A storytelling platform that celebrates those who have shaped culture against seemingly impossible odds.

Category: February

  • Audre Lorde

    Audre Lorde

    Courage is The Change celebrates Audre Lorde Day as an inspiration to embrace interconnectedness, encouraging solidarity across identities and empowering collective action for meaningful change.

    Audre Lorde was a poet, essayist, and activist whose work continues to inspire movements for social justice and equality.

    Identifying as a “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Lorde used her voice to confront issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these struggles.

    Through groundbreaking works like The Cancer Journals and Sister Outsider, she challenged societal norms and advocated for self-expression, intersectionality, and the power of difference.

    Lorde believed in using poetry as a tool for resistance and transformation, urging marginalized communities to embrace their voices as sources of power. Her legacy is a testament to the enduring strength of speaking truth to power and building bridges across identities to foster collective liberation.

  • Yoko Ono

    Yoko Ono

    Yoko Ono is a groundbreaking artist, musician, and performer whose life and work reflect resilience, innovation, and profound influence.

    As a wartime survivor of the devastation in Japan during World War II, Ono’s experiences of hardship and displacement deeply shaped her artistic vision, emphasizing themes of peace, healing, and interconnectedness. Her early association with avant-garde pioneer John Cage not only influenced her but also positioned her as a bridge between Eastern philosophies and Western experimental art, inspiring even her mentors through her unique approach.

    A central figure in the Fluxus movement, Ono redefined the relationship between audience and artist, transforming participation into a core element of her conceptual and performance art. Works like Cut Piece and Grapefruit challenges traditional art boundaries (even to this day), merging multi-disciplinary practices into emergent experiences. Her ability to integrate personal and collective narratives continues to resonate, positioning her as a vital force in the evolution of art.

  • Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks

    Rosa Parks Day celebrates not only her legacy and individual courage but also the strength of collective action, the power of leadership, and the transformative impact of a community working together to confront and dismantle oppression.

    As a trained activist and officer of the NAACP, Parks’ action was supported by a network of organizers and community leaders who quickly mobilized to amplify her stand into a powerful movement for change.

    On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks intentional refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a transformative event in the Civil Rights Movement.

    Beyond this historic moment, Parks was a lifelong advocate for racial and social justice, working tirelessly to dismantle inequality. Her legacy highlights not only the power of individual courage but also the strength of collective action in the fight for civil rights.

  • Lil Hardin Armstrong

    Lil Hardin Armstrong

    Lil Hardin Day celebrates leadership, creativity, and the enduring influence of family and collaboration in shaping innovation and preserving legacy.

    Lil Hardin Armstrong was a pioneering jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose talent and vision helped shape the early years of jazz. As one of the first prominent women in jazz, she broke barriers in a male-dominated industry with her extraordinary skill and creativity.

    Hardin was a key member of King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, where she met and later married Louis Armstrong, playing a pivotal role in advancing his career.

    Beyond her collaborations, Hardin was an accomplished composer, penning classics like “Struttin’ with Some Barbecue” and “Hotter Than That,” which remain jazz standards. Her leadership as a bandleader and arranger showcased her ability to innovate and elevate the genre. Lil Hardin Armstrong’s contributions to jazz extend far beyond her remarkable musicianship, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer who helped define the sound of an era.

  • Alice Bag

    Alice Bag

    Alice Bag Day honors her legacy as a powerful example of how art, education, and heritage can serve as lasting forces for empowerment and liberation.

    Alice Bag is a trailblazing musician, educator, author, and feminist icon whose work has been pivotal in shaping the punk rock movement and advocating for social change.

    As the lead singer of The Bags, she emerged as a fierce and unapologetic voice in the Los Angeles punk scene of the late 1970s, known for her raw energy, dynamic performances, and commitment to challenging societal norms.

    Raised in Los Angeles within the Latin community, Alice infuses cultural identity into her art and activism, synthesizing issues of representation, intersectionality, and systemic oppression.

    Beyond her musical contributions, she has been a passionate educator, empowering young people through teaching and mentorship.

    Through her memoirs, activism, and continued creative projects, she has inspired generations to embrace their individuality, resist conformity, and celebrate the power of cultural and personal identity.