Gospel megastar Kirk Franklin announced Oct. 29 he will boycott the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) after his speech about a white cop who killed a black woman in her home was edited from his Oct. 15 acceptance speech. “Today I feel like quitting,” he said. “I am heartbroken that I even have to share this with you.”
During his video, the 21-time Dove winner also mentioned the five Dallas officers killed by a sniper in Dallas by a black man in 2016. “When police are killed, we need to say something. When black boys are killed, we need to say something. And when we don’t say something, we’re saying something.”
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GMA Reaches Out
Speeches are edited due to time constraints in many cases. Gospel Music Association President and Executive Director Jackie Patillo quickly responded and was “deeply apologetic for the missteps that happened relating to the editing of Kirk Franklin’s Dove Awards acceptance speech.”
Additionally, they accepted responsibility for the misunderstanding and communicated it was unintentional. She asserted that it inflicted and troubled many in the African American and Gospel community by giving the perception of social issues that touch people of color aren’t relevant. “It is not our intent to disregard or silence any of our artists, and we are deeply saddened by this perception and are committed to change this.”
The Boycott Will Continue
“…until tangible plans are put in place to protect and champion diversity, especially where people of color have contributed their gifts, talents and finances to help build the viability of these institutions,” said Franklin.
An Outpouring of Love
“Love and respect your stance, respect and character evidenced again by this,” said vocalist Tauren Wells, “Reconciliation is possible.”
Franklin asked people to join him in prayer. “I’m not asking those in the gospel community to follow my decision. No, this is my personal decision to take a stand and hold responsible those in positions of power to acknowledge the issues in our separate communities that have existed from colonialism to Jim Crow.”
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We do need to pray for sure. I never thought Gospel and Christian music categories should be separated. That was always confusing to me. Music is music — period.
AMEN! He should pray for ALL PERSONS KILLED BY VIOLENCE NO MATTER WHAT COLOR! JESUS WOULD NOT BOYCOTT AND I AS A MATURE BLACK FEMALE TAKE ISSUE WITH ANY DIVISION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST! This is NOT A MATTER OF BLACK AND WHITE…LET GOD JUDGE THE ACTIONS! You should pray for the people and LET GOD DISCIPLINE/RECONCILE DIFFERENCES! The Enemy of our soul is shouting joyfully to see this!
Am so surprised with kirk’s attitude,does he know the number of times Christians just for being Christian.