Representation in Cinema

Our Voices Project LLC
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  • Film Reviews

We discuss the representation of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in movies. We address the things that we love seeing, the tropes and stereotypes that Hollywood continues to perpetuate on screen, and what representation we'd like to see moving forward. You can listen to this podcast on any podcast platform!

  1. 5h ago

    Ida B. Wells: A Chicago Stories Special

    Hey pod and Happy Thursday! Tonight is the 4th part of our Black August series, where we talk about the films that highlight Black resistance, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. Sometimes Black resistance comes not only with physically fighting back, but with speaking against injustice putting pen to paper. Tonight, we’re diving into Ida B Wells: A Chicago Stories Special, produced and written by Stacy Robinson. Freed from slavery just six months after she was born, Ida B. Wells once described her childhood with her parents and siblings in Holly Springs, Mississippi as “happy.” But a tragedy would alter the course of Wells’ youth. As a young woman and teacher, she refused to give up her seat on a train car that she was told was reserved for white women. That incident launched the young Wells into her first public fight for justice. Through writing, Ida B. Wells found her “real” self. As she wrote, her words became an important tool to analyze, debate, and persuade readers on the issues of the day, particularly when it came to race and gender. But after the lynching of her close friend in Memphis, Wells found a new kind of power in her pen. There are a few folks joining us on the podcast tonight to talk about this documentary. Luticha André Doucette is the author of the groundbreaking book: Cultivating An Intersectional Mindset (Buy on Thriftbooks or Amazon.) She also was featured in an anthology, called Our Power- A Solitary Reverie (Buy on IngramSpark). An inductee into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame established by the National Disability Mentoring Coalition and the 2020 – 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awardee from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Luticha’s research and writing has been featured in various publications such as Insect Molecular Biology, Toxicon, The New York Times, and Yes! Magazine. She is the owner of Catalyst Consulting Associates, which helps organizations, leaders, and advocates examine equity across race, gender identity, and disability in policies, practices, procedures, and relationships. You can follow her at https://www.instagram.com/freedomofmovement35. Brionna Dunn is the author of the upcoming children's photography and emotional literacy workbook Follow The Lens: My World Through My Eyes. She’s also a creative director and the owner of the visual branding and photography agency Follow The Lens (also operating as Alejandra Paris Photos). Her photographic work spans editorial, portrait, fashion, event, and maternity photography, including serving as a featured photographer for the 5th Annual A&B Fashionista Fashion Show. You can follow her at https://www.instagram.com/follwthelens. Dr. Katrina Overby is an assistant professor in the School of Communication at RIT, a public speaker, DJ, community connector, and recurring guest on the Our Voices podcast. Her work centers Black women’s representation in popular and digital media, sisterhoods in and beyond the academy, and Black feminist approaches to storytelling, pedagogy, and community care—work she continues through her newly launched brand and YouTube channel, SPIN Dr. KO Media. Make sure you go subscribe to her channel! You can also read her dissertation and articles centered on Black culture on Google Scholar. Last, but certainly not least, follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dr_ko_08. Brianna Milon is a published author, communications professional and model who blends creativity and connection in everything she does. You can follow her at https://www.instagram.com/yesthatbri. Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button, give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you thought of tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes continuing our Black August series, including Attica (which is on YouTube) and Candyman, which you can either rent online or borrow from your local library before tuning into our next episodes. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 15:22 - The Power of Women 19:24 - The Impact of Lynching and the Voices of Black Women 29:50 - Exploring Elitism and Community Division 35:32 - The Intersection of Race and Gender: Black Women's Struggles 45:14 - Community and Resistance: A Call to Action 50:57 - The Strength of Black Women and Their Sacrifices 54:46 - The Cost of Strength and Vulnerability 01:05:28 - The Untold Stories of Black Women in History 01:09:41 - Exploring Representation in Cinema Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

  2. 8h ago

    The Stroll

    Hey pod and welcome back! This is the third segment of our Black August series, where we talk about the films that highlight Black resistance, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. Tonight, we are discussing the film, The Stroll directed by Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker released in 2023. Co-Director, trans activist, and former sex worker, Kristen Lovell tells the history of New York City’s Meatpacking District during the 1980s and 1990s through her personal story and the stories of Black and Latina trans women who worked there as sex workers in an area known as "The Stroll". Joining us again on the podcast tonight is Kamryn Elhen Jerrel. Her pronouns are she/her/we/fae. She’s the former host of Tranos and the Lived Experience Podcast and releasing a new podcast soon! You can follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kamrynblaque. Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button, give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you thought of tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes continuing our Black August series, including discussing the documentary, Ida B. Wells: A Chicago Stories Special, which you can watch now on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML8XiKVStWQ). Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 18:38 - The Concept of Acceptable Gay Theory 30:24 - The Impact of Giuliani's Policies on Trans Lives 34:20 - The Impact of Trauma on the Trans Community 48:12 - The Journey of Resilience and Joy Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

  3. 6d ago

    Paris Is Burning

    Hey pod and welcome back! This is the second segment of our Black August series, where we talk about the films that highlight Black resistance, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. Black resistance comes in many forms and tonight we are diving into Paris Is Burning, directed by Jennie Livingston and released in 1990. It’s a documentary that provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, Paris Is Burning offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza. Joining us on the podcast tonight is a podcast regular, Cocoa Rae David! She’s a New York-based visual artist, curator, photographer, filmmaker, and business owner of By Cocoa Rae LLC, who creates captivating portraits and art of unique and diverse people and captures their true essence. You can visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bycocoarae. (She’s also on TikTok under the same name.) Cocoa also has a studio, art gallery, and event space called Da Purp which you can follow here: https://www.instagram.com/da_purp. If you want to book her space for an upcoming event, art gallery or photography/videography session, you can visit Da Purp on Peerspace here: https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/649feb0b70383c000e8473c4. We also have a first-timer on the podcast, Kamyrn Ehlen Jerrel. Her pronouns are she/her/we. She’s the former host of Tranos and the Lived Experience Podcast. You can follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kamrynblaque. Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button, give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you thought of tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes continuing our Black August series, including Attica (which is on YouTube) and The Stroll, which you can watch on HBO Max before tuning into our next episodes. Chapters 00:00 Intro 07:04 Defining Community and the Role of Compassion 11:54 The Role of Compassion in Community 30:28 The Evolution & Revolutionary Nature of Ballroom Culture 37:53 Exploring Integrity in Documentary Filmmaking 41:43 The Controversy of Exploitation in 'Paris is Burning' 1:06:23 The Need for Authentic Representation in Black LGBTQIA2S+ Cinema Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement

  4. Aug 6

    Daughters of the Dust

    Hey pod and Happy Thursday! If this is your first time listening or watching, welcome to Representation in Cinema – we talk about the films that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices as well as on the film industry itself. Tonight marks the beginning of our Black August series, where we talk about the films that highlight Black resistance, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. Black August was created in solidarity with freedom fighters and political prisoners in San Quentin State Prison in California, including published author, Black Panther field marshal, and thought leader—George Jackson—who was killed by prison guards in 1971. This month is not only a time to learn about the movements, uprisings, and revolutionaries from our past, but to also continue to work as a collective and in solidarity with community organizers and grassroots groups towards Black liberation. As filmmakers, it’s our duty to share stories of those who fought (and continue to fight) against and outside of destructive systems, whose very existence disrupts those systems. Hollywood is one of those entities using film as a medium to stereotype, dehumanize, and to maintain the status quo for Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples. All month long, we’ll be sharing and reflecting on these stories here on the Representation in Cinema podcast. Tonight, we’re diving into Daughters of the Dust, directed by Julie Dash. Daughters of the Dust follows the Gullah-Geechee Peazant family on Ibo Landing, South Carolina, as they prepare to migrate North. Nana Peazant, the aged matriarch, refuses to migrate and frets over the possibility of broken family ties and lost traditions. Joining us on the podcast tonight is Cocoa Rae David, who I think at this point is no longer a guest, but a regular on the RIC pod! She’s a New York-based visual artist, curator, photographer, filmmaker, and business owner of By Cocoa Rae LLC, who creates captivating portraits and art of unique and diverse people and captures their true essence. You can visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bycocoarae. (She’s also on TikTok under the same name.) Cocoa also has a studio, art gallery, and event space called Da Purp which you can follow here: https://www.instagram.com/da_purp. If you want to book her space for an upcoming event, art gallery or photography/videography session, you can visit Da Purp on Peerspace here: https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/649feb0b70383c000e8473c4. She also mentioned The Slave Dwelling Project, organized by Joseph McGill. You can visit the website to learn more and support the project here: https://slavedwellingproject.org. You can also follow them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/slavedwellingproject Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button, give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you thought of tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes continuing our Black August series, including Paris is Burning, which you can watch on HBO Max and Tubi before tuning into our next episode. This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for this episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement

  5. Jul 30

    We're BACK! (+ Black Representation in Fantasy)

    Hello pod – it’s been a MINUTE. In fact, we’ve been off and on for a couple of months. We wanted to update you on what’s been going on with me and with Our Voices Project PLUS talk a LITTLE BIT about Black representation in fantasy. But before I get to that if this is your first time listening and/or watching, welcome to the pod! I’m Jackie McGriff, your host of Representation in Cinema! We talk about the films that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices as well as on the film industry itself. I’m not only your host but also the Founder, Director, and Co-Producer of Our Voices Project, a production company committed to sharing the stories and lived experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples through visual storytelling and truthtelling. We’re community-engaged filmmakers who firmly believe that you can’t center films on these communities without being in community and in solidarity with them. If you’re watching this on YouTube, hit that subscribe button and hit the little bell to get notified about new episodes. If you’re listening on your preferred podcast platform, hit that follow button. If you like this episode, please rate us 5 stars and leave a comment to share your thoughts about any of the things that we bring up in this episode! This podcast also has its own Instagram page at @ricpodcast. Go give that account a follow, please! Mara Ahmed directed The Injured Body: A Film About Racism in America which is a film that everyone needs to watch. Learn how to host a screening here: https://neelumfilms.com/site/the-injured-body/ Host a screening of Being Black in America. Our goal is to partner with Black-led grassroots organizations, businesses, and non-profits to have conversations within the Black community about the issues that directly affect us and to work together towards change. You can submit a request here: www.ourvoicesproject.com/host-bbia If you are part of an organization or company who either needs event videography or wants a short documentary created to highlight all of the incredible ways you’re serving your community, send Jackie McGriff an email at info@ourvoicesproject.com to learn more information about our videography services. Why David Jonsson is the Perfect Black Panther: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/j-rose/david-johnsson-black-panther-3-casting-reactio Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’re back to new episodes released every Thursday with our Black August series starting on Thursday, August 6. We’re talking about films that center the stories of Black revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. We’re covering Ida B Wells: A Chicago Special, Attica, Paris is Burning, The Stroll, Candyman, and others. We highly recommend you go watch those films and then listen to each of these spoiler specials, starting August 6. Where to Watch Our Recommended Films For Black August Candyman (1992) | Available to rent on YouTube, Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, and Fandango OR at local libraries Ida B. Wells: A Chicago Stories Special | YouTube The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971) | YouTube Daughters of the Dust (1991) | Tubi Let the Fire Burn (2013) | YouTube Attica (1980) | YouTube Paris is Burning (1990) | Available on HBO, Tubi and at local libraries The Stroll (2023) | | HBO Max or through Kanopy (Library Card required) Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

  6. Jun 4

    Is God Is

    Hey pod! We are back from taking a much-needed break! Tonight, we’re talking about Is God Is, which is a must-see from us. We HIGHLY recommend watching it in theaters before it leaves. Otherwise, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. Is God Is is a southern gothic revenge thriller that follows twin sisters, Racine and Anaia, who set out on a cross-country mission to murder their abusive father as instructed by their mother. Both them and their mother were left permanently scarred as babies when he set their mother on fire. The film is written and directed by Aleshea Harris who also wrote the play that the film is based on and it stars Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, and Janelle Monae. Joining us on the podcast tonight are two women who are NO strangers to the podcast. Cocoa Rae David, a New York-based visual artist, curator, photographer, filmmaker, and business owner of By Cocoa Rae LLC, who creates captivating portraits and art of unique and diverse people and captures their true essence. You can visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bycocoarae. She also has a studio, art gallery, and event space called Da Purp which you can follow here: https://www.instagram.com/da_purp. Brianna Milon, a published author, communications professional and model who blends creativity and connection in everything she does. You can follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/suunnybri. Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button, give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you thought of tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes every Thursday with old and newly released movies that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous folks, general movie news, and interviews with film festival programmers/curators, film critics, and filmmakers! This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for this episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! Representation in Cinema is produced by Chris Lindstrom and brought to you by the Lunchador Podcast Network. Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Common Thread Check out Common Thread on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/common-threads-hardcore/

  7. Apr 30

    Decolonizing Your Consumption

    Hello pod! In tonight’s episode, we’re discussing the kind of representation we want to see and talking about the films, filmmakers, and production companies that are changing the way that we see Arabs portrayed on the big screen. If you haven’t already tuned into our previous episodes where we break down the film Reel Bad Arabs and the destructive stereotypes we’ve seen throughout Hollywood’s history as well as define a few terms that we’ve used throughout this series, we highly recommend that you go back and listen to those episodes. If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I Here are suggested TV shows, movies, and streaming services from our guests: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animated series, Netflix)The Encampments (Watermelon+)A Sad and Beautiful World (Watermelon+)All That’s Left Of You (In Theatres & Watermelon+)Amreeka (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Palestine 36 (In Theatres & Watermelon+)Salt of the Sea (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Slingshot Hip Hop (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Caramel (2007, Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)I Am From Palestine (YouTube) Follow these filmmakers and artists: Jackie Reem SalloumCherein DabisSuheir HammadAnnemarie JacirNadine Labaki Our guests (and how you can support them) are listed below: Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7. Munir Atalla is the Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures. Visit their website at https://www.watermelonpictures.com to learn more about the distribution and production company whose mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. Subscribe to Watermelon Plus for $7.99/mo or $79.99/year at https://www.watermelonplus.com! Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. To support him, you can hire him as an actor (especially if you have any pirate roles in a period piece!), get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Cat so that he can collect royalties. He’s on all social media platforms as @ryanshrime. We need to support our actors! Saafa Tahboub is a Palestinian American in her third year at the University of Rochester studying Brain & Cognitive Science with a minor in Spanish. Sarah Aljitawi is a Palestinian American and a senior majoring in public health and nursing. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur and donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit https://www.ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. Again, if you haven’t listened to our previous episodes in this series, we highly recommend that you do so. Not only that, do yourselves a favor and go watch Reel Bad Arabs available for FREE on YouTube as well as the films and TV shows that our guests recommended tonight. We’ll be taking 3 weeks off and we’ll be back on May 21st to dive back into films that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices and stories. This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for tonight’s episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! 00:00 Intro 06:00 Diverse Voices in Arab Cinema 08:58 Understanding Authentic Representation 12:07 The Role of Storytelling in Representation 14:57 Cultural Narratives and Media Influence 21:05 Challenges in Representation 24:00 The Need for Diverse Narratives 33:16 Resistance and the Role of Encampments 39:07 Media Representation and Its Impact 48:50 Shifting Narratives in Film and Media 54:05 Emerging Projects and Representation 58:01 Solidarity Across Movements 01:00:51 The Future of Arab Representation in Media 01:18:30 Empowering Female Voices in Film 01:21:41 Encouragement for Emerging Filmmakers & Actors 01:33:58 How to Support Our Guests Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Dialed In: A Coffee Podcast Get Dialed In to the world of coffee with Aaron and Wade! Tastings, coffee news and opinion and more! https://dialedincoffee.captivate.fm

  8. Apr 23

    Reel Bad Arabs: Part 2

    Welcome to the third week of Arab American Heritage Month! I’m your host, Amira Ferjani taking over for Jackie McGriff. We’re continuing our conversation about Arab representation using the framework of the late Dr. Jack Shaheen’s, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. If you missed the first 2 parts of our series talking about Orientalism and covering the first half of Reel Bad Arabs, go back and watch and/or listen to those episodes! If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She has been advocating and teaching about Palestine and other marginalized communities for well over a decade. She is a graduate of University at Buffalo with a degree in English, Third world literature and African American studies. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7. Returning to the podcast is Laith Ali, a computer science major, Class of 2026. He’s a Palestinian American whose family is from Jenin and Abu Qash. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.urand donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP Lastly, but certainly not least, is Ryan Shrime. Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. Ryan can be found on most socials at @ryanshrime. To support him, you can hire him as an actor, get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Kat so that he can collect royalties. We need to support our actors! Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. In our next episode, we’re going to talk about decolonizing your consumption and what authentic Arab representation really looks like. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 08:22 - Exploring Stereotypes in Media 15:53 - The Impact of Hollywood on Perceptions of Arabs 20:24 - Advocacy and Representation in Hollywood 21:37 - The Need for Authentic Representation 24:46 - Colorism and Stereotypes in Media 25:32 - Modern Depictions and Cultural Erasure 28:26 - The Impact of Hollywood on Arab Identity 29:59 - Personal Experiences in Acting 38:27 - Recent Portrayals and Cultural Misrepresentation 44:33 - Shifts in Representation and Future Outlook 48:35 - The Role of Social Media in Documenting Genocide 49:29 - Shifts in Hollywood's Narrative 51:56 - The Impact of Boycotting Films 54:47 - Creating Alternative Narratives 01:01:25 - The Power of Representation in Storytelling 01:09:41 - Boycotting Roles: A New Approach for Actors Mentioned in this episode: Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/ Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Mind of Magnus Artist Magnus Champlin Interviews guests sharing the stories and life adventures with the goal of expanding minds.

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About

We discuss the representation of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in movies. We address the things that we love seeing, the tropes and stereotypes that Hollywood continues to perpetuate on screen, and what representation we'd like to see moving forward. You can listen to this podcast on any podcast platform!

Information

  • Creator
    Our Voices Project LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Our Voices Project LLC 2026
  • Show Website
    Representation in Cinema