Challenging the Narrative: Ismail Khalidi on Storytelling and the Palestinian Perspective

In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David reconnects with his former student, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ismail Khalidi, to explore identity, art, and Palestine. From growing up Palestinian in America (05:45) to the influence of family and education (11:53) and his journey to playwriting (17:42), Ismail or Sim as he is known, shares how storytelling becomes both art and resistance. The conversation touches on navigating the white gaze (35:30), the responsibility of educators in discussing Palestine (41:22), and the myths and realities too often erased in mainstream narratives (48:01), before looking to the future of Palestine and the role of art (56:21).To contact Ismail Khalidi you can visit his website at https://www.ismailkhalidi.com/To learn more about the history of Palestine checkout the following:The 100 Years War on Palestine by Rashid KhalidiUntil I Return: The Selected Plays of Ismail KhalidiReturning to Haifa by Ismail Khalidi and Naomi WallaceOne Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad"Dead Are My People" by Khalil GibranPulitzer-prize Winning Poet, Mosab Abu Toha on the war in GazaSend us a text with your thoughts or ideas, and follow and subscribe to The Teacher’s Forum so you don’t miss future episodes.Join the Conversation:[email protected]@theteachersforum.bsky.socialX (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.