"They Want To Silence Us" This Filmmaker Teaches Us The Art of Joy as Resistance & Warns of Grifting

In this powerful Habibi House segment, we sit down with Rolla Selbak, a community organizer and cultural voice, to explore the deep questions surrounding joy, resistance, and Palestinian solidarity.How do we balance celebration and cultural expression while our people are enduring genocide?Is community organizing, food, fashion, and music in the diaspora a form of resistance?What role does Little Arabia in Orange County play as a safe haven and cultural hub for Arabs in California?Rolla breaks down why joy is more than just a feeling – it’s a weapon against erasure. From Gaza to LA, Rolla explains how community spaces, events, and culture become essential tools of resilience, even as Palestinians are targeted not only physically but culturally.Key Themes in this Episode:Why the oppressor wants to take away Palestinian joy, culture, and community – and why we must do the opposite.The power of bringing online solidarity into real-life organizing and why being together matters.The delicate balance of celebrating without flaunting “abundance” while Gaza suffers.Why Palestinians are literally banned from celebrating prisoner releases – and what that says about the power of joy.How businesses in the diaspora can ethically use Palestinian culture while giving back to the movement.Rolla’s personal stories of Little Arabia in Anaheim and how it became a lifeline during difficult timesWhether you’re Palestinian, Arab, or an ally, this conversation will challenge the way you see joy, celebration, and community organizing in times of crisis.Tags / Keywordspalestine, palestinian resistance, rolla interview, joy as resistance, little arabia oc, palestinian diaspora, habibi house podcast, mena culture, palestinian solidarity, rolla palestine, palestinian community organizing, joy culture resistance, palestine genocide, arab diaspora los angeles