What's up with Obama not inviting Mavis Staples to his inauguration?

What's up with Obama not inviting Mavis Staples to his inauguration?

Mavis is a Civil Rights icon and one of the leading musical voices of the Civil RIghts Movement. She's a true Soul of the Civil Rights Movement.

She was on NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me" a few weeks ago when she was asked about Obama since her song "I'll Take you There" was often used by Obama campaign at rallies.

Mavis Staples got no inauguration invite

January 11, 2009

BY DAVE HOEKSTRA Staff Reporter

Amazingly, Chicago"s soul music queen Mavis Staples has not been invited to Obama"s inauguration. She will speak and perform at noon Jan. 19 at a concert in celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University in Evanston.

But she was disappointed she"ll miss the main event.

"The Staple Singers went to the Kennedy, Clinton and Carter inaugurations. But I got over it," she said earlier this week. "The New York Times invited me to do their party on Jan. 18, but I have to be in Evanston on the 19th.

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/1370221,obama-mavis-staples-inauguration-011109.article#

with no insult being wished.

While I agree with you that many "good influential people" might not have gotten invitations, Mavis Staples is far, far more than good influential, Mavis and her family ARE THE CIVIL RIGHTS VOICES.

I've had a terrible feeling that Obama's lack of respect for Mavis Staples is another crack in his beautifully managed external side.

What is past is present. Not honoring Mavis Staples is like not honoring MLK, jr. or Rosa Parks were they alive.

at least she should have been there yesterday. -big time screw up

Besides penning that tune and several other R & B classics, this lady is an icon here in Chicago...as is her family...and she can still belt 'em out as great as ever.

At first I thought the article was refering to Chaka Khan...who is a repugnian (so is Gladys Knight)...but am sad Mavis and her family were forgotten. Here's hoping President Obama becomes aware of this disappointment and makes it up to this classy family.

:cry:

Even worse, Gladys Knight... :( Doesn't make 'em bad people, there are good republicans in the world just as there are bad democrats, but I never liked Chalky's style...

So did Gladys...and, in fairness, she's also appeared at the DNC. Her wiki says she's more a "Democratic type of person" and I would hope she voted for President Obama last year, but I sure didn't hear any endorsement from her.

Cheers...

just sayin...

a zillion years ago... Bruce was definitely the big name headliner - this was the concert in NYC, and everyone was waiting for him. So there were constant shouts of "Bruce!". It pissed her off. She complained to the audience about it - very ungracious...

That stuck with me, and colored how I think about her to this day. Get the heck over yourself, toots, you're not who anyone came to see, believe me!

I could give two shits about who Obama does or doesn't invite to some silly party. I don't seem to recall going through this stupid crap with Bush2 or Clinton or Bush1.

...and those colors are, well to use your eleoquent phrase "idiotic tripe"

You reveal a contempt for Marvis Staples and her family, who showed far greater courage than I suspect you are, or will ever be, be capable of.

I've said this before in Rick Warren threads. I think this thing is being made into something about a hundred times more important than it ought to be. I don't care whether Marvis Staples gets invited to the party. I'm sure there are plenty of worthy people who were or were not invited. I am however cognizant of the fact that bringing up such petty concerns on the eve of the event is contrived, silly political theatre.

Your truly petty concern seems to be that DU should have no posting about the Civil Rights icon Marvis Staples not being invited to the "we should only approve of all that Lincoln 2 does" Obama inauguration.

I guess Obama need not honor the Civil Rights leaders that clearly were crucial in literally making it possible for Obama's election.

I shall assume that you have not read, nor to you understand. what those brave men and women did in the Civil Rights movement.

It's a fucking party. It's irrelevant.

I just love your great use of the English language. I bet you're Caucasian.

It is not party, it is the Inauguration of the first African American President.

Would you say it's irrelevant if MLK, Jr were not invited to Obama's inauguration? That's a rhetorical question.

That doesn't even make sense. Yibbie and i don't agree a lot, but yibbie's right about this one.

To compare Mavis (as much as i like her) to MLK is just silly.
GAC

Furthermore, I did not say that Mavis Staples equals MLK. Jr.

I said they were both icons of that historic movement which was singularly responsible for the election of the first African American president.

I bet you're not an African American.

Nice going. Way to heal the old wounds. Tear them open yourself and then blame someone who wasn't the problem in the first place.

Duh!
GAC

But please don't expect everyone else to do the same. I've never liked these things, and I probably never will.

wouldn't be any room left.

and I don't personally blame Obama for it. He has had bigger things on his mind than who to invite to the inaugural.

Mavis Staples On Obama. Civil Rights Legend Rejoices

With her stunning new live album 'Hope At The Hideout' released on November 3rd, Mavis Staples has dedicated the work to Barack Obama, and has rejoiced at his presidential victory.
As a singer with the Staples Family, the musician became one of the most recognizable artists involved in the civil rights movement. Mavis Staples sang at the inauguration of John F Kennedy, and knew Dr Martin Luther King personally. Hew new live album found the singer in reflective mood, and contains a prescient version of the civil rights anthem 'We Shall Not Be Moved'.

Rejoicing in Barack Obama's political victory, the singer writes:
“To come up in a time when there was slavery, racism, the KKK, and Jim Crow, I'm just so grateful to still be here to enjoy this historical time in our lives. It is so surreal, so completely overwhelming.

This young black man has inspired and brought the country together. There's something about him that makes me feel he is the chosen one. There's something about his leadership that makes people feel calm and safe. He has inspired hopes and dreams of all people - black, white, brown or yellow. Doctor King and Pops I just know are so happy. "The Dream" is alive.”
Mavis Staples released her new live 'Mavis Staples Live: Hope At The Hideout' on November 3rd.



http://www.clashmusic.com/news/mavis-staples-obama

President Elect Barack Obama is already making plans about who is going to perform musically at the inauguration and the artist who clearly stands out from the group is not only a singer but a civil rights super star Mavis Staples.

Staples, who is I think 69 years old has already displayed her talent at the the Carter and Clinton inaugurations. Many in fact think she represents the best of civil rights legacy considering her background with - The Staples Singers, who toured church houses of the south in the 1950s. Her groups also toured with the protagonist of the civil rights movement, Dr King himself.

Mavis Staples is a long time member of the Obama’s former church, Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. So in a way, if Obama calls Ms Staples, it would send a signal that Obama is ready to make peace with the fiery Chicago congregation that he abdicated sometime last May.

Personally speaking, even if you discard Mavis’s legacy and relation to the church, her music stands and runs on its own legs and strength. She is an awesome singer and there are few who can match her deep rumbling wholesome fulsome voice. Nobody comes even close.

http://article.wn.com/view/2009/01/11/Mavis_Staples_got_no_inauguration_invite/