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Women's History Month Salute to Aretha Franklin: Guest Column by Asia Rodgers

3/10/2019

Asia Rodgers

I recently listened to Aretha Franklin’s captivating album, “Young, Gifted and Black” while paying tribute to the “Queen of Soul” and her global influence. She paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be black in America.

Yes, it’s often a difficult journey because we face trials and experience pain. However, African-Americans are substantial contributors, innovators and achievers.

This is the first Women’s History Month since the death of Aretha Louise Franklin in her Detroit, Michigan, home Aug. 16, 2018. She died from pancreatic cancer. Born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, she would have turned 77 on March 25.

Her talent knew no limits. She was a pianist, songwriter and singer. Aretha also was an actress, civil rights activist and a loving mother and so much more.

Aretha’s “crown” of musical jewels include:

She snagged her first recording contract with Columbia Records in 1960.
Aretha re-recorded Otis Redding’s “Respect” in 1967, making it a global anthem for civil rights and other causes.
She sang at Dr. Martin L. King Jr.’s Memphis memorial service in August 1968.

She sang at inaugural events for three U.S. presidents: In 1977, at Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala, in 1993 and 1997 for Bill Clinton’s inaugural events, and in 2009, at Barack Obama’s inauguration. She also performed at the White House in 1994.

Aretha was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, awarded by former President George W. Bush.

Aretha sang at the 2011 dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Aretha’s life and legacy showed me how to fight proudly for what I believe in. This is the year I start creating my delicate, yet fierce marking for the world: I intend to honor my ancestors while creating my own identity, take calculated risks and raise my voice in favor of issues and causes I believe in, just like Aretha did. She was an iconic pioneer whose proud, powerful gospel and soul music influenced generations of performers and fans.In fact, her influence can’t be measured. There’s no doubt about it: She changed the world.

Why do I say all of this? Because I, too, am young, gifted and black.

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Regina L. Burns contributed to this blog post.

(c) March 2019. Harvest Reapers Communications. All Rights Reserved.

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Celebrating the Legacy of WFAA's John McCaa

3/1/2019

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Thankful for the opportunity to work with a great journalist and leader, John McCaa, during the Dallas police ambush coverage. Photo taken in August 2016.

Now that WFAA-TV news anchor John McCaa has signed off for the last time on March 1, 2019, his history-making tenure will be remembered. McCaa told D Magazine’s Tim Rogers that he’s a “pretty emotional guy" and his farewell was indeed, emotional. That's understandable, after all, he worked at WFAA for 35 years, bringing good journalism to North Texas.

I had the privilege of working with McCaa during a series of contract gigs at Channel 8 that involved the assignment desk. The best description of what working on the assignment desk is comes from one of my esteemed Abilene Christian University journalism professors, Dr. Charles Marler—it’s “like an octopus.” For example, the Desk:
• Manages day-to-day and breaking news assignments for TV news crews.
• Navigates Twitter and Facebook for updates.
• Vets information across a host of databases.
• Provides research support by phone.

My most-memorable-McCaa moment was during WFAA’s coverage of the Dallas police ambush in the summer of 2016. This tragic event brought the newsroom to a collective heartfelt loss, for all those who were killed and injured. There were other emotions that elevated us: admiration and respect for the videographers and reporters who were on the scene that fateful day, July 7, 2016. In the midst of handling logistics, gathering details of funeral arrangements and verifying other information for producers, I witnessed McCaa’s calm leadership during our team briefings.

Having worked in journalism for a variety of news organizations such as: KRBC-TV in Abilene, WPTY-TV, WLOK and WGKX radio stations in Memphis, FayObserver.com in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as well as The Associated Press in Jackson, Mississippi, and Dallas, (not to mention a wealth of freelance gigs), by far the Dallas police ambush story was the toughest to cover.

McCaa brought experience gained from other challenging assignments in his long career to this tragic event in Dallas.

He writes that retiring from television news after more than 42 years is “not easy.” However, he sensed that God “decided it was time” and he’s being obedient.

I am thrilled that my career dovetailed with his and that I gained so much from being in the newsroom during his tenure. His TV news experience, his depth of knowledge and his caring spirit elevated the environment and the newscast. Every time.

Thank you for your service. #ThanksJohn

Pausing in between newscasts, John McCaa graciously took time for a photo with me on Feb. 27, 2019.

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Women's History Month Salute to Aretha Franklin: Guest Column by Asia Rodgers

Celebrating the Legacy of WFAA's John McCaa

(c) March 2019 Harvest Reapers Communications. All Rights Reserved.

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