A Tribute to Joan Jett

[Jamastiene]

When I was a little kid, I was denied the chance to play Little League baseball. I was great on all the neighborhood teams. I was among the first picked to play on neighborhood baseball teams, actually. So, when the Little League season started and I was finally old enough to join at Browder Park, the City of Rockingham's Parks and Recreation, everyone in the neighborhood just knew I would be one of the greats.

Yes, most of the neighborhood team was male. I was the only girl who could play good enough to play with them, and they made no bones about it when they invited their friends over to play with us. It was known that I was playing. Anybody who had a problem with it could skedaddle.

But...

In 1977, five full years after Title IX became law, the City of Rockingham Parks and Recreation, aka Browder Park, in Rockingham, NC would not let me play, because I was a girl. I was heartbroken.

That was when I began to grow up and also began to understand my hometown for what it really is; an unlawful, misogynistic, homophobic, hateful place.

I got depressed about it and felt lower than shit for a long time. Then, a hero (to me) emerged for me to listen to and take heart. Listening to Joan Jett talk in interviews and listening to her music, I saw that she went through much of the same stuff.

I could go on and on about things that have happened in my life since that day way back when, including being raped for being a lesbian in this shit hole town, but that's not what this tribute is about.

This tribute is about a woman who kept on going through it all no matter what obscenities or hate were thrown her way. It's the only way women, GLBT, or anyone who is being oppressed can really deal with life in any positive way; just keep going and

BE.WHO.YOU.ARE.

Every single one of these songs is for us, about us, and speak to many of us. Some of these songs are songs I listened to growing up and some of these songs are songs Joan Jett has made recently. One common theme these songs all share is be who you are.

Androgynous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bs6QT82Tu4

AC/DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFAj-k0mff4

Crimson & Clover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdhonK8NMm8

Fake Friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAhIGxVNAOI

Everyday People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t75jGfIW1Rk

Androgynous/Spinster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aspaCuRIIQ

Don't Surrender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a6gbdhIt30