Day 30. Songs of Survival – Music as Resistance.
Across generations, music has carried the heartbeat of resistance. For Indigenous peoples, powwow drums echo the rhythm of the earth, calling communities together in defiance of erasure. For queer communities, anthems sung in protest, whispered in secret, or shouted in Pride marches transform silence into song.
Songs hold our grief and our joy. They remind us that survival is not just about endurance; it is about celebration, memory, and the courage to dream aloud. Whether in the deep bass of ceremonial chants or the soaring choruses of queer liberation ballads, music gives voice to the resilience of our people.
When we sing, we do not stand alone. We join a chorus that stretches across centuries and continents, binding us in collective courage.
Stories of Resistance Through Music
Powwow traditions, once banned by colonial governments, now thrive as living spaces of culture, healing, and community.
Sylvester (USA), known as the “Queen of Disco,” brought queer joy and gender freedom into mainstream music through anthems like “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”
Ani DiFranco, a folk-rock musician and feminist icon, connects personal storytelling with political and queer liberation.
Víctor Jara (Chile), a singer-songwriter and activist, uplifted Indigenous and working-class struggles until his assassination in 1973 under Pinochet’s dictatorship.
Jeremy Dutcher, an indigenous Wolastoqiyik, classically trained tenor and composer, blends Wolastoqey language revival with contemporary sound, creating music as cultural reclamation.
Billy Porter, Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer, merges art and activism to center Black queer visibility and empowerment.
“When we sing, we pray twice. When we sing together, we resist forgetting.” – Adapted from a global saying
Learn More
- Resource: Powwows.com – A directory for Powwows, Celebrating Indigenous music, dance, and culture while connecting Native communities around the world.
- Resource: Queer Music Heritage – An archive documenting the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists to music history.
- Article: How Sylvester became the ‘Queen of Disco’ by bringing Black queer joy to the dance floor by Native Son
- Article: Victor Jara – The Folk Singer Murdered For His Music – BBC
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