this day in women's history | day 3

1987: Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

On January 3, 1987, singer Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall inducted its very first members -- all men -- just one year prior, in 1986, and critics quickly commented on the lack of female representation. Although many were pleased with the Hall's choice to include a woman in its second class, gender [in]equality has continued to plague the organization. In over three decades, only around three dozen female performers or bands -- just over 10 percent of all honorees -- have been inducted into the Hall, with no behind-the-scenes individuals, such as managers or producers. Aside from her groundbreaking induction, Franklin -- also known as the Queen of Soul -- had an astonishing career spanning over five decades. She was nominated for forty-four Grammy awards, including eighteen wins. A self-taught pianist, she also performed at the inauguration of three U.S. presidents. Franklin passed away on August 16, 2018, at the age of seventy-six.

R - E - S - P - E - C - T !!!!! Go, Aretha Franklin!

Not only is she the first woman to be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but she is also a woman of color!!! This is not only a win for women artists but a huge win for black musicians. The beauty and burden of intersectional identities is this: the ability to represent multiple, underrepresented demographics.

And, guess what. She was just 25 years old when she got inducted into the Hall. So, that's a win for yet another demographic: young musicians.

Franklin's most famous and renowned song, "Respect", is often referred to as the anthem for female empowerment, but it also became an empowering song for the black American community. Like with what I wrote about Oprah Winfrey, I can't imagine how incredible it would be to have witnessed the revolutionary rise and acknowledgment of a young, female, black singer, who came to be known as the "Queen of Soul." I get shivers down my back thinking about it. And to think that someone of that intersectional identity could be a role model for not only her direct community but also for anyone who is familiar with being treated with anything less than respect in their lives.

R E S P E C T Find out what it means to me!

I love this line where she empowers herself with a very clear dictation of what she deserves, and prompts the recipient to do some work. It's not really difficult work. Everyone deserves respect and shouldn't have to ask for it, but I guess this isn't really evident to some folks. And, sadly, many men didn't (and don't) get it.

Sheesh, I don't know. It's not calculus or anything. It's really so simple. One of the first things we learn as kids: treat others the way you want to be treated!

Lately, my younger sister and I have been extremely vigilant and analytical about the lyrics we are inundated with in popular culture. So many tunes are sung, without thought, and praised as brilliant even though, many times, the lyrics are degrading to women in one way or another. I am listening to Aretha Franklin's top tracks (shared on left) on Spotify while writing this, and the theme of individualism, freedom, and equality course through most of them, and am realizing that we have a drought of artists who freely express female empowerment as refreshingly as she does. And, it's not just in the context of love.

Thank you Aretha!

Michelle