Cultural resistance is the broad use of arts, literature, and traditional practices to challenge or fight unjust or oppressive systems and/or power holders within the context of nonviolent actions, campaigns and movements. Last Wednesday’s first annual Earthwork Detroit Music Festival was an exercise in cultural resistance.

Title Track is honored to have worked with William Copeland (aka Will See) and Collective Wisdom Detroit, Wayne Ramocan and the D.Cipher Collective, and a strong coalition of volunteers, sponsors, and community partners to bring together this free all-ages event. It was a day filled with music, workshops, speakers, connection and cross-pollination, celebrating our local social ecologies. Check out the wonderful photography of Charity Rachelle that captures the beautiful spirit of the day.

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“I learned a lot about entertainment justice in the process of co-organizing Earthwork Detroit with Will See and Wayne Ramocan. And from watching and listening to Bryce Detroit, who coined the term. This is the work of resisting using the platform of entertainment for consumerist means and instead engaging entertainment for justice, healing, and peace, with intention and vigilance. I am commited to this work and I’m inspired to be in community with so many brilliant artists and cultural workers from Detroit.” – Seth Bernard, Title Track Founder & Executive Director

“Monica Lewis-Patrick….rocked me to my core on July 10 at Earthwork Detroit. They call her the Water Warrior. From her talk that day, I understand, I want to help, I want to fight, I want to wake people up to the fact that some people in high places do not believe that water is a basic human right – and will charge a fee to survive. ….more to do and be…” – Jenny Jones, Title Track Development & Administrative Associate

“In a sense, what we’re doing is creating a microcosm of the society that we want to bring in to being.” –Malik Yakini representing Detroit Black Community Food Security Network at the Earthwork Detroit Music Festival.

Learn more and make a donation at dbcfsn.org.

Detroit has a long history of artists and organizers working together in the quest for justice and collective liberation. Earthwork Detroit steps in to this tradition as a celebration of the many local cultural workers contributing to the health and healing of the local social ecology.

Reflecting on this year’s festival, co-organizer William Copeland says, “It was a great day that showcased Detroit’s deep reservoir of entertainment justice. I’m glad we raised money for the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. The speakers were powerful in sharing their work and their updates on the struggles and situations we face in Detroit.”