Joan Baez was born in Staten Island, New York.  Many do not know her heritage, but she is of Mexican descent.  Her father was born in Puebla, Mexico. but due to her fathers work, moved around the world. While growing up, Baez was subjected to racial slurs and discrimination because of her Mexican heritage. Consequently, she became involved with a variety of social causes early in her career. She declined to play in any white student venues that were segregated, which meant that when she toured the Southern states, she would play only at black colleges.

She was gifted a ukulele by her friend when she was 13. She then went on to learn four chords and kept getting better. Her parents were worried for her though, thinking the life of music would lead her to a drug addiction. One day her aunt and her aunt’s boyfriend took her to a Pete Seeger concert where she was so moved by his music. She then learned his songs and would even perform the.Moving around the world opened up her eyes to the world’s problems like civil rights. In 2003 Joan performed in two rallies filled with thousands of people to protest the invasion of Iraq. She’s participated in many more protests and civil rights movements. To reward her decades of dedicated activism, Baez was honoured with the Spirit of Americana/Free Speech award at the 2008 American music honors and awards.  She is best known for her song, “Diamonds and Rust.”