“Heck no!” Gospel singer Mavis Staples says she would not accept acknowledgement of a lifetime achievement award from soon to be President Trump.
Well, of course that would be her right. The Kennedy Center, whose purpose is to honor and pay tribute to artists who are being singled out for their lifetime of demonstrating exemplary production and excellence in their craft has Ms. Staples on its list this year. Staples’ flippant attitude causes me to wonder about the sincerity of the message behind her songs. It seems to me there is a disconnect there.
Gospel is a humble message and one of grace, praise and inspiration purported to lift people up, give hope and teach a positive message. Her outright rejection of the idea of accepting praise at the hand of Donald Trump is hypocritical. As a memorable figure during the Civil Rights movement for which she was a spiritual and musical voice she is now, with what is a graceless response toward a fellow human being, standing for less than dignity.
Ms. Staples had a No. 2 hit song “Who Took the Merry out of Christmas?” Sounds to me as though she has and is the one spreading or at least exemplifying a posture of rejection. I believe she should, in the words of one of her recent albums “Have a Little Faith” and while she’s at it put civility back in civil.
Carey Sorensen
Marysville
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