12 Interviews of Christmas – Joan Baez: “i Feel as Though I Found My People When I Came to Ireland and the Troubles”

Joan Baez: A Life of Civil Rights and Activism

In Dublin, where she was attending a screening of her latest documentary “I Am A Noise,” Joan Baez shared stories from the front lines of civil rights and social justice. As part of our 12 Interviews of Christmas series, we spoke with this iconic figure in music and activism.

First Act of Civil Disobedience

Baez’s journey into activism began at a young age when she defied the school air raid drill during an exercise. “I had my first civil disobedience,” Baez recalls, “Our school had an air raid drill. The siren would go off, and the kids would all run home and get in their swimming pools or whatever. It had nothing to do with any kind of reality.” Her father, a physicist, helped her understand that such drills were mere theater. “It became very clear to me that the whole set-up was a joke,” she says. “There was no way we would survive that kind of bomb or missile.”

Iconic Performances and Personal Struggles

The documentary follows Baez on her 2018/19 Fare Thee Well Tour, culminating with her final concert at Madrid’s Teatro Real. It also delves into her personal life, showcasing drawings that capture her totemic animals and nightmares from her subconscious. “When you are trying to keep the truth in,” she explains, “it comes to you in nightmares and fits of fear.” Baez’s reflections on Martin Luther King reveal his humor, which was often kept private: “He was very, very funny. All his humour was kept for when he was not in the church or speaking publicly.”

Finding Her People

Baez mentions finding her people during various conflicts and struggles. “I feel as though I found my people when I came to Ireland and the Troubles,” she says, “and also in Sarajevo in the middle of their war and in Hanoi in 1972.” Her commitment to non-violence and activism is evident in her work with Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams during the Northern Irish conflict. Baez’s album track “Where Are You Now, My Son?” from 1973 was recorded during a US bombing raid on Hanoi over Christmas 1972.

The Need for a Protest Anthem

Reflecting on contemporary activism, Baez notes the lack of a universal protest anthem. “But along the way, somebody’s going to write an anthem,” she says, “which is what’s missing.” This sentiment echoes her earlier work, where songs like ‘We Shall Overcome’ became synonymous with civil rights movements.

Joan Baez remains a powerful voice in social justice and civil rights. Her life story, as told through the documentary “I Am A Noise,” continues to inspire new generations of activists and musicians.

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