She started her singing career in jazz and blues. Dane later moved activism. She preformed at anti-war protests and marches as well as every big peace demonstration in Washington. As Barbara gained recognition she got invited onto TV shows, and opened her own clubs. In 1966, Barbara Dane became the first U.S. musician to tour post-revolutionary Cuba. She received a cultural honor in Cuba, Barbara was made an honorary member of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists. In 1969 Barbara Jean and her husband founded Paredon Records, which is a label that was made to publish records of cultural expression, and protests as a way to preserve them. From 1970 to 1985 Dane released 50 albums that documented protest music from around the world. Paredon's music reflects civil rights, women's rights and anti-colonial movements. Barbara believed that if she saw something wrong in the world, the best thing to do was to speak up, and her way of doing that is singing in protest.