Living in a small town in Texas, I grew up around negative perceptions of marginalized groups. Whether it be Black and Brown people, immigrants, Muslims, or members from the LGBTQIA+ community–there was always a growing hysteria of anyone that was deemed as “other.” As a Black and Mexican child, I encountered more places I felt unwelcome than not. It felt like ignorance and racism was protected- like it was just what life was supposed to be like because the majority of people were okay with the way things were. The violent misconceptions about my people’s community and experiences were rampant and most people felt no inclination to change that.
I find it sometimes difficult to speak about important subjects, in fear that I won’t be able to express what I feel correctly or coherently. But now in my late 20’s, I realize how incredibly important is to not only use my voice, but be confident in it.
In the U.S., we often believe what we are taught. We get snippets of current events and then make a conclusion with insufficient, often biased information. We move on because there’s too much happening. Even with some of the most technologically advanced devices, we say we don’t know enough. We may even think that the horrific things we see happening to other people, have little to nothing to do with us. We keep to ourselves and continue on in our lives as if it’s just the way things are.
Maybe it’s because most of us feel we don’t have any real control in the lives we live. Multiple tragedies happen consistently around us, making us feel powerless. Especially for marginalized people who are familiar with everyday oppression – we avoid speaking up or getting involved because we’ve seen the outcome for people who do. From anti “Cop City” protestors getting RICO charges to climbing numbers of Trans activists being killed. We know that simply existing puts us at risk, and showing our solidarity even more so. It is a danger that stays in the back of our mind.
But staying up to date on what’s happening to people everywhere is a vital part of community. We don’t have to do this alone. Education can and should be a collaborative effort – we don’t have to be experts or scholars to speak on any given subject. But rather, part of the learning process should be exposing ourselves to more information every day –using context, accuracy, and ultimately empathy. We first surround ourselves with people who have a desire for knowledge that is true, and serves the liberation of all people–not just the rich and white.
October 2023 isn’t when Palestine’s oppression first began. Since 1948 through an ethnic cleansing known as the Nakba, Palestinians have endured nearly a century long of violent discriminatory laws, displacement, exploitation, massacres, and countless other human rights violations. Decades of misinformation has caused the western world to believe that this is only a matter of territorial conflict, rather than settler colonialism enacted by a Zionist regime. Misinformation creates indifference, ignorance, and even violence toward those who are being oppressed. We can’t continue the cycle of blatant miseducation.
We train our social media to show us what’s happening on the ground in places like Gaza from journalists who have risked their lives to show us what’s happening in real time. Who better to ask than the people who have lived there despite censorship and eradication of basic human freedoms.
Humanity should be rooted in the desire to help and protect those who are most disenfranchised.
I’ve re-shared multiple links, social media accounts, books, and sites to help anyone get a better sense of what has and is taking place in Palestine and how to get involved. Please feel free to add any suggestions in the comments below. As most journalists and civilians have said before, there are a lot of fraudulent companies trying to exploit this horror and take money from people trying to send help. Please be cautious. You can donate to GoFundMe accounts, such as Operation Olive Branch‘s extensive list to help Palestinian families directly. Please also remember to take part in the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) movement, which is a Palestinian led movement that includes boycotts to companies you may buy from.
Please feel free to suggest any additions you have that may be a great help in the further knowledge of this topic. We learn from each other- that shouldn’t be a task we take up on our own.
Learning about the genocide that’s taking place in Palestine is not going to be something we learn overnight. But we all start somewhere to continue the stories, context, history, and experiences for the 25,000+ Palestinians who are no longer with us.
As always, thank you for being here.
ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW
@motaz_azaiza @Ahmedhijazee
@Aborjelaa @Salma.shawa_
@Joegaza93 @wizard_bisan1
INFORMATION
@eye.on.palestine @Cravingpalestine @Qudsn @Theimeu
@Mondoweiss
ANALYSIS
@Mohammedelkurd @Gazangirl
@Adnan_barq @jenanmatari
@letstalkpalestine @middleeastmonitor
@ykreborn @jewishvoiceforpeace
ARTICLES
- Imprisoning Palestine: Zionist colonialism through an abolitionist lensby Rawan Masri & Fathi Nemer
- Israel’s Military Checkpoints– An interactive, photo essay
- Gaza Strip in maps: How Life Has Changed
- Quick Facts: The Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe)
- Solidarity with Palestine – A Radical Black Feminist Mandate: A Reading List
BOOKS
**Haymarket Books is offering free E-books for the following three books:
- Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions by Omar Barghouti
- Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire edited by Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing, and Mike Merryman-Lotze
- Palestine: A Socialist Introductionedited by Sumaya Awad & Brian Bean
- Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, And the Foundation of a Movement by Angela Davis
- Colonization and Decolonization: A Manual for Indigenous Liberation in the 21st Movement by Zig-Zag
- The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi
- Nakba: Palestine, 1948, and the Claims of Memory by Ahmad H. Sa’di & Lila Abu-Lughod
- Return: A Palestinian Memoir by Ghada Karmi
- Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel, and the Palestinians by Noam Chomsky
- Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics by Marc Lamont Hill & Mitchell Plitnick
- On Antisemitism: Solidarity and the Struggle for Justiceby Jewish Voice for Peace
FILMS
- Born in Gaza (2014) – Free on Kanopy (Can create account with Library Card
- Farha (2021) Free on Tubi and Netflix
- 5 Broken Cameras (2011) free on Kanopy
- Ultra Zionists (2011) on Prime
- Occupation 101 (2006) on Prime
- How Palestinians Were Expelled from Their Homes by Vox on Youtube
WEBSITES WITH COMPREHENSIVE READING
www.bdsmovement.net – BDS Movement
https://imeu.org/ – (IMEU) Institute for Middle East Understanding