Cultures of Resistance

Capoeira originally came out of tropical Brazil's plantations, where slaves combined martial arts, song, and dance as an expression of resistance. Today, groups like CapoeirArab are spreading the tradition to unlikely places like Al-Tanf refugee camp, just outside Damascus. Read on to learn more about this form of creative, cross-cultural engagement.

During Existence is Resistance's first Bus Stop Hip Hop tour through Israel and the West Bank, artists like M-1 of the American duo Dead Prez and British-Iraqi Lowkey joined grassroots activists to organize interactive educational workshops on break dancing, graffiti, and other forms of urban expression. Read on to learn more about their work and to watch the trailer for their 2011 feature documentary, "Hip Hop is Bigger Than the Occupation."

Cultures of Resistance praises the work the the Family Health Alliance, which teaches family planning in Afghanistan and distributes public educational materials that cover topics such as contraception, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. These initiatives are in particularly high demand in places where the state’s capacity to provide services to its people has been destroyed by widespread military conflict

Cultures of Resistance honors Howard Zinn's legacy by highlighting The Zinn Education Project, which works to educate youth about the history of grassroots struggle in the U.S., and to harness the potential of Professor Zinn's works to transform the teaching of American history. Click here to learn how you can help to teach history from below.

Cultures of Resistance promotes this unique festival, which brings the work of poets committed to promoting peace and social justice to the wider public. Since 1991, the Medellin International Poetry Festival has established itself as one of the largest of its kind in the world, bringing the voices of hundreds poets from over 150 nations to Colombia.

Skateistan is Afghanistan’s first and only co-ed skateboarding school, where girls are given the same opportunities that are afforded to boys and are provided a safe space where they can develop a sense of freedom. Learn more about how the founder hopes the school will help young women take charge of rebuilding of a society fractured by war.

Artists in Iran have been fighting for decades for greater democratic freedoms. Follow this link to learn more about the struggle for freedom of expression in Iran and what you can do to help!