Letter from the Editor

A child of immigrants. Raised by a single mother. A proud Hijabi, Arab-American, Muslim woman. A journalist and storyteller. There are many adjectives to describe me but none that capture the essence of my being. The little boxes and labels are not enough to fit my spirit. I was lucky to know what I wanted to do at a very young age: I wanted to tell stories. However, the stories I saw on the news, in films or in books did not reflect the reality I lived in. A wild dreamer, I saw myself as the main character, a queen capable of anything. The hero rather than the damsel in distress. But the world saw me very differently. 

The world is filled with badass queens who are caged by society’s perception of them. Whether it’s media, politics or business, women and nonbinary people of color are continuously fighting for a seat at the table only to be tokenized and undermined. Parachute Media comes as a harbinger of change. Rather than fight for a seat at the table, we are building our own table and welcoming the most marginalized to come sit with us. Because here, you can come as you are. 

Born amidst the flames of the 2020 global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, Parachute comprises a team of incredible women and non-binary gen zers who felt the weight of the year heavily. Awkwardly meeting each other for the first time through our zoom screens and working together while juggling our online classes and work, we were able to build something awe-inspiring. We imagine a reality where young women and non-binary people of color are fully in control of their own stories and their own destinies. Unshackled by how the world perceives them, they will grow into their full potential.

We dare to dream. We create our reality. We foster a legacy.

Welcome to Parachute Media.

With love,

Hanin Najjar
Editor in Chief of Parachute Media