Tell us your story
What is this?
This publication is a repository of Palestinians’ stories told in their own voices, in the form of text, audio, and video.
Why is it needed?
A study by the University of Arizona’s Maha Nassar found that of the opinion articles about Palestinians published in The New York Times and The Washington Post between 2000 and 2009, Palestinians themselves wrote roughly 1 percent (source). This needs to change.
How can I share my story?
You have a few options:
- Medium Authoring: Create an account on Medium.com (make it anonymous if you prefer not to be identified). Reach out to me privately and I’ll make you a writer. Once you’re a writer, you can freely write stories and submit them for publication on this site. This is probably the most efficient option for both of us if you’d like to contribute multiple stories.
- Proxy Authoring: No need to interact with Medium.com, just email me your story and I’ll publish it for you in your name or anonymously, per your preference.
- Text Interview: Clone this doc containing a short list of interview questions, submit your answers and share it back with me. I’ll take care of publishing the interview in your name or anonymously, per your preference.
- Audio or Video Interview: I meet you via videoconference and record the audio, video, or both of a short interview where I ask you questions about your life and experiences. If you prefer anonymity, I’ll transcribe the audio or video into a text article and destroy the original recording. If you’re ok with being heard/seen, I’ll publish the audio/video (edited for time and clarity) but only after you approve the publication copy.
If you’d like to contact me to submit a story, to be interviewed, or to ask any questions you might have, you can reach me via email at marc@mco.dev.
Should I worry about being identified?
Sadly, we live in a world in which antisemitism is increasingly weaponized against anyone who dares to criticize Israel. People have been harassed and jobs have been lost. If you have a story to tell but are concerned about retribution, I will do everything I can to protect your identify. All four options above include an anonymous authoring scenario. Note that option 1 above depends on medium.com protecting your identity. If you’re uncomfortable with that, I recommend options 2–4.
The fact that people have to fear simply telling the true story of their lives in their own names is a sad commentary on the state of repression and fear Palestinians have to endure.
How do I know I can trust you?
Options 2–4 avoid trusting medium.com but I can’t get around you having to trust me. If you have a story to share but are concerned about my trustworthiness (which I completely understand), I’m happy to meet with you by videoconference and will happily answer any questions you may have and give you a chance to get to know me and assess my sincerity and reliability for yourself.
Who are you?
I’m not myself Palestinian — I’m a Jewish American Google engineer living in London. Like many, I’m appalled not only by the genocide in Gaza, but also by the Apartheid regime and general oppression of the Palestinian people which Israel has perpetuated over the past 75 years.
Once you get to know someone, it’s harder to believe the propaganda you may have heard about them. I created this publication to make a safe place for Palestinians to tell their stories so that more people can get to know them and understand their history, their struggles, and their hopes and dreams.
