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

Tag: writing

  • Exene Cervanka

    Exene Cervanka

    Exene Cervenka Day honors her mastery of words, poetry, and visual art, which challenge convention and amplify the voices of communities, individuality, and resistance.

    Xene Cervenka is the lead singer and co-writer of the iconic punk band X. She challenges societal norms and expectations and used her art to give voice to the disenfranchised and misunderstood.

    Her lyrics, poetry and visual art blend raw vulnerability with sharp social commentary, reflecting an unwavering commitment to truth and authenticity. Xene’s courage extends beyond music, inspiring generations of artists to embrace their unique identities and defy conventions, proving that real change starts with daring to be yourself.

  • Patti Smith

    Patti Smith

    Patti Smith, often called the “Godmother of Punk,” is an influential American singer, songwriter, poet, and visual artist known for blending rock and poetry in her groundbreaking debut album Horses (1975). Her work is celebrated for its raw intensity, intellectual depth, and countercultural spirit, which have inspired generations of artists. Beyond music, she is an acclaimed author, with memoirs like Just Kids reflecting her deeply personal and artistic path.

  • Viv Albertine

    Viv Albertine

    Viv Albertine is a trailblazing musician, writer, and feminist icon whose courage reshaped the cultural landscape. As the guitarist for The Slits, she defied societal norms, fusing punk music with reggae and confronting issues of sexism head-on.

  • 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.

  • 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.