Five African-American celebrities who risked their careers by joining the civil rights struggle

Aretha Franklin

Nicknamed the Queen of Soul, Franklin was the ultimate as far as beautiful voices could get. When she died, one tribute said she was the best America had ever had.

Franklin used her fame for the good of black folk, voicing her support for people like Angela Davis. This meant that Franklin created a quagmire for herself in her relationship with her white audience.

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