Sports: Where it all started for me
The following was originally published in Palestine in America’s sports edition (March 2020). Please support our publication by downloading a digital copy, preordering a print copy and or becoming a monthly subscriber.
Sports have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, but growing up in the ‘90s there wasn’t a Palestinian NFL player, UFC fighter, or an NBA G League head coach.
Currently, sports fans have a number of young Palestinian athletes to look up to, including Oday Aboushi, a lineman for the Detroit Lions; Belal Muhammad, a professional mixed martial artist; and Mahmoud Abdelfattah, head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an affiliate of the Houston Rockets.
Our first sports issue means a lot to me because of how Palestine in America came into existence. As many before me have experienced — and I’m certain people after will — I was censored early on in my journalism career. That moment set off a chain of events that led me to leave sports journalism behind and start Palestine in America, which has now become a quarterly print and online magazine that features a monthly podcast, annual concerts, and journalism workshops.
Since I was a young boy shooting hoops in my alley, playing park district baseball and following every major sport in the United States, I dreamed of playing professionally. When realism kicked in during high school, I shifted my vision to reporting on the games I loved. I still remember the first high school football game I covered, taking notes of every play for The Warrior, the student newspaper of Lane Tech College Prep High School. That cold night in Chicago is when I finally realized what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I went on to get my broadcast journalism degree from Columbia College Chicago, where I would earn a sports column as a reporter for The Columbia Chronicle, host a weekly sports talk show on WCRX — our campus radio station — and intern at local Chicago TV station WGN. The beginning of my career was going better than I planned, but quickly and often I was reminded of the headaches and risks that come along with speaking on behalf of Palestinian human rights.
Those experiences led to Palestine in America. As we approach our sixth anniversary, the organization has created a news outlet that continuously educates people in the U.S. about Palestine, while giving Palestinians a voice in media without the fear of repercussion.
I’m proud that this edition recognizes Palestinians who have achieved milestones in their careers and others who are just getting started. Although some of the Palestinians you will read about are further ahead in their career than others, they all share a drive to achieve more in their respective sports.
Thanks to our readers, subscribers, and paid contributors, we are able to create thoughtful and engaging content throughout the year. Palestine in America’s existence is more important than ever. Palestinians are rarely, if ever, given the opportunity to speak for themselves in mainstream media. Palestine in America plays a crucial role in changing that.
If you haven’t already, please consider supporting Palestine in America by going to our website (PalestineinAmerica.com) and subscribing to our magazine for $5 a month or donating what you can. We are always looking to add freelance journalists and writers to our team. Even if you lack experience, part of our organization’s mission is to give young and upcoming writers journalism training. If you’re interested in joining our team or donating to our cause, email us at info@palestineinamerica.com.
