Decolonized Beatz is an Indigenous arts and performance series to celebrate the work of Indigenous storytellers, organizers, and performers, including disabled and chronically ill and 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives, women, and Afro-Indigenous artists.
The Decolonized Beatz program brings together multiply-marginalized Indigenous artists to create grassroots Indigenous programming, to grow opportunities for Indigenous artists in the form of recording, publishing, performance series, Pride events, and art exhibitions. DB initiatives prioritize safe spaces, anti-racism, and disability and language justice protocols, and we aim to create community impact by documenting event formats that other Indigenous organizations and communities can replicate.
The first Decolonized Beatz in 2018 featured Indigenous and Black artists and performers from the DC metro area and grassroots organizations tabling at The Stew, in Washington, D.C. The event was free, with a suggested donation, and all of the donations were split evenly between the performers. Crushing Colonialism has organized six virtual Decolonized Beatz events (2019-2022) that have included music, film, comedy, and poetry readings with Dr. Maha Hilal, Summer Dawn Reyes, Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez, Nexus, Liliane Wolf, Chris J. Light, Aveda Adara, Marcy Angeles, Adrian Rollins & Fight The Future, and Elexa Dawson.
Decolonized Beatz events are free and focus on uplifting our Indigenous communities and opening up places for sharing and celebrating our creativity, beauty, and resilience as well as featuring films, dancers, live performances, poetry, and visual art.
On April 16, 2020 Crushing Colonialism hosted its first Virtual Decolonized Beatz event. It featured the creative works of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) artists and performers including
Dr. Maha Hilal
Summer Dawn Reyes
Tatiana Figueroa Ramirez
Nexus
Liliane Wolf
Chris J Light
Indigenous Spoonies Revolt, held on October 2, 2020, brought together Indigenous artists from the United States and New Zealand for a virtual discussion on disability representation, empowerment, advocacy, healing and solidarity. Panelist included Frank Waln (Lakota), Tony Enos (Cherokee), and Kera Sherwood-O'Regan (Kāi Tahu Māori), to share their art, stories and discuss the intersectionality of their histories and struggles.
This event was co-sponsored by Crushing Colonialism and the Disability Visibility Project.
Marcy Angeles is a disabled Nednhi Apache and Guamares Two-Spirit Artist, Writer, Musician, DJ and Journalist from southern New Mexico. In this Virtual Decolonized Beatz she performs a Deep House DJ set on June 15, 2021.
Aveda Adara also known as Post Modern Sleaze (Navajo Nation) graced us with a DJ set for Virtual Decolonized Beatz on June 30, 2021.
Adrian Rollins (Uto-Mechika Nican Tlaca) & Fight for the Future gave a politically charged punk performance for Virtual Decolonized Beatz on July 31, 2021.
Elexa Dawson presents powerful original music and a voice like warm honey and prairie dirt. Elexa is a Potawatomi community activist, student of sustainable agriculture, workshop facilitator, and mother of two future matriarchs. Elexa performs solo, with a bluesy folk trio and with Heyleon and Weda Skirts at private and public events, gatherings, pubs, and campfires.
Here she graces Crushing Colonialism with a 20-minute Virtual Decolonized Beatz set on August 25, 2021.
