On Being with Krista Tippett

Joan Baez — "This Gift of a Voice"

61 snips
Nov 26, 2024
Joan Baez, the iconic singer-songwriter and activist, reflects on her journey as the voice of a generation and her role in the Civil Rights Movement. She shares her personal struggles with trauma and healing, linking them to activism and the significance of music in enacting change. Baez discusses her evolving relationship with Bob Dylan and the revival of her classic, "Diamonds and Rust." At 83, she embraces aging while promoting resilience and joy, illustrating the powerful interplay between her art and life experiences.
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ANECDOTE

Finding Silence

  • Joan Baez initially disliked the silence of Quaker meetings as a child.
  • However, she later embraced silence as an essential part of her life and artistic process.
INSIGHT

Gift of Voice

  • Baez views her voice as a gift whose magnitude she didn't initially grasp.
  • Coupled with the desire to use her voice for good, it defined her path.
ANECDOTE

Poetry and Trauma

  • Baez was diagnosed with associative identity disorder, stemming from long-term trauma.
  • She used poetry as a way of coping and understanding her inner selves.
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