What's to hate about Mahalia? She shared her life intimately with the world at a time when blacks were silenced. Her magnificent voice and talent shone through giving hope and comfort to millions throughout the world. The white elite courted her in later years. Harry Belafonte said in 1972 that she was the singled most powerful black woman of her day. Ed Sullivan expressed the same opinon that the word "power" epitomized Mahalia Jackson. What I admire about her was that she was not afraid to work: hairdresser, laundress, factory worker, babysitter, housekeeper, and . . . the world's greatest gospel singer. As far as I'm concerned we can drop the word "gospel" from the title. The lady could sing anything but dedicated her prodigious talent to God. I'm glad she did, for it brought out the best in her. She channeled for the hereafter.
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