Creative director, activist, and storyteller Alana Hadid joins us for an in-depth conversation, sharing her earliest memories of growing up in a Palestinian-American family, the influence of her family members, and how she navigates social media algorithms to educate and raise awareness. We also discuss her involvement with Watermelon Pictures as Creative Director and her new podcast, The Seeds FM. From creative resilience to hopes for a freer future, Alana's story is one of passion, courage, and unyielding commitment to her heritage.
This episode is hosted by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Tarwida’s lead producer is Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna.
This episode was recorded on 17th of June, 2025.
Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.
In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be.
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Alana: [00:00:00] We also need to forget about trying to make Palestine cool. Right? We, I don't, I don't think that that's the important thing. I think us being who we are and speaking the truth is starting to wake the world up. People are starting to connect the dots between all the things that are not cool in the world.
What's happening to Palestine is not cool, and I think that. We're not gonna be the cool place. What we are going to be is a conduit for people to understand what else in the world is not cool.
Afaf: Alana, welcome to TaRita. Thank you so much for joining us.
Alana: Thank you for having me.
Afaf: So we. Uh, we're just talking before we officially, officially started recording about how important it is to, uh, amplify our voices for, for ourselves, for each other. And you were saying with your [00:01:00] experience, um, now with the podcast that you're doing and also with your social media, how much people learn, how much we learn from each other.
But, um, but let's go back a sec and talk about. Alana who grew up as a Palestinian in the States, and you know, you obviously come from a family that is the, you know, is is very much, you know, equated with Palestine. Yes. Um, tell us about your earliest memories and experiences that formed your Palestinian identity today.
Alana: You know, I think. It's interesting, you know, I get asked questions kind of like this, but I've had, uh, kind of thoughts about it and I, I think my experiences as a child weren't necessarily specifically Palestinian, that I understood. You know, I, [00:02:00] I just had, uh, a lot of culture, a lot of food, a lot of, uh, family and.
I don't think I realized that I was being exposed to Palestine and Palestinian culture. I just thought that that was very normal. Um, and there wasn't a lot of conversation about it being specifically Palestinian until I think I was a bit older. And then I understood, um, that. I was Palestinian and that this was Palestinian and that this food was Palestinian and that this music was Palestinian and that my family was Palestinian.
Um, and, and after that, you know, uh, I like any other culture that you're exposed to. I just was very proud to be Palestinian because I loved all of those things. I loved my family, I loved my culture, I loved my music, I loved my food. And so, um, you know, it was like being exposed to, you know, being Irish or, you know, being Italian.
Um, you, you [00:03:00] are, it's part of your DNA and, uh, you see it in your family and your life. And, um, and so it, it was a lot of the memories of my childhood were of being Palestinian. I don't know that I clocked it at the time, but, um, now I, I look back and I realize that my childhood was very Palestinian.
Afaf: Mm. How did that like.
How did that play out in relation to growing up American and, you know, your identity? How, was there any sort of clash at any point?
Alana: You know, no, um, or at least not that I understood. Maybe there was outside of me, but, um, I was, I was never told that I couldn't tell people that I was Palestinian. Mm-hmm. Um, so I did.
And, um, I, you know, just like I told them that I was also Irish. Mm-hmm. Um, I brought friends over to my Tata's house, um, and [00:04:00] I, you know, we, they shared dinners with us and they met my family just like, you know, a lot of other people did. Mm-hmm. Um, I felt like. My culture was, was my culture, and I was supposed to be talking about it.
And, and maybe that was something that I was normalized to as a child, that we were to be proud to be Palestinian. Um, but I just thought that everyone was proud of who they were. And so I was, you know, telling people I was Palestinian, bringing people over. Um. Exposing them to the culture and, uh, and talking about it.
And, and maybe that was a product of my privilege, um, because I had a, a lot more, um, multicultural diversity in my, uh, surroundings. But, um, at the same time, um, you know, I don't think I realized until much later that it was. Slightly revolutionary for me to be as, as loud and proud of being Palestinian as as we were.
Afaf: [00:05:00] Right. And you mentioned Tata, who was a big influence. In fact, as I understand, she was somehow able to replicate Pal Palestine for you. The whole family was there. And tell us more about that.
Alana: So my father actually built a, um. Like a neighborhood. Um, and all of my family members lived in it. Um, so my tza had the house on the corner and my aunts and uncles all had houses around.
Um, and so, you know, in a way, my father and my tza really, um, and my jido, but he, he passed away when I was young, um, really embodied what it would've been like. To grow up in Palestine, we would've lived on the same block or in the same neighborhood together. Um, we would've been walking back and forth to each other's houses.
We would've all come to my Tate's house for dinner every night, which is exactly what we did. And I didn't [00:06:00] realize until later, looking back that, you know, we were being exposed to what life would've been like if we had been able to stay in, in Palestine. And, and she was giving that to her grandkids, but also to her children.
Um, you know, many of whom. Most of whom didn't get to exp experience much of their lives in Palestine, so,
Afaf: right. So did everybody c come at the same time to the US or was it in different phases?
Alana: Um, so, uh, my, my three of my aunts were born in Palestine. My father was born in Palestine. The rest of my father's eight s siblings were born, um, throughout the Middle East, um, on the way to the us.
Um, and then, uh, they all came to the US together. Um, my grandfather got a, a job, um, in the US and so they were able to come. And, uh, yeah, they grew up, um, in Virginia, outside of [00:07:00] DC and, uh, most, many of my, um. Aunts and uncles have passed away since. But, um, the rest of them live in DC and they're still there.
So, um, that, that was our home and we made it that that home and my Tates are really contributed to, uh, to making it feel like a real Palestinian, um, neighborhood. Mm-hmm. Um, and it was something that I really value because I know it's not something that everyone gets when they, um, move out of Palestine or when they are in the diaspora.
Afaf: Right. I mean, was like a central figure. Um, she reflects the role that women play in preserving traditions, but also your father is, plays a big role. I mean, just recently he, he put a post, uh, with uh, you know, the family gathering around the table and, you know, all the food is like, you know what, and Manish mm-hmm.[00:08:00]
And all that stuff. And it's, he is so proud of it.
Alana: I mean, everything is Palestinian from in my dad's home.
Afaf: Yeah. Yeah.
Alana: Uh, if he makes eggs, those eggs are Palestinian. Um, um, he, he, it's very important to him, um, that we understand where things came from and that they are traditions from Palestine that, you know, the food that we're eating is Palestinian food and that we understand what it means, um, to continue that legacy.
And he has. Instilled that in us from day one. Mm-hmm. Um, I'm not sure that we even realized that we were learning it, but we've, we've all learned it since day one from him, um mm-hmm. And, and from my other aunts and uncles and my, and my grandparents.
Afaf: Mm-hmm. So you're a very close family and one of the things that I'm sure many people know that you are a creative family.
So we are you, you, you've said that your father has the, he's not an artist, but he has the [00:09:00] mind of an artist. Your mother's an interior designer. Uh, tell us some of the creative influences you had growing up.
Alana: You know, I, I do kind of think it's in our blood. I'm not a hundred percent sure where it comes from, um, I would imagine Palestine.
Um, but you know, we've always been encouraged to be creative. Um, you know. In our family, we weren't necessarily told not to be doctors and lawyers, but we definitely, um, were encouraged to, to draw and to paint and to be creative with our lives. And, um, you know, I think my, my father has an, definitely has an artist's mind.
He dreams the houses that he builds before he builds them. He's a dreamer and a, and an artist. And I think, um, to find that. Out of, you know, being a refugee and, um, and coming to America and having to make it and to continue to be creative has, I think, instilled in us that you can be creative in any, um, atmosphere in any place [00:10:00] and with, with anything around it.
And so I think all of us have have strived. Maybe not. We've, we've, we've just been creative because it's part of our DNA and our blood and, and what we've been told was important.
Afaf: Mm-hmm. And you, okay. You are o obviously creative, but you. You studied political science and then inter relations like me a degree where I was like, why did I study that?
Sorry. Such a waste of time. Um, but yeah. Um, then eventually you ended up in. The fashion industry, designing, styling, and a little bit of modeling. Um, you had your own clothing line. Is it still, is it still going on? No, that deter, I don't have it anymore. Mm. But in any case, you, you, you then, you know, there was a big shift.
I don't know how much you [00:11:00] were. An an activist in tho in those years when you were, you know, involved in the fashion industry, but certainly after, um, October, you, you know, you threw yourself in there. Tell us a bit about that. Where were you or rather when did you start being a voice?
Alana: Um, I think many Palestinians are.
Kind of accidental activists. Um, you know, we don't really have a choice, uh, because no one has really spoken for us up until now. Um, I think this is the first time that Palestinians are experiencing non Palestinians speaking out, um, on behalf of Palestine. And so we have had to be our own voice. And so I think.
Um, you know, I was always speaking about being Palestinian. I was always talking about what it meant. I was always very vocal about being Palestinian and, um, you know, I spent time in [00:12:00] Palestine. I, I talked about that. Um, but I think in 2021 was really a, a large shift for me. Um, social media was becoming a larger tool in, in, um, the kind of.
You know, activists arsenal in, in showing people the realities on the ground. And in 2021 it was really being used to, um, show what was happening to Gaza, what was happening, um, the cja Za. Um, and so I, uh, jumped on. I I had been speaking about it a lot. I. Was in spaces. I don't know if you remember, um, there was an app called Clubhouse.
Mm-hmm. And I was quite active there. Mm-hmm. And it, it reinvigorated my, um. Feeling of necessity for us to, to speak our own stories. And so, um, 2021 I definitely took to social media and, and made, took a stand. And I think since then, um, social media was my platform, but, um, [00:13:00] after October I felt like I needed to take it other spaces and really come out and, um, make speeches and um, and do teach-ins and, and really make sure that the education that I had gotten on my own people.
Was also given not only to, um, to the rest of the world, but also to Palestinians who also needed to understand, um, Zionist talking points and um, and how to combat them and what the history was on, on, you know, on Palestine pre 1948 and post 1948. And so, um, I. I use my, my platform for education and I, I feel like, um, it's important to connect the dots and, and that that's what I've been trying to do is, um, to kind of break it down for people so that they can understand in a way that's not so complicated.
Afaf: Yeah. Yeah. What would, what would you say gave your family so much [00:14:00] courage to speak out from the beginning? 'cause you don't find that in all families. You know, people trying to avoid problems, people trying to avoid backlash. Maybe privilege plays some role, but what would you say is, is the deciding factor?
Alana: Sure. I think, I think privilege plays a role, but it also, you know, with privilege comes a lot of things that can be taken away. Um, so. I think that, you know, it wasn't like a conscious decision. We didn't like sit down around the table and say, Hey, we're gonna start talking about Palestine. You know, it was, um, everyone making decision to say it in their own way.
Um, we're all individuals and, um, you know, we speak for ourselves, but we also realized that we had said that we were Palestinian from the beginning on, you know, on our rise to celebrity. We'd always said that we were Palestinian. And so, you know, as we've gotten here. We are not gonna forget that. Um, we are [00:15:00] Palestinian and, um, it's important for people to realize that, you know, if they think that we're cool, they think cool people are Palestinian.
And so we, we wanted to make sure that they, they realized that and, um, and that there was a reason for us to speak. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, we do have these large platforms and there are so many people on them, um, who are paying attention. And so, you know, I think. Palestinians are courageous, um, but not because it's just in our blood, but because we've had to be for, for so many years.
You know, 77 years of, of having to be courageous, having to be brave. Um, I. No one really wants to have to be this brave. It's not a, it shouldn't be a necessity to be this brave. Um, but I think Palestinians, somewhere in us inherently because of 77 years of oppression, we've, we've realized that we have to speak for ourselves.
And so, um, we've made a choice to do that. And I've specifically made a [00:16:00] choice that, you know, that Palestine needs to be. On my lips and out of my lips all the time.
Afaf: Right. Uh, I mean, it, it's, it's clear that you, that you do that and, but with that you've, um, you've faced pressure, you and your sisters have faced pressure.
Can you give us, uh, examples of times that maybe you were, you know, asked to be quiet or, you know, there there was a lot of pushback that you had to deal with? I
Alana: mean, I've had, I've had pushback. I've been, um. Asked to resign from boards of, of, you know, major charities. Mm-hmm. Um, for my stance on Palestine, which is that I'm Palestinian and that no one, you know, no person should be, um, bombed, oppressed, starved, murdered.
So that's not really that controversial, but apparently it is when your Palestinian. Yeah. Um, I've lost jobs. They do it quietly most of the time. Um, it's just that people disappear and less that they say, I don't wanna work with you because you're [00:17:00] Palestinian, because they don't wanna be, um, like labeled, uh, xenophobic or racist or, you know.
Mm-hmm. Any of those things. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um. But yeah, I've definitely lost work. I've lost so-called friends. I've lost, you know, opportunities and places in which I valued. But, um, I realized that I. Those weren't important people in my lives if they, you know, don't support me while I support myself and my people.
Um, and that those jobs were probably not jobs I wanted or companies I wanted to represent if they, um, don't wanna represent me. And so I have also found amazing organizations and, and companies that do want me to work with them. And, um, and I feel very supported in that way. So.
Afaf: You talk about it in a way that, you know, it's an obvious thing, but was it, was it a process for you?
Was it a journey for you to get to that acceptance? Were there times Oh yeah. When you were like, what the hell is going on? Like, why is this [00:18:00] person doing this? Or why am I not hearing back from these people?
Alana: Sure. Oh, of course. I mean, I think, um. I think it was definitely a process. I definitely had to mourn and grieve the, like losses of, you know, close, supposed close friends and, um, and, you know, jobs that I thought that I would be perfect for and things that I thought were, you know, would be very advantageous.
Um, you know, for me, uh, I am not. A multimillionaire. I, you know, I make all my own money and, um, and I have to find jobs to do that. And so, um, it was definitely, uh, a lot. To, to deal with. But I also ha, I don't think I'll ever look back and say, well, I wish I had taken that job. Instead of standing up for, you know, for humans who, [00:19:00] who need people to speak about them, about Palestinians who, um, are being.
Murdered. I, I don't think I will ever look back and say, oh, I wish I did that job instead of speaking out for what's right. I'm on the right side of history. I, I don't think that I'll ever regret that. So yeah, it was a process, but I definitely, it was a pretty quick process because I've been processing for a long time what it means to be Palestinian, and I knew that it was never gonna be really easy.
And I'm, um. To stand up and say, I'm a Palestinian. And so, um, that process has been long and drawn out, and now I'm at the point where, um, I, I couldn't be prouder and I, and it couldn't be louder and I'm not gonna let anyone stop me.
Afaf: That's, that's, uh, that's, I mean, this is why I want you, wanted you to talk about it, because I think that there's a, there's a lot of fear, there's a lot of, he hesitancy, I've spoken to a lot of creatives who were like, you know, we want, we wanna speak out, but [00:20:00] then all, you know, we'll lose all of our client base.
And maybe they don't have, you know, they don't have the privilege, let's say to, you know, they can't afford to lose.
Alana: I think what I would say to them is, sure, and I completely understand and I, there is something to be said about, you know, um, so-called allies doing the work for us. Like oppressed people are always having to speak about their oppression and on their oppression.
And, and now that there are so many people out there speaking, um, it is important for them to, uh, to stand in front of us in a lot of ways. However, I don't think that. You will look back and you will find that so many of the people that support you will come out and be willing to work with you because of what you're saying.
I have found so many amazing businesses. I mean, I work for a Palestinian led, um, you know, production [00:21:00] company because I wasn't afraid to say I am Palestinian, and I did, and I wanted to work on Palestinian creative projects, and, and I found that, I mean. Again, I know I come from a place of privilege. I'm not gonna pretend like you know my name and, and my platform don't have a.
Uh, you know, a skin in the game. But I do think I've seen so many people who have taken a stand and, and our community has supported them. And so I do think that there is a place for you and we are creating those spaces for people to feel more safe. Um, like we need to create what freedom looks like now and what freedom looks like now is places like.
Watermelon Pictures and Watermelon Plus and, um, all of the amazing brands that have, you know, come out and said that they're Palestinian and all of these different places that you can feel safe to do what you wanna do. And I. Um, and speak out. So [00:22:00] I think that there are those spaces and they're coming and, um, you taking a stand will also lead to a, a lot more and, and something that is gonna feel good.
You're gonna feel good doing it while you're making money. Yeah.
Afaf: Yeah. So you have used your pro platform quite creatively to serve the cause. I'm, I'm talking about, you know, trying to outsmart the algorithm by doing makeup videos while you're, while you're, you know, uh, you know, on a rant about what's going on.
So what have you learned about the algorithm, about outsmarting it?
Alana: I mean. It's ridiculous what we have to do to be able to speak about, uh, about Palestine or, you know, educate people. But, um, I've learned that the algorithm pays attention for about the first 15 seconds. Um, and then you can kind of do whatever you want.
Um, so if you post a picture, a smiley picture of yourself, or if you start out smiling. That always helps, [00:23:00] um, doing, you know, get ready with me. Videos have been something that I've gotten into because, um, that kind of tricks the algorithm I've posted like quote unquote, like thirst trap pictures. Um, and then when you scroll there are educational.
There's, you know, there's a lot of ways around the algorithm that, um, where you can be educational. But you know, at the same time, there are a lot of. People who are paying attention, and I think there are specific actual humans and not just AI that are watching for Palestinian content. And so you do have to be, uh, quite creative when it comes to, um.
The content that you put out and, um, I know that I've had a shadow ban on me for since 2021. So, um, you know, the, the numbers I used to get when I had half as many followers on my story are completely different, um, than the ones I get now. So the, you know, my [00:24:00] story views are about, I don't know, a third of what they were, um, pre 2021.
Afaf: Wow. I'm really surprised to hear that. Because you're all over my
Alana: story, so why don't I just assume that everybody feeds you? Well, that's, that's, that's by design. Social media has become siloed. Um, and so. You're shown the content that you would want to see. And so if you wouldn't wanna see, um, information about Palestine, you're not gonna see it unless someone specifically shares it with you or it's on their story.
Um, and, and they have made social media into a group chat, and so we're only adding people in that we know. Are part of the movement. Um, and it, it's very complicated. Um, but that's the way that they've created social media and they've been doing it for a while purposefully to make it nonpolitical.
Afaf: Mm mm Yeah.
You mentioned before, um, you know, [00:25:00] if it, you know, about being cool, like if getting people to relate to you by being the cool Palestinians. So how do we make Palestine more mainstream without diluting. The cause and the messaging in, in other words, balancing between being cool and staying true to the cause.
Alana: I think there's a few different things that are important to that. One, we need more things, products, um, movies as we're trying to do. Um, you know, we need more things that, that are amazing that just happen to be Palestinian, you know? Um, if you love a product. Sometimes you don't even realize who made it for a very long time.
And so if we can continue to make amazing things and we do, we're some of the smartest, most educated people in the world. Um, you know, we have the most post-doctorate degrees, posts, um, graduate degrees. We are some of the most literate people in the [00:26:00] world. Palestinians are incredibly smart. We are. We are everywhere.
Being smart, being doctors, being lawyers, being engineers, being creatives. So we need to create more things that people love that just happen to be Palestinian. And on the other end of that, um, I think that we also need to. Forget about trying to make Palestine cool. Right? We, I don't, I don't think that that's the important thing.
I think us being who we are and speaking the truth is starting to wake the world up. People are starting to connect the dots between all the things that are not cool in the world. What's happening to Palestine is not cool and it is it, and I think that we're not gonna be, I. The cool place. What we are going to be is a conduit for people to understand what else in the [00:27:00] world is not cool.
What else is funded by, uh, capitalism and settler colonialism? Uh, what else we can see that looks like, um, the IOF. Like militarized police forces, we are seeing how our own settler colony in the United States is mimicking the settler colony in in, uh, Israel. We are seeing how Israel is involved in other places.
So I think it's twofold. One, we need to create things that are Palestinian, that are amazing and keep creating 'em and be unafraid to say that they're Palestinian. And two, we need to continue to educate people on what is happening in Palestine and how it relates to them. And I think with the social media platforms that we've created and the fact that regular.
Americans are just speaking about [00:28:00] Palestine on their platforms. Um, you know, using, like, making food and talking about Palestine or doing their makeup and talking about Palestine, um, or, you know, dancing and talking about Palestine. I think people are seeing that there's a necessity to talk about Palestine.
Just like when my sisters were becoming. Celebrities and they would just say they were Palestinian. Just saying You're Palestinian is power powerful because then people are like, what is Palestine and what do I need to know about it?
Afaf: Mm-hmm. So, so you've mentioned watermelon pictures a few times. It's very exciting what's happening.
Um, tell us about how you began with them as a creative director slash brand ambassador.
Alana: Yeah, so I started with them. When they, before they had started watermelon, so, uh, MPI, um, Hamza Badilla, uh, father and uncle [00:29:00] started MPI in 1976, which I think is amazing. Palestinians have been creating, um, amazing spaces for themselves since the seventies.
So they started MPI in 1976 and their. Hamza Badilla took it over and, um, my brother and um, VIN ar Fuso made a movie called Walled Off. If you haven't seen, seen it, please watch it. It's phenomenal. Um, I think it's like Palestine for the TikTok generation. I. Um, and, uh, they were bringing it on and Vin brought me in to meet them, um, so that I could help with the kind of creative direction for the rollout of Waldorf.
And they brought me the idea of watermelon pictures while we were in conversation. And I said, sign me up. Like, put me in. How can I help? What can I do? And um, and we started talking about it and a team was formed. Um. [00:30:00] Watermelon pictures was created. Um, and it was honestly one of the most, I think I cried every single day 'cause I was happy tears because I had never seen, um, Palestine represented in this way.
And so, uh, it was one of the most beautiful experiences to, to help create watermelon pictures. Um, and I just feel very honored to be part of the team. And what we've accomplished in a year is, um, was like on our five year. Um, kind of trajectory. And so we're, we're very proud of ourselves for what we've done and, and how hard we've hustled and we're, we're a quite small team, um, with a lot of power.
I think.
Afaf: That's amazing. We had, we had, uh, recently be and Hamza on and they, I know, told us about all their, their journey and we talked a little bit about, uh, Hollywood bias. For you growing up, what were some of the memories you had about, you know, watching Hollywood [00:31:00] movies, watching movies where you were like, this is not, this is not us.
Alana: I mean, I think it was always, it was always in the background. There was so much, um, uh, role playing. Um, uh. Characterization dehumanization was always in the background. You know, the, the Arab was always the, the terrorist, the taxi driver, um, the, you know, or they were the, like, I. Good one who helped you from the other terror.
You know, it was never, it was so such a slight subconscious dehumanization and then sometimes so heavy handed, and it was very interesting to watch back a lot of the things that I watched as a kid. I've watched that recently. And to see the. Subconscious dehumanization of Arabs and Muslims and, um, Palestinians and all sorts of people.
The, the [00:32:00] like overt xenophobia, um, and Islamophobia that is throughout Hollywood, um, has really hit me. And I've seen it in everything from, you know, kids TV shows to, you know, adults, um, dramas. So it's always been there. And so we've been, we've been. Brainwash, um, the world has been brainwashed. It's, you know, they don't talk about it in school, but in movies, you, you see it every time.
And that's that soft power that really, um, that really changes the narrative. And so we've been kind of pushing back on that, that, that supposed power that has really made us, um, into non-humans.
Afaf: It's, it, it was super exciting when Water Watermelon pictures came out and said, Hey, we're here. We're gonna be offering, you know, our own movies, our own narrative.
What are some of your favorite Palestinian movies or songs or, or, [00:33:00] or brands that, that you, you know, are inspired by?
Alana: I mean, that's like. Asking what my favorite child is. Um, I mean, like I said, there are so many, the, the amazing thing about. Watermelon plus, and that's not just to plug it, is that there's so much to see and I am even, like, I'm, I'm watching on our own platform films that I haven't seen yet.
Mm-hmm. Um, but I think some of the ones that I think are amazing are, you know, Janine, Janine, um, uh, obviously walled off. I love, um, I think. Five broken cameras, which we have, which is a phenomenal film. You know, speaking about, um. Uh, journalism in in Palestine. I think that there are so many films. What we want more of is those amazing films and that we're trying to create are these [00:34:00] amazing films that really touch you, that just happen to be Palestinian.
Afaf: Right?
Alana: Right. And I think that that is gonna be something that is going to truly change the narrative when someone sees a film and just loves it and falls in love with it. And, you know, everyone in the film is Arab or, or Palestinian, the director is, and the production company is. Um, and that is something we've been striving for and, and we're really excited about.
Afaf: Mm-hmm. So would you say that's, that's one of your dreams for watermelon pictures? Like, uh, to have, to be, it's in the works.
Alana: We're working on it.
Afaf: Is there anything else that you, you say, oh, it'd be amazing if we could do this.
Alana: Yeah. Um, I want, I want. Watermelon, romantic comedy. I wanna, I want a Palestinian, um, dating show.
I want, like Palestinian Love Island.
Afaf: Ooh, okay.
Alana: Well, we, we, that's what I, I want that, you know, there, there's already been, uh, love is Blind. [00:35:00] The like, you know, Arab version. Yeah. I want like. I want like some fun, exciting where everyone just happens to be Palestinian. I think that would be so amazing. Would make for phenomenal television.
And you know, like. I want, we not in the process of making that, but that is a goal for me.
Afaf: You know, we had, uh, Mason Zed on, uh, quite a while back, and she's working on a parody, a parody though, of a, of like a, of like a dating, uh, dating show. Dating game show to be in Palestine. Want real thing. I, I want the drama
Alana: and the fun and the love and whatever I want.
All of that, that is. That's the full spectrum of, of Palestinians, you know, we're funny, we're fun, we love, and uh, and you know, and I think that we deserve to, for all of it to be shown. If everyone everywhere else gets it, why, why can't we have it?
Afaf: Mm mm That's true. And what about like, uh, favorite design [00:36:00] brands that are Palestinian or.
Alana: Oh, God, there's so many. Um, pale roots is amazing. Um, you know, uh, where the piece is amazing, I feel like those, I, I love the, um, A and z. They're, they are, you know, I feel like there's so many, um, brands that are really platforming Palestine and then also giving back. Um, I also think it's important that it's also not a necessity.
Um. I think it's important to say that Palestine isn't always a charity and that Palestinians deserve to succeed and we deserve to, um, to be successful. And that, um, Palestine isn't just a charitable function of something. We don't, it doesn't always have to be about charity. Yes, of course it's important for us to give back, but to make an amazing product and for that to be Palestinian, um, I think is important.
Yeah, sorry, like Empire Records. Was founded by a Palestinian, but he didn't [00:37:00] f find, found it. Excuse me. Um, on the basis of it being Palestinian, he wanted to make an amazing record company and he did. Mm-hmm. And he's a Palestinian. I think that's also important. Mm-hmm. We're okay. It's okay for us to use our intellect and our ability to be successful and we.
It doesn't always have to be about charity. Um, I, it's
Afaf: important for people to keep that in mind because I think, you know, especially, you know, a couple of years ago when people would be designing things, um, they, they, and you know, they would be asked like, oh, which charities is going to, and they'd say, N none.
There was kind of like, oh, you're, you're gonna do this for profit. So I think it's important for people to. To keep that in mind that it's okay, it's okay to build your brand and, and promote your, your, your, your product.
Alana: Well, also we are Palestinian and we have been maligned in being Palestinian for a very long time.
Yeah. And so, um, in order to create these spaces. [00:38:00] Yeah. Uh, we live in a capitalistic hellscape and, and there's nothing we can do about it now. People need to make money to live and we are creating products that are, that are Palestinian and they need support, and you need money to do that. We don't, you know, we don't live in a utopia.
That's the reality. Um. But I also think that it's important for people to understand that it's okay to be successful and we're, we are constantly oppressed. People are constantly asked. Um, why they are trying to be successful and it's important, it's important for us to, to, to get to that space and place and to do it while saying we are Palestinian and do it while saying, you know, we are Muslim or Christian, or you know, or Arab or.
It's okay. We deserve it. And you know, that's not to say that charity isn't important, but Palestinians aren't charity cases. We [00:39:00] are put in a position of necessity. We are incredibly successful and incredibly smart, and incredibly capable. We are being forced in a to a position of necessity. We don't need it.
We are being forced into a place of need. And so to not allow Palestinians to be successful is to keep us in a place of, we are only a charity case. We don't, we wanna be able to create the, the, the money that will go back into what a free Palestine looks like. And I think. That's also quite important.
Afaf: So how can these, for example, these, uh, Palestinian fashion brands that you mentioned, how can they make it mainstream?
How can we get Riz into the Chloe fashion show, for example?
Alana: I mean, I think they are, and, and I would suggest that we don't. Get Teris into the Chloe Fashion Show, uh, because, um, we have been co-opted for so long, so many brands have used the Kafi Teris and not, [00:40:00] um, given it, it's, it's due not said that this is Palestinian and not explained to people that what they're buying and what they're buying into and what they're admiring is, is Palestinian culture and ethnicity.
And so I want. A Chloe type brand that is Palestinian. And we have some of those now. We have amazing, uh, Palestinian designers who are putting their, their designs on runways. And we need to, instead of, you know, putting our money into a brand that is co-opting Palestinian, uh, um, culture, we need to spend our money on Palestinian brands that are highlighting Palestinian culture.
And I think that that. In doing that and people thinking that it's cool, then, you know, it becomes mainstream. Um, let's let those brands become mainstream and not try to insert Palestinian culture into already mainstream brands. [00:41:00]
Afaf: So yeah, when we achieve our ultimate goal, what do you see yourself, Alana doing creatively?
Back to Fashion Con, continuing to be a voice.
Alana: Hopefully I will not have to be an activist. I would love to not, you know, I, I envision a world where I don't have to be an activist. Um, that where we actually take care of each other and, um, the necessity for us to advocate for ourselves or other people doesn't exist.
I, I would love for all of every person to be advocating for every person. Um, that's, that's what freedom looks like for me. Um, I would love to be able to. You know, open a boutique, um, in, in a free Palestine and, um, you know, and, and, and do that. But I, I envision watermelon pictures always existing because I think that there will always need to be platforms, um, for [00:42:00] voices.
I just hope that those voices aren't marginalized anymore.
Afaf: Yeah, I hope so too. Yeah. What other projects or, uh, boards are you involved in? Anything that you'd like to mention to our listeners?
Alana: Um, actually Jenanne and I are writing a book. Um, it's, we are writing a book together. It's, um, about Palestine.
It's uh, it's actually aimed at nine to 15 year olds, but I think it's an important book for anyone. It's the history of Palestinians and, and how they, um, ended up coming to America. Um, and why. Um, so we are in the process of doing that. I think it's about a year away though, because, you know, writing a book takes a long time.
Yeah. Um, uh, I have the SEEDS podcast that I love and I'm very excited about. Um, I'm not, I. Currently on any boards because I don't have the bandwidth beyond the advocacy that I'm already doing and, uh, [00:43:00] watermelon pictures. But, um, I, I work with a ton of amazing charities and I suggest, um, going to my Instagram and looking at the, uh, donation highlight, and you'll see all of the different amazing charities I work with from Palestine all the way to s Sudan and Congo.
Afaf: That's good to know. Speaking of, what is Landy Bear?
Alana: Oh, that's what my mom called me, uh, when I was a baby and when I started my Instagram. A lot of people were just using their nicknames and so I. Use my nickname. I didn't realize that Instagram was gonna be anything more than just a place you put your photos.
And so, um, yeah, the fact that people call me that now is really funny 'cause it's what my mom called me when I was a little kid. So, um, now everyone calls me Lonnie and I think it's really funny 'cause it's, it was only meant to be a, a thing between my mom and I. But, um, now it's my name and I'm very happy about it.
Afaf: Oh, I love it. I [00:44:00] love it. Well, I mean, I know that a lot of people have, you know, learned a lot watching you been inspired. Thank you. Uh, been driven to be more courageous and just themselves and unapologetic. Uh, you know, I, I think it's, it's, you're a very, very important role model for a lot of people. I hope that you recognize that and, um, thank you.
We're, we're super excited about watermelon pictures and everything that it stands for. Thank you. So, yeah, we're excited to see what else, what else, uh, develops. In the coming future. Thank you
Alana: so much. Yeah, I, I just wanted to say to, to anyone who feels alone sometimes, this is a lonely fight. Uh, when you feel alone, just look out to the streets.
There are millions and millions of people around the world who are in this fight together. And so when you feel alone, just know that you're not, uh, we're all together in this.
Afaf: Thank you so much. That's a great note to end on. Thank you so much, Alana. Thanks for your time and, [00:45:00] uh, and uh, thank you for having me.
Yeah. And free Palestine. Free Palestine. Thank you. Thanks.
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