Maysoon Zayid: Comedy of Resistance, Disability, Difference & Palestine

Join Maysoon Zayid as she discusses humor, disability rights, and the resilience of Palestinian identity during a conversation filled with heart and laughter amid conflict.

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Description: Israel’s US-backed war on Gaza has been a mass disabling event. Today’s guest says we must create a “viable, accessible future” for the disabled Palestinians we have failed. Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, Princeton Fellow, and unapologetic voice for both disability rights and Palestinian identity. A fierce advocate with cerebral palsy, Zaid proves that the most powerful messages often come from unexpected places and are filled with laughter. She’s lost tens of thousands of dollars of contracts for her views, she says, but that hasn’t stopped her “making funny during a genocide” on social media all year. And she’s shown her followers her home village in Palestine — the best place on earth, she says, despite the onslaught of oppression and violence that her people have endured. Maysoon co-founded the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and the Muslim Funny Fest. Her viral Ted Talk, “I Got 99 Problems...Palsy is Just One,” has been translated into 42 languages, and was one of the most popular talks of 2014. She’s the author of “Shiny Misfits”, the new graphic novel that tells the story of Bay Ann, a disabled girl and her cat friend that rock star Dave Matthews narrates for the audiobook. In this conversation filled with heart and humor, hear how comedy shines a light on injustice and serves as a voice of resistance. All that, plus a commentary from Laura on human shields.

“As a disabled kid, I liked Palestine a lot more than Jersey . . . I was the only visibly disabled kid in my school growing up. But in Palestine there were other disabled kids and disability wasn't shunned. It wasn't mocked, it wasn't bullied. I grew up in a society that very much believed that disability was a natural part of life . . .” - Maysoon Zayid

“I've always used comedy to humanize and educate on disability. And this is the moment because the future of Palestine is disabled and between life and death, there's disability. I don't think it's better to be dead than to be disabled. I want us to create a viable, accessible future for this cohort of human beings that we have failed in the present.” - Maysoon Zayid

Guest:  Maysoon Zayid: Comedian & Disability Advocate; Author, Shiny Misfits

Watch the broadcast episode cut for time at our YouTube channel and airing on PBS stations across the country 

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Music In the Middle:  "Purpose Love" by Jhelisa, released on Dorado Records.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:

• “The Future is Disabled”: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. Watch / Download Podcast and Full Conversation

•  Anita Cameron & Keith Jones on The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Civil Rights Milestone With Miles To Go. Watch

•  Amanda Seales Takes the Heat: Speaking Out About Gaza & Hollywood. Watch / Download Podcast and Full Conversation

Related Articles and Resources:

• “Shiny Misfits” Maysoon’s graphic novel and audio version  available from Audible featuring the voice of Dave Matthews, and others.

• Maysoon Zayid’s Ted Talk

• DISCO, a live interactive panel show hosted by Maysoon Zayid coming up February, 2015 at Joe’s Pub in New York City.

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ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel