I made this mix a few days ago. The reason why I make mixes is to share some of the music I listen to, as I listen to a lot of music and its just something I’ve been into since I was…11. My mixes aren’t mixed very well as I’m not a DJ, but folks have told me they like the tunes they hear :-D

So have a listen! I also finally wrote in the ol’ family music blog, so if you want more tunes to listen to, head over there as well.

cheers,

Hena

I have a number of cool updates on my end, that I’m pretty thankful for.

A couple of weeks ago I was part of two panels at this year’s Left Forum. I spoke on a session titled “Race in the Post 9/11 Era” and discussed the racialization of Muslims by the Left. I also moderated a panel that featured Black and Brown ladies who have been highly engaged with Occupy Wall Street, called “Our Occupy: Anti-Oppression and Racial Justice at Occupy Wall Street”. The panelists spoke to a packed room and detailed their experiences of external and internal struggles at Occupy. I think its the best session I’ve ever been to at the Left Forum in my three years of attending, because of the honesty and depth of the discussion.

A few days ago I moderated a talkback discussion that took place after a screening of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, at the Schomburg in Harlem. The audience raised up lots of interesting points about Rustin not being included in the history books unfortunately. He was an activist that set a great example of connecting the struggles.

Upcoming, I’ve been invited to speak at the 6th annual NYC Asian American Student Conference. Check out this cute graphic:

Cool eh? Its happening Saturday, April 21st at NYU. I’ll be discussing one of my favourite topics: the misrepresentations of Muslims in the media and the burgeoning resistance by Muslim artists against such portrayals. Yeah!

Lastly, I’ll be in Hawaii next week to be a part of an ITVS workshop called “Diverse Muslim Voices X-Change”. Its basically a small forum to give Muslim filmmakers a leg-up. I’ll be going to help rep Muslim women (because there are very few Muslim women filmmakers in this country unfortunately) through my work Black Public Media. I’m really grateful and excited to be a part of this, and two years after I was sent to Malaysia, I’m being sent to the tropics once again. :-D

Wahey!

Hena

Cheers,

Hena

Have a look!

You can read it here:

http://www.leftturn.org/winter-our-discontent

Its a response to “Why I Am Not Protesting at Occupy” by AmericanPaki.

You can read my piece here (cheers!) :

http://infrontandcenter.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/why-i-am-protesting-at-occupy/

http://www.blackline.tv/?p=4252

Yes! Magazine has released what’s probably the first book about OWS, called This Changes Everything: Occupy Wall Street and the 99% Movement. It includes a version of Brown Power at Occupy Wall Street! 9/29/11 as a chapter, alongside contributions from other activists as well as public figures. All of the proceeds go towards the Occupy movement!

More information is available here:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/products/this-changes-everything/this-changes-everything

My friends and I have launched a new blog called In Front and Center:

“We are a group that has been participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement. We are part of the 99% and are united in solidarity with all those who are fighting to change the direction in this country.  As participants of this occupation, we also believe that solidarity and criticism go together. We are people of color and allies who want to ensure that the voices, experiences and issues of the most oppressed and marginalized communities are in the front and center of this movement.”

You can read my latest writing there, “Lessons from OWS“.

Thanks!