User:Plederer22/sandbox

Many know of Joy Harjo's writing and singing ability yet not many know of her talent that has emerged in her later years, her saxophone playing. She picked up the sax at the age of 40 and for her it fills the void that she thought was missing from her singing voice. Picking up the sax derived from her grandmothers love for the instrument which emerged long ago, before the state of Oklahoma was even formed. Harjo believes that when reading her poems, adding a musical flare helps her message and work reach the heart of the listener in a different way. When reading her poems she speaks with a musical tone in her voice creating a song in every poem.

Through Joy Harjo's writing and music she is able to get her message across in a way that touches the public's heart in a way that brings realization to the wrongs of the past, for not only the Native American community but many oppressed communities in general. An activist for Native American rights and feminism stem from her belief in unity and lack of separation between human, animal, plant, sky, and earth. . Through the connection between all living things Harjo believes that for one to understand this connection is what makes someone human. Native American women were seen to have been oppressed within their own communities after colonialism came to America, Harjo's works bring back the idea of political ability among the sexes.