Dear NAACP Image Awards:
I am extremely disturbed that two giants in gospel music, Delois Barrett Campbell and Rev. Jessy Dixon, were omitted from the 2012 program’s memorial segment. Certainly, gospel music has been the foundation of the African-American experience and should be revered as such.
President Barack Obama posits that “the potent words of gospel gave strength to a generation that rose above the din of hatred to move our country toward justice and equality for all.” Delois Barrett Campbell was one such voice. She is hailed as “The Royal Lady of Gospel” and recognized internationally for her pioneering contributions to the art form. Media coverage of her passing was massive, and her three-day funeral services brought tributes from President Obama, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Rev. Jesse Jackson and others. The New York Times published a well-written article chronicling her seven-decade career.
Singer/songwriter/musician Rev. Jessy Dixon’s discography includes collaborations with Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, and James Cleveland–and this is the short list. The Chicago Sun-Times published a piece detailing his impact on the music industry. The 54th Grammy Awards mentioned him in its memorial segment; unfortunately, the NAACP Image Awards did not.
I submit this inquiry: If we do not esteem our own, who will? If we do not honor our own in death as we have celebrated our own in life, who will? If we fail to recognize those who blazed trails for Jennifer Hudson, Aretha Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and Kirk Franklin, who will?
I am kindly requesting a reply and explanation of these omissions. Thank you in advance for taking time to address my concern about these exclusions. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Libra N. Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever™
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
Kirk Franklin, Sounds of Blackness, T.D. Jakes win NAACP Image Awards
Winners of the 2012 NAACP Image Awards aired tonight on NBC. Gospel and inspirational nominees were represented across several categories. Below are the categories that had at least one gospel or inspirational nominee, with the winner denoted in red. Congratulations to all!
Outstanding New Artist
Committed
Epic
Diggy Simmons
Atlantic Records
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Columbia Records
Mindless Behavior
Streamline/Conjunction/Interscope Records
Wynter Gordon
Big Beat/Atlantic Records
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Boyz II Men
Benchmark Entertainment/MSM Music Group
Cee Lo Green feat. Melanie Fiona
Elektra Records
Mary J. Blige feat. Drake
Geffen
Sounds of Blackness
Malaco Music Group
The Roots
Island Def Jam Music Group
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)
BecomingYolanda Adams
N House Music Group
Church on the Moon
Deitrick Haddon
Verity Gospel Music Group
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary
Columbia Records
The Journey
Andraé Crouch
RiverPhlo Entertainment
Outstanding World Music Album
Afrodiaspora
Susana Baca
Luaka Bop
Carnival Fever
Brother B
King Chero Records
Live at 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Boukman Eksperyans
MunckMix, Inc.
The First Grader
Alex Heffes
Varese Sarabande
Outstanding Song
“Best Thing I Never Had”
Beyoncé
Columbia Records
“Fool for You” feat. Melanie Fiona
Cee Lo Green
Elektra Records
“So In Love” feat. Anthony Hamilton
Jill Scott
Warner Bros. Records
“Someone Like You”
Adele
Columbia Records
Outstanding Reality Series
All-American Muslim
TLC
American Idol
FOX
Dancing with the Stars
Sunday Best
BET
Tia & Tamera
Style Network
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets
Bertice Berry
Freeman House Publishing
Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing
Synthia Saint James
Create Space
Our Difficult Sunlight: A Guide to Poetry, Literacy, & Social Justice in Classroom & Community
Quraysh Ali Lansana
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Too Important to Fail: Saving America’s Boys
Tavis Smiley (Author), Juan Roberts (Illustrator)
SmileyBooks
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
Kirk Franklin, Sounds of Blackness, T.D. Jakes win NAACP Image Awards
Winners of the 2012 NAACP Image Awards aired tonight on NBC. Gospel and inspirational nominees were represented across several categories. Below are the categories that had at least one gospel or inspirational nominee, with the winner denoted in red. Congratulations to all!
Outstanding New Artist
Committed
Epic
Diggy Simmons
Atlantic Records
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.
Columbia Records
Mindless Behavior
Streamline/Conjunction/Interscope Records
Wynter Gordon
Big Beat/Atlantic Records
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Boyz II Men
Benchmark Entertainment/MSM Music Group
Cee Lo Green feat. Melanie Fiona
Elektra Records
Mary J. Blige feat. Drake
Geffen
Sounds of Blackness
Malaco Music Group
The Roots
Island Def Jam Music Group
Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)
BecomingYolanda Adams
N House Music Group
Church on the Moon
Deitrick Haddon
Verity Gospel Music Group
Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary
Columbia Records
The Journey
Andraé Crouch
RiverPhlo Entertainment
Outstanding World Music Album
Afrodiaspora
Susana Baca
Luaka Bop
Carnival Fever
Brother B
King Chero Records
Live at 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Boukman Eksperyans
MunckMix, Inc.
The First Grader
Alex Heffes
Varese Sarabande
Outstanding Song
“Best Thing I Never Had”
Beyoncé
Columbia Records
“Fool for You” feat. Melanie Fiona
Cee Lo Green
Elektra Records
“So In Love” feat. Anthony Hamilton
Jill Scott
Warner Bros. Records
“Someone Like You”
Adele
Columbia Records
Outstanding Reality Series
All-American Muslim
TLC
American Idol
FOX
Dancing with the Stars
Sunday Best
BET
Tia & Tamera
Style Network
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets
Bertice Berry
Freeman House Publishing
Living My Dream: An Artistic Approach to Marketing
Synthia Saint James
Create Space
Our Difficult Sunlight: A Guide to Poetry, Literacy, & Social Justice in Classroom & Community
Quraysh Ali Lansana
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Too Important to Fail: Saving America’s Boys
Tavis Smiley (Author), Juan Roberts (Illustrator)
SmileyBooks
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.