(L) President-Elect Dave Brown being thanked for his informative presentation by President Paul Newell.
Speaker: President Elect, Dave Brown
Topic: Black History - The life of Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, American Baptist Minister & Civil Rights Activist
Highlights: Dave related the story of C.L. Franklin’s rise from being the grandchild of slaves in the Mississippi delta to a position of prestige and authority among African Americans. He was born in 1915. He was adopted by his mother’s second husband and assumed his stepfather’s name. Franklin fathered 5 children and adopted a son. His career path started by being ordained at age 18. He studied at a fundamentalist seminary and LeMoyne College. Franklin began by preaching at New Salem Baptist Church in Mississippi, then in Buffalo before leading the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. He also traveled as a circuit preacher bringing along his daughters to sing. As a charismatic speaker and preacher, the sermons preached from the pulpit were broadcast on the radio and distributed on records. He became known as “The Million Dollar Voice”. He formed C.L. Franklin’s Gospel Caravan featuring his own daughter Aretha Franklin and other singers. (Aretha Franklin later became the famous “Queen of Soul” singer, songwriter). Franklin, a close ally of Dr. Martin Luther King, is also remembered for organizing the 1963 Walk To Freedom in Detroit that attracted 125,000 marchers and forming the Trade Union Leadership Council. He was shot and wounded during a robbery of his home and remained in a coma for five years. He died on July 27, 1984.
His legacy is to “raise consciousness of self and to encourage individuals to assert that they are somebody.”
Topic: Black History - The life of Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, American Baptist Minister & Civil Rights Activist
Highlights: Dave related the story of C.L. Franklin’s rise from being the grandchild of slaves in the Mississippi delta to a position of prestige and authority among African Americans. He was born in 1915. He was adopted by his mother’s second husband and assumed his stepfather’s name. Franklin fathered 5 children and adopted a son. His career path started by being ordained at age 18. He studied at a fundamentalist seminary and LeMoyne College. Franklin began by preaching at New Salem Baptist Church in Mississippi, then in Buffalo before leading the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. He also traveled as a circuit preacher bringing along his daughters to sing. As a charismatic speaker and preacher, the sermons preached from the pulpit were broadcast on the radio and distributed on records. He became known as “The Million Dollar Voice”. He formed C.L. Franklin’s Gospel Caravan featuring his own daughter Aretha Franklin and other singers. (Aretha Franklin later became the famous “Queen of Soul” singer, songwriter). Franklin, a close ally of Dr. Martin Luther King, is also remembered for organizing the 1963 Walk To Freedom in Detroit that attracted 125,000 marchers and forming the Trade Union Leadership Council. He was shot and wounded during a robbery of his home and remained in a coma for five years. He died on July 27, 1984.
His legacy is to “raise consciousness of self and to encourage individuals to assert that they are somebody.”