Short Biography of Maysoon Zayid.Pdf

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Short Biography of Maysoon Zayid (Winner Her Abilities Award 2019 /category of Arts, culture and sports) Maysoon Zayid Actor, comedian and disability advocate – fighting hate through laughter The winner in Arts, Culture and Sport is actor, comedian and advocate, Maysoon Zayid. Born in the great state of New Jersey to Palestinian immigrant parents, Zayid is transforming views within the entertainment industry about the role of disabled women. During her early acting years, Zayid was repeatedly turned down for roles, because of her disability. On the advice of a trusted mentor, Tanya Berizen, Zayid turned to stand-up comedy and soon began appearing at New York top clubs as well as touring worldwide. Zayid’s TED Talk “I have 99 problems… palsy is just one” was one of the most viewed TED Talks of 2014. It has over ten million views and counting. She is one of the first Muslim women to become a top comedian in the USA and to perform in Palestine and Jordan, where she pioneered Arabic standup comedy. Maysoon has appeared as a commentator won prominent news programs such as Countdown with Keith Olbermann and CNN’s New Day. She is currently developing a television series titled Sanctuary and is the author/narrator of the Hello Sunshine/Audible book, Find Another Dream. Maysoon has dedicated her life to mainstreaming disabled students into the worldwide education system with a special focus on Palestinian refugees and students denied access throughout the United States of America. .

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Fear and Laughing in the Occupied Territories: Comedienne Maysoon Zayid Transforms Lives
88 al-raida Issue 122 - 123 | Summer / Fall 2008 Fear and Laughing in the Occupied Territories: Comedienne Maysoon Zayid Transforms Lives Dalila Mahdawi A young woman takes a seat before the microphone, from Arizona State University and to cameos in ﬂicks her hair, and surveys her audience. Shaking television shows like Law & Order and As the slightly, she introduces herself, “My name is World Turns, but it soon became clear that she Maysoon Zayid and I’m a Palestinian Muslim virgin didn’t ﬁt the mold. She turned to comedy, giving with cerebral palsy from New Jersey… and if you free performances throughout New York City. She don’t feel better about yourself, maybe you should!” quickly began receiving positive coverage on the The crowd roars. Maysoon Zayid certainly ticks all comedy scene. the minority boxes in both the Arab and American worlds. She seems to derive strength from these Following the September 11th attacks in New York, apparent weaknesses, however, and successfully negative images of Arabs abounded in the American incorporates them into her career as one of the media. Some of Maysoon’s non-Arab friends best Arab-American stand-up comedians. At a asked if she had known the attacks were going to time when so many of her Arab-American cousins happen, while others stopped talking to her. Her are trying hard to be taken seriously, perhaps sister, a UN employee, even received death threats. Maysoon’s willingness to ridicule her identity In response to the experiences of Arab-Americans, is what makes her so successful.
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Published by Americans for The Link Middle East Understanding, Inc. Volume 45, Issue 1 Link Archives: www.ameu.org January-March, 2012 There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. — Paulo Coelho, “The Alchemist” By Maysoon Zayid y name is Maysoon The following is my story in three chap- Zayid. I am a Palestin- ters! Please keep in mind I am a comedian ian-American, come- first, foremost, and for life. Some facts have dian, actress, writer and producer. been been changed to protect the innocent. (Continued on Page 3. When The Link asked me to write an article, I was excited to be in such a great publication. When they told me the topic, my excitement turned to dread. They wanted the article to n be about me and by me. All I could w o r B think was, “How do I do this with- a s e e L out sounding egomaniacal— and in y b o t less than 400 pages?” o h P — Maysoon Zayid on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. The Link Page 2 AMEU Board of Directors About This Issue Jane Adas (Vice President) Deheishe, on the outskirts of which, aptly, he called “Book.” Only a Elizabeth D. Barlow Bethlehem, is a refugee camp. The few copies were printed, and the one he Edward Dillon children here, as elsewhere on the sent me from his home in England now occupies a proud spot in my home’sfar Rod Driver West Bank, grow up under the long- from imposing bookshelf.
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Female Muslim Comics Twist Bias Into Comic Jabs
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Performing Arabness in Arab American Stand-Up Comedy
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