Queen Muhammad Ali facts for kids

Queen Melé Le'iato Tuiasosopo Muhammad Ali, born on November 12, is an American filmmaker, composer, and social activist. She is also a visual anthropologist, which means she studies cultures through visual things like photos and videos. Queen and her husband, Hakeem Khaaliq, started a company called Nation19. This company makes magazines and films. Queen also directs the Manuia Samoa, a place in American Samoa that helps people with their health and well-being.

Early Life and Family Background

Queen Muhammad Ali was born in Watts, Los Angeles, a city in California. Her mother was from American Samoa and worked as a teacher. Her father was African American and traveled to play music and sing.

Queen finished high school when she was young. She then went to Mt. San Jacinto College to study art. Her grandmother, Princess Masaniai Tunufa'i Le'iato Tuiasosopo, was the daughter of a very important leader. This leader was Paramount Chief Tuli Le’iato from American Samoa.

Queen's Creative Career

Queen Muhammad Ali has worked on many exciting projects in film and music. She often works with her husband, Hakeem Khaaliq.

Music and TV Production

In 2007, Queen was a composer for an MTV reality show called Adventures in Hollyhood. This show featured the rap group Three 6 Mafia. Later, in 2009, Queen and Hakeem Khaaliq helped produce another MTV reality show. This show was called T.I.'s Road to Redemption and starred the rapper T.I..

Starting Nation19

In 2010, Queen and Hakeem started their own company, Nation19. It began as a printed magazine and a group for artists. Over time, it grew to include many things. Nation19 now offers lectures, photography shows, and film production. They focus on ethnography, which is the study of people and cultures. They also focus on hip hop culture.

Making Documentaries

Queen and Hakeem have made several important documentary films. These films help people learn about different cultures and social issues.

¿Quiénes son los afro-mexicanos?

In 2014, they produced a short documentary film called ¿Quiénes son los afro-mexicanos?. This title means "Who are the Afro-Mexicans?" in Spanish. The film was shown on Univision TV stations. It helped people learn about the history and lives of Afro-Mexicans.

#Bars4Justice

In 2015, they produced and directed #Bars4Justice. This short film was shown for the first time in Phoenix, Arizona. The film was made in Ferguson, Missouri. It showed what happened one year after the police shooting of Michael Brown. The film was shown at many film festivals around the world. This included the Pan African Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art.

War on Us

In 2016, Queen and Hakeem also produced and directed War on Us. This documentary starred musicians Rhymefest and Jasiri X. It was first shown in Bogota, Colombia.

Queen's Activism Work

Queen Muhammad Ali is also a strong social activist. She works to bring attention to important issues and help communities.

Speaking for Indigenous People

On January 18, 2019, Queen was an organizer and speaker at the Indigenous Peoples March. This event took place in Washington, DC. She spoke about health problems faced by people in American Samoa and other Pacific Islanders. She also spoke at the first Indigenous Peoples Movement conference in Houston, Texas.

Global Peace Initiatives

Queen was a speaker at a special online meeting on December 21, 2020. This meeting was part of the Inter-Generational Dialogue (IGD). It was organized by Global Peace, a group from South Africa. The IGD was part of a bigger project by the United Nations. This project celebrated the UN's 75th anniversary.

Awards and Recognition

On February 2, 2021, Queen was chosen by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. She was part of their YBCA 100 list. This list honors 100 "everyday heroes" who work to build better communities. On February 25, 2023, she received the Acie J. Belton Life Achievement Award. This award was given to her in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Personal Life

Queen Muhammad Ali is married to Hakeem Khaaliq. They have three children together. Their daughters are named Melé Aliyah Khaaliq and Manaia Oli'oli Khaaliq.

Other Creative Projects

Queen Muhammad Ali has also worked on other creative projects beyond films.

Design and Multimedia

Famous singer Michael Jackson asked Queen and Hakeem Khaaliq to help design things for his "This Is It" concerts. They designed the Earth Song website and the MichaelJacksonCO.com website. They also created print ads and the logo for Earth Song.