America's Gospel Music Association criticised for lack of African American participation.

AMERICA'S Gospel Music Association, organisers of the TV-toted Dove Awards, have been subjected to scathing criticism by leading figures in the black gospel world. Charges of tokenism and insensitivity have been made in America's leading US music trade paper Billboard. Despite a record number of black registrants at the lavish 'Gospel Music 91' in Nashville in April, many black gospel industry figures were angry at both the lack of a special black gospel concert (one had been held in previous years), a lack of seminars that addressed the specific needs of the black gospel industry and the black gospel categories not being included in the telecast portion of the Dove Awards. Artist manager Reggie Rutherford called the Doves "a Steven Curtis Chapman and Sandi Patti show all the way." Marvin Winans of the Winans group was one of the most outspoken critics of the GMA. "According to Scripture they're about as non-Christian as you can get," commented Winans. "What most upsets me is that they consider their music as Christian and ours as black Christian, but God is a spirit. There is no black and white. However there is a definite plan to keep division there. They toss in a few tokens but the division is done purposely." Winans encouraged blacks to stop attending GMA as a form of protest. "Change will come when blacks recognise their power and their worth in the gospel music industry." Gloria Hawkins, one of two current black GMA board members, said she regretted there was no black gospel 'Spectacular' this year but stated, "I disagree that we should stop going. Not a whole lot has changed, but there are some changes and I think the more black participation we have, the more changes we're going to see. What we have to do is put a stop to the separation."