Husain Family Values
In the wake of the October 7 attacks and Israel's invasion of Gaza, the Husain family found themselves navigating a painful duality: honoring their Palestinian heritage while asserting their identity as proud Americans in Knoxville, Tennessee. Over several months in 2024, I spent time with the family at protests, in their homes, and in quiet moments over mint tea, listening to their experiences of growing up Muslim in the American South and the challenges they face from peers and neighbors who question their belonging.
Despite being born and raised in the mountains of Tennessee, the Husains are often treated as outsiders because of their faith and the clothing they wear. This project documents their resilience, their commitment to educating their community about Palestinian culture and history, and their refusal to let hateful narratives define them. It is a portrait of a family fighting to be seen fully - as both deeply rooted in their homeland and unshakably American.