Hannah Gann admits to faking Black and Palestinian identity

Hannah Gann, a Philadelphia teacher at The Workshop School and social activist, has admitted to misrepresenting her racial and ethnic identity for several years. Gann falsely claimed to be Black and Palestinian, and at times Tunisian, while participating in racial justice and pro-Palestinian movements.

Her deception was uncovered after members of Philly Educators for Palestine and the Racial Justice Organizing Committee confronted her regarding her background. Following an hour of questioning, Gann admitted to the lies in a social media video, stating she “hid the truth or outright lied about my background to everyone in my life.”

Both organizations have since severed ties with Gann, stating her actions caused harm to the communities she claimed to represent. The controversy also involved fellow teacher Keziah Ridgeway, who confronted Gann after noticing inconsistencies in her heritage claims.