Giving Compass' Take:

• Joe McCarthy explains how Aretha Franklin engaged in philanthropic activities throughout her life, lifting up the women's and civil rights movements through her music and financial support. 

• How can funders learn from and continue her legacy? 

• Learn how donors can make an impact for gender equality. 

Aretha Franklin, “The Queen of Soul,” died from advanced pancreatic cancer at the age of 76, according to the New York Times.

With her soaring range and empowering messages, Franklin inspired a generation of activists.

Franklin was a dedicated philanthropist throughout her life and was never far from the pulse of social justice, appearing on stages with both Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Barack Obama.

In an era when respect was not universally received in the US, Franklin’s rousing version of “Respect,” first recorded by Otis Redding, was an electrifying call to action. The unflinching demand for respect became a mantra for both the women’s rights and civil rights movements.

Franklin’s father was a committed civil rights activist, and she frequently lent her growing fame and stature to the movement.

The soul singer regularly performed at civil rights events and was there to support Martin Luther King Jr. during his rallies. She was eventually awarded the Southern Christian Leadership Award for her dedicated work by King. When King was assassinated in 1968, Franklin performed at his funeral.

When the civil rights leader Angela Davis was arrested in 1970 and falsely branded a “terrorist” by President Richard Nixon, Franklin announced her intention to post the $250,000 bail, one of many times where she financially supported black activists.

Read the full article about Aretha Franklin by Joe McCarthy at Global Citizen