Rebel Music: Women of Color Who Changed the Beat

Rebel Music: Women of Color Who Changed the Beat

February 21 – March 21, 2026

Joliet Area Historical Museum
204 N Ottawa St, Joliet, IL

Presented by:
Black & Brown Femme Films (BBFF) in collaboration with the Joliet Area Historical Museum

About the Exhibition

REBEL MUSIC! is a sonic and visual journey through the artistry, resilience, and genius of women and femmes of color who shifted the beat and rewrote the score. From protest chants to punk riffs, from soul anthems to experimental soundscapes, their work is both resistance and revelation.

Through art, installation, and film, this museum exhibition honors the voices that refused silence, the rhythms that carried liberation forward, and the imaginations that dared to dream us into new worlds.

Schedule of Events

As a companion to the exhibition, the Rebel! Women of Color Who Changed the Beat Saturday Series uplifts the artistry, resilience, and cultural impact of women in Joliet and beyond. Each program blends film, conversation, performance, and play — inviting audiences into a space where history and imagination meet.

Saturday, February 28 – 11:30 AM

REBEL! Women of Color Who Changed the Beat
A short documentary and live Q&A honoring Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thornton, Grace Jones, Alejandra Guzmán, and others who rewrote the rhythm of rock ’n’ roll.

Saturday, March 7 – 11:30 AM

Lyrics & Lattes
A coffeehouse-style gathering with trivia, playlists, and a playful lyric-analysis game uncovering the hidden meanings and cultural fire in iconic songs.

Saturday, March 14 – 11:30 AM

Influential Women of Joliet
A community-rooted documentary and dialogue uplifting Joliet’s women leaders in activism, politics, education, and the arts.

Saturday, March 21 – 11:30 AM

Rebel Rhythms & Roots: Joliet’s Women of Dance
An interpretive dance lecture and live performance honoring Roxiana Fuqua, Margaret Renée Spinks, and Katherine Dunham — visionaries whose movement shaped generations.

Join the Celebration

Rebel Music is more than an exhibition — it’s a movement. Spanning Black History Month into Women’s History Month, this series bridges local roots with global resonance, celebrating the women who shifted the rhythm and continue to inspire generations.

🎟️ Admission: Included with museum entry
🌐 Learn more: bbffilms.org