Queen Muhammad Ali (Queen Melé Le'iato Tuiasosopo Muhammad Ali) is an American Samoan award-winning film director, photographer, graphic design artist, multimedia activist, lecturer, television producer, humanitarian, writer,

visual anthropologist Visual anthropology is a subfield of social anthropology that is concerned, in part, with the study and production of ethnographic photography, film and, since the mid-1990s, new media. More recently it has been used by historians of science a ...

, the founder of

Nation19 ''Nation19'' is a magazine that blends hip-hop culture, photojournalism, activism, and anthropology. The printed and digital magazine is produced and published by multimedia activists, visual anthropologists, and film directors Queen Muhammad Ali a ...

magazine, and the director of the Manuia Samoa, a social wellness hub in American Samoa. Ali is also the great-granddaughter of Paramount Chief Tuli Le'iato of

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the Internationa ...

. Queen was also one of the organizers and a speaker at the highly publicized

indigenous peoples march The Indigenous Peoples March was a demonstration and march on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2019. The event included speeches, prayers, songs, and dance. Its goal was to draw attention to global injustices against indigen ...

that occurred on January 18, 2019. On January 30, 2022 Sundance Film Festival presented by MPAC's Hollywood Bureau and ISF with panelist filmmakers

Hakeem Khaaliq Hakeem Khaaliq (also Hakeem Abdul-Khaaliq) is an American cinematographer, television producer, film director, photographer, multi-media activist, graphic design artist, and visual anthropologist. Before his career in film and television he work ...

, Iman Zawahry, Sami Khan, Muna Deria, Queen Muhammad Ali, and Tarek Albaba. The conversation was moderated by Sireen Sawaf with opening remarks by Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC's Hollywood Bureau.

Early life

Queen was born in Watts, Los Angeles, the daughter of an American Samoan mother who worked as a teacher, and an African American father who toured the Caribbean working as a percussionist and singer. Graduating high school at an early age, Queen attended Mt. San Jacinto College, where she studied art. Queen's grandmother, Princess Masaniai Tunufa'i Le'iato Tuiasosopo, is the daughter of Paramount Chief Tuli Le'iato of American Samoa.

Career

Early career

From 1999 to 2007, while attending college, Queen worked as an elementary grade school teacher for a private school. She also composed music for network television in 2007.

2009-present

Queen made her debut as a TV producer in 2009, when she worked on

T.I.'s Road to Redemption ''T.I.'s Road To Redemption'' is an American reality television show that premiered on February 10, 2009, on MTV. The show was produced by T.I., Michael Hirschorn, Stella Stolper, and Chris Choun of Ish Entertainment. The series, focusing on the ...

starring American rapper and actor T.I. Aside from TV her multi-media production company Mobile Regime's client roster included State Farm,

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the ...

, Adidas,

P. F. Chang's P. F. Chang's China Bistro is an American-based, casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1993 by Paul Fleming and Philip Chiang that serves Asian fusion cuisine. Centerbridge Partners owned and operated Chang's until acquired by the private e ...

and pop icon Michael Jackson. In the winter of 2010, Queen and long time partner

established

which doubles as an artist collective and printed magazine that produces documentary films, and exhibits. In 2016, her short film #Bars4Justice was an official selection at the 24th Annual

Pan African Film Festival Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is a non-profit corporation in Los Angeles, California, that states its goal is to promote "cultural understanding among peoples of African descent" through exhibiting art and film. It hosts a film festival and an ar ...

in Los Angeles and she was the only woman selected to speak at the United Nations Global Peace dialogue in NYC on December 15, 2020. Queen Muhammad Ali teaches about creative placemaking, grant writing and she is heavily involved with several community development projects in American Samoa and other parts of the United States where disinvestment is prevalent. On April 28, 2022, filmmakers Queen Muhammad Ali,

along with Khaula Malik were selected speakers, who screened two award-winning films at

Marquette University Marquette University () is a private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of the diocese of M ...

and participated in a panel discussion on cultural activism.

Activism

*United Nations UN75 Global Peace Intergenerational Dialogue, New York City December 15, 2020 (selected speaker) *Indigenous Peoples March 2019 - (Indigenous Health) Washington DC (selected speaker) *Manuia Samoa - (Indigenous Health education and archival) American Samoa *Visual Anthropology Activism TEDx''.''

Awards and honors

*YBCA 100 list *Official selection at the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival 2021 (Co-D Comin' Up Short) *Winner of ArtPlace America's 2017 highly competitive National Creative Placemaking Fund (Manuia Samoa) (NCPF) * Official selection at the 24th annual

February 2016 (Co-director #Bars4Justice) * Mutianyu Fellowship Residency Awardee (Film/Multimedia) Beijing, China September 2016 * Selected guest speaker at MoMA's 2017 Doc fortnight International film festival * Winner 2017 ISF Film Grant / Scholarship Recipient (Documentary)

Works

Film and television

*Comin' Up Short (''Director)'' *''#War on Us (Director)'' * '' #Bars4Justice (Director)'' * ''The Last Matai'' * ''¿Quiénes son los afro-mexicanos?'' - Univision International Television *

T.I.'s Road To Redemption ''T.I.'s Road To Redemption'' is an American reality television show that premiered on February 10, 2009, on MTV. The show was produced by T.I., Michael Hirschorn, Stella Stolper, and Chris Choun of Ish Entertainment. The series, focusing on the ...

- MTV *

Adventures in Hollyhood ''Adventures in Hollyhood'' is a reality TV show about the rap group Three 6 Mafia and its members Juicy J and DJ Paul. The show primarily takes place at a Hollywood Hills home that the pair resides in along with Hypnotize Minds artist Project Pa ...

- MTV

Educational exhibits and installations

* Invisible México : Afro-Mexicanos Arizona Community Foundation (The Karen Work Seleznow Gallery) *Invisible Mexico: ''Global Education Center Nashville, Tennessee September 2017'' * A New New Wave! ''monOrchid Gallery Phoenix Arizona'' * Invisible Mexico: ''monOrchid Gallery Phoenix Arizona March 2017'' * Exhibit19: ''February 2015 Glendale Community College'' * Invisible Mexico: ''Private Gallery Univision Television April - July 2014 '' * #TURNUP Denver: ''DVSN WEST Cherry Creek Denver CO 2014''

Music videos and commercials produced or directed by Ms Ali

* '' PF Changs'' * '' Pei Wei Asian Diner'' * ''Bar Louie'' * ''

'' ''Magazine''

Design and multimedia

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

commissioned Queen and her partner

to design for his " This Is It" London tour. The work included the design of The Earth Song website, design of MichaelJacksonCO.com website, print campaigns and the design of The Earth Song Logo.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Queen Muhammad American film directors Living people Year of birth missing (living people) African-American film directors American women film directors American people of Samoan descent Samoan film directors 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women