Karen Tongson’s Diaspora Jukebox Playlist
From the Philippines to the Inland Empire, George Michael to Taylor Swift, Songs That Chart a Queer Awakening
As part of Zócalo Public Square’s 20th birthday, we’re sharing the sounds of the Southland with “Diaspora Jukebox,” a series of playlists that celebrate the unique communities and musical traditions that represent Los Angeles. Our fifth Diaspora Jukebox playlist features tracks from queer studies scholar Karen Tongson’s life—songs that quite literally moved her from the Philippines to Hawai’i to the Inland Empire, and moved her to better understand the inner workings of love, life, and herself.
The songs I’ve selected for this collective “Diaspora Jukebox” …
