8. Jenan Matari on Embracing Her Palestinian Roots

Jenan Matari is a Palestinian-American was born in the U.S. As a child, her identity as an Arab Muslim was emphasized more than her family’s history in Palestine. It was only as she got older and began asking questions that she learned of her family’s deep ties to Palestine and the trauma that her ancestors endured at the hands of the Israeli occupation.Jenan is the founder of Zaytoun Publicity, which helps brands owned by people of color and other marginalized groups come up with affordable public relations campaigns.She has been making videos online for the last four years and even gave a Ted Talk exploring identity. You can follow her on Instagram @JenanMatari. Get full access to The Connections at theconnections.substack.com/subscribe