Aretha Franklin's respect for Dr King: 'My life is forever changed'

QUEEN of Soul Aretha Franklin has spoken of her own experience of how much attitudes to race have changed after comparing touring the US before and after the Civil Rights Movement.

Aretha Franklin at Selma premiere GETTY

Aretha is thankful to Dr Martin Luther King for enhancing the lives of so many

The 72-year-old singer began her career at the age of 14 when she started travelling the country as part of her pastor father’s gospel church tours.

And she admits that the treatment she and her father clarence received due to their race while on the road left an indelible impression on her.

Speaking at the New York premiere of Selma, an upcoming film about Dr Martin luther King and his role in helping to secure black people the vote in the US, Aretha says: “There were certain restaurants that I could not eat at.

"We bought groceries then ate them in the car.

“When we’d stop to get gas we had to go to certain gas stations because we could not use the restrooms at all of them.

"We could only use the ones at Gulf,” she tells an American website.

There were certain restaurants that I could not eat at

Aretha Franklin

In later years she found the situation began to change as the movement led by Dr King gained momentum throughout the country.

Aretha herself contributed to its success after her 1967 single Respect – which promoted civil rights and female empowerment – became an unofficial anthem of the cause.

Though her memories of her youth are still strong, she is grateful that progress has been made and thanks those who have fought for equality.

“We’ve come a long way.

"Because of Dr King and the civil rights movement, my life is forever changed.” 

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