S.O.N.G. Organizers on the Arts & Media that Invigorate Them

As avid lovers of storytelling, D Lilton and Wendi Moore-O’Neal of S.O.N.G. often find themselves turning to books and poetry to recharge themselves. When asked about how they practice self-care, they eagerly confessed to finding solace in the works of Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Fannie Lou Hamer and Octavia Butler. D also sets aside time to read Thich Nhat Hanh to practice meditation. They’re currently watching Lovecraft Country to blow off steam as well. 

Both Wendi and D are a part of a black queer writers group which they credit immensly with providing the space to relax in a community of fellow creatives. Wendi is currently reading N.K. Jemisins’s ‘The City We Became’ and just finished ‘The Water Dancer’ by Ta-Nehisi Coats. She reads Lucille Clifton’s ‘Won’t You Celebrate With Me’ daily to keep her grounded and motivated to continue her organizing work. She highly recommends that everyone read ‘Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts of Women in SNCC’ to gain more insight into the history that largely informs S.O.N.G’s approaches given that manner of its former leaders were involved with the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In terms of artists, Wendi highly recommends listening to Toshi Reagon for some heartfelt folk, blues, and gospel music to get you through your day.

The colorful pallet of our Organizer’s Library reflects the diversity of storytelling which is inherent to S.O.N.G’s activism. One of the greatest lessons we took away from our discussion with these amazing individuals is that songs can communicate emotions and experiences in a way that standard speech cannot. A lot of trust is needed to collaborate with those around you through rhythm, and doing so allows for a community to be fostered through a melodic form of storytelling. With 2021 rapidly approaching, we would love to hear from you! What have been your favorite songs, books, and poems of this turbulent year? Which of the resources from our Organizer’s Library are you excited to engage with? Let us know on our Instagram! We hope that these resources will help to sustain you for the remainder of this year while offering well-needed hope and prosperity for the future. The first step to liberation is empowering those around us, and the artistic gems shared with us by S.O.N.G will surely help us all do just that!