Ms. Ali was born in Beford, Texas. She was raised in her family's community, County Line, outside of Nacogdoches. Ms. Ali went to Cushing High School, UT-Austin, and is currently a librarian at the Nacogdoches Public Library. She is also a hip-hop artist. In her interview, Ms. Ali described the rich history of her family's community, dating back to newly freed slaves moving in from Tennessee. She relates stories of racism and violence as well as community building and endurance. Her personal account describes racism at Cushing schools in the 2000s and her efforts to build a sustainable homestead for herself in County Line.