Kirk Franklin is a Texan gospel artist who led the choir The Family and has released solo albums.
On Monday, he posted a video on Instagram explaining why he would be boycotting the Christian music event, the Dove Awards, and the Christian TV channel Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) until tangible plans are put in place to “protect and champion diversity”.
Franklin said: “Today, I feel like quitting and I am heartbroken that I even have to share this with you.”
He explained how he won the award for best gospel artist at the Dove Awards in 2016, the Christian version of the Grammys, but that some of his acceptance speech was edited out on television.
He said: “For so long, the terms ‘Christian’ and ‘Gospel’ for many were codewords for ‘black’ and ‘white’, which history may teach us was a set up for this unfortunate place we find ourselves in today.
“During that awards speech I felt the responsibility, as a Christian and a man of colour, to address the civil unrest at that time that was plaguing our country.”
He was referring to the killings of two black men by police officers; Philando Castile and Walter Scott.
During the speech, he called on the audience to speak out and there was a standing ovation as he prayed.
Although, this speech is available on the Dove Awards youtube channel, Franklin said it was edited when TBN aired the awards.
After he rose the issue in…
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