Ep 2.2 – Najla Said
11/22/24 • 58 min
Nikkiesha speaks with Najla Said, a multifaceted Palestinian-Lebanese-Arab-American actress, playwright, author, and activist, known for her poignant memoir ‘Looking for Palestine.’ Najla describes the intricate and painful realities faced by the Palestinian people, especially in light of the ongoing suffering and the recent escalation of violence in Gaza. With the goal of amplifying Palestinian voices, this conversation dives deep into the emotional turmoil and complexity of identity that Najla has experienced, both personally and in the context of her community, as well as how the recent violence has not only impacted her own mental health but has also influenced her sense of belonging and identity. She candidly discusses how, in the past, she often felt compelled to code-switch to make others more comfortable with her identity, a dichotomy that has grown increasingly untenable given the current climate. She underscores the vital importance of expressing truth amidst a sense of denial and gaslighting that she often feels around public discourse on Palestine.
Najla shares her thoughts on cultivating resilience in the face of horrific realities, including the events of October 7, 2023, and how these experiences have shaped her understanding of conflict and identity vis-à-vis her heritage. Through the lens of her upbringing, Najla distinguishes her family's storied past from the narratives constructed around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing the need for a more nuanced understanding of this history. Drawing parallels to her father Edward Said’s legacy as an intellectual and activist, she grapples with her identity as an artist recognizable for her own voice rather than merely as her father’s daughter, including the writing of her memoir, ‘Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family,’ which originated from a play she’d previously developed.
Najla’s reflections on Lebanon and Palestine serve to highlight the vibrancy of Arab culture that is often eclipsed by narratives focused solely on conflict. She vividly describes the warmth, connection, and shared loves that permeate her family experiences in Lebanon, underscoring the importance of these connections in the face of hardship. She also shares valuable recommendations of Palestinian authors, illuminating the diverse voices that contribute to a fuller understanding of the Palestinian experience.
This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.
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https://www.instagram.com/kittybubble
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0:14 - Introduction to Najla Said
1:20 - Najla's Personal Journey
9:08 - The Impact of October 7th
16:43 - Addressing Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism
20:18 - The Future of Palestinian Generations
24:43 - Identity Beyond Her Father, Edward Said
32:06 - Understanding Her Father's Legacy
37:58 - The Evolution of ‘Looking for Palestine’ from Play to Memoir
45:57 - The Beauty of Lebanon
50:28 - Najla Reads from ‘Looking for Palestine’ About Lebanese Culture
54:32 - Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
56:39 - Outro
Nikkiesha speaks with Najla Said, a multifaceted Palestinian-Lebanese-Arab-American actress, playwright, author, and activist, known for her poignant memoir ‘Looking for Palestine.’ Najla describes the intricate and painful realities faced by the Palestinian people, especially in light of the ongoing suffering and the recent escalation of violence in Gaza. With the goal of amplifying Palestinian voices, this conversation dives deep into the emotional turmoil and complexity of identity that Najla has experienced, both personally and in the context of her community, as well as how the recent violence has not only impacted her own mental health but has also influenced her sense of belonging and identity. She candidly discusses how, in the past, she often felt compelled to code-switch to make others more comfortable with her identity, a dichotomy that has grown increasingly untenable given the current climate. She underscores the vital importance of expressing truth amidst a sense of denial and gaslighting that she often feels around public discourse on Palestine.
Najla shares her thoughts on cultivating resilience in the face of horrific realities, including the events of October 7, 2023, and how these experiences have shaped her understanding of conflict and identity vis-à-vis her heritage. Through the lens of her upbringing, Najla distinguishes her family's storied past from the narratives constructed around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing the need for a more nuanced understanding of this history. Drawing parallels to her father Edward Said’s legacy as an intellectual and activist, she grapples with her identity as an artist recognizable for her own voice rather than merely as her father’s daughter, including the writing of her memoir, ‘Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family,’ which originated from a play she’d previously developed.
Najla’s reflections on Lebanon and Palestine serve to highlight the vibrancy of Arab culture that is often eclipsed by narratives focused solely on conflict. She vividly describes the warmth, connection, and shared loves that permeate her family experiences in Lebanon, underscoring the importance of these connections in the face of hardship. She also shares valuable recommendations of Palestinian authors, illuminating the diverse voices that contribute to a fuller understanding of the Palestinian experience.
This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.
===
https://www.instagram.com/kittybubble
===
0:14 - Introduction to Najla Said
1:20 - Najla's Personal Journey
9:08 - The Impact of October 7th
16:43 - Addressing Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism
20:18 - The Future of Palestinian Generations
24:43 - Identity Beyond Her Father, Edward Said
32:06 - Understanding Her Father's Legacy
37:58 - The Evolution of ‘Looking for Palestine’ from Play to Memoir
45:57 - The Beauty of Lebanon
50:28 - Najla Reads from ‘Looking for Palestine’ About Lebanese Culture
54:32 - Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
56:39 - Outro
Previous Episode
Ep 2.1 - SuperKnova
Nikkie speaks with the incredibly talented SuperKnova, a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter whose music embodies the diverse experiences of BIPOC, queer, trans, and non-binary artists – and has been featured on Showtime’s 'Work In Progress,' Epic Games’ 'Fortnite,' and playlists by Sephora, MTV and Spotify editorial. We begin the episode by showcasing SuperKnova's captivating track "Ava Gardner," which sets the stage for an engaging conversation about their journey through music, identity, and artistic expression. SuperKnova shares their unique background, revealing that their path to becoming an indie-pop/electronic musician began with jazz and included a stint in medical school. Along the way, music served as a therapeutic outlet while navigating their identity as a queer, transgender person. This transformative experience led SuperKnova to embrace songwriting as a way to process their emotions and life experiences, while their early songs, initially meant for personal reflection, gained an audience on platforms like Bandcamp, leading them to take seriously a career in music.
Superknova shares with Nikkie about their intention to create music that uplifts and empowers, particularly for marginalized communities, highlighting the importance of representing queer narratives in their work and weaving universal themes of love, belonging, and acceptance into their lyrics. They then delve into the realities faced by transgender and non-binary artists in the music industry today as SuperKnova shares their thoughts on tokenism and the ongoing challenges of navigating spaces that often feel unwelcoming. They talk about the need for safer environments and platforms that can amplify the voices of underrepresented artists, reflecting on their initiative to create a supportive music group specifically for BIPOC, queer, trans, and non-binary musicians. Toward the end of the episode, they discuss SupernKova's influences, musical style, and their aspirations for the future, including an upcoming fall tour and potential new music that will expand on their artistic vision. The episode then concludes with another of SuperKnova's tracks, called "Seatbelts."
This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.
===
https://superknovaofficial.com/
https://superknova.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/superknovamusic
https://www.youtube.com/@SuperKnovaMusic
https://instagram.com/superKnovamusic
https://facebook.com/SuperKnovaMusic
===
0:11 - Introduction to When We See Each Other
058 - “Ava Gardner” by SuperKnova
3:51 - Embracing Autumn
5:28 - The Journey to Music
6:34 - Transitioning from Medicine to Music
10:53 - Family and Identity
12:20 - The Importance of Chosen Family
13:08 - Embracing Queer Identity
14:23 - The Origins of SuperKnova
14:50 - Learning the Craft
22:08 - Creative Process and Inspiration
25:35 - The Magic of Ava Gardner
28:10 - The Power of Representation
33:30 - Connection Through Shared Trauma
37:16 - Writing from Identity
40:48 - Navigating Indie Music as a Trans Woman
45:39 - Creating Safe Spaces in Music
49:41 - The Birth of a Community
55:11 - Future Projects and Releases
56:30 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
56:54 - “Seatbelts” by SuperKnova
Next Episode
Book Club, Vol. 1: 'Pet' by Akwaeke Emezi
Nikkiesha is joined by Serena Oduro and Christopher Silverberg to discuss 'Pet,' the speculative fiction/young adult novel by Nigerian non-binary author Akwaeke Emezi.
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Serena and Christopher are participants, along with Nikkie, in writing workshops organized by Cave Canem, a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of Black poets. Visit https://cavecanempoets.org/ for more information on the organization.
===
ABOUT PET:
-NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST
-STONEWALL BOOK AWARD WINNER
-ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME
A genre-defying novel from the award-winning author NPR describes as “like [Madeline] L’Engle...glorious.” A singular book that explores themes of identity and justice. Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look?
There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question--How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?
A riveting and timely young adult debut novel that asks difficult questions about what choices you can make when the society around you is in denial.
"[A] beautiful, genre-expanding debut" –The New York Times
"The word hype was invented to describe books like this." –Refinery29
Get the book at https://www.rhcbooks.com/books/586483/pet-by-akwaeke-emezi
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This podcast is produced by Stereoactive Media.
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