We will hopefully be seeing more about this inspiring message in the future.

Cornbread with a Kick

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 (10 ounce) package chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 (8.5 ounce) package self rising cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease an 11×7 inch baking pan.

In a large mixing bowl, combine cornmeal mix and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, cottage cheese, onion and butter. Stir the egg and cheese mixture into the flour mixture. Fold in the broccoli. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick
inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean.