Washington, DC-- This week Examiner.com is showcasing a range of area artists, including writers, singers, and documentary makers, illustrating how they are being facilitators of change in the new civil rights struggle.
While many people today still equate the term civil rights with the fight for racial equality, issues such as marriage equity, and gender equity, along with education, housing, and health care as civil rights define the new civil rights struggle. The traditional modes of protest, marching and sitting-in, have been merged with new expressions of civil disobedience. Art activism is widely becoming the wave of the future to both raise awareness and evoke action. New advancements in social networking, and digital media, allow artist to go outside the confines of the art community and take their work directly to the people. No longer do artist have to be afraid of not getting their book published because they can self publish. No longer do singers have to worry about not getting a record deal because they can upload their music to iTunes. No longer do film makers have to worry about getting their films picked up by major distributors because they can upload their content to Youtube and create their own channels.
This freedom allows for more honest and robust reflections of the thoughts and ideas of artists. They can freely show, to the world, what it is that motivates them and where their passions lie. Today many writers, singers, dancers, painters and a whole range of artist use their creative talents to illuminate the human element of the social issues that divide the nation.
With issues like extreme poverty, homelessness, violence, and an HIV epidemic that surpasses many developing countries, activist in the DC metropolitan area are vigorously working to promote change. However there are those who feel that money and power often take center stage in the local political discourse and issues of social justice are sometimes ignored. Join Examiner.com each day this week to learn more about local artist who are using their talents to break the silence and motivate change.
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