How Hollywood Can Help Overcome Negative Perceptions of Muslims (Guest Column)
“Inclusion and authentic representation of marginalized communities will create a power shift in public discourse,” writes the director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Hollywood Bureau
A year ago, I wrote about the influence TV and film have on American public opinion and by extension, on public policy. I argued that If Muslim characters were “normalized” on television, President Donald Trump’s travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries would not have reached the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, last week we saw a regression in our values and morals as a nation in the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ban and reinforce it as the law of the land.
Despite it all, I still stand by my argument that pop culture impacts our values and perceptions. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but more inclusion and authentic representation of marginalized communities will create a power shift in public discourse, which in turn will ultimately impact public policy.
I do see a day when last Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling will be overturned, and when families who are crossing our borders as they flee for their lives from countries riddled with poverty and violence will be embraced with open arms.
I was not born in this country, but arrived in Los Angeles when I was 5 years old. Looking different and feeling different, all I wanted was to to assimilate. My sister and I were the only Muslims/Arabs in our elementary, middle and high schools.
Back then, Muslims and our culture were little-known. I grew up asking for permission and forgiveness often, as if enormous favors were being granted to me when I got a yes from my non-Muslim friends to my simple requests. People called me a “camel jockey,” “A-rab”and other names not appropriate to mention here.
One year when I was in elementary school, I had to keep a food diary, writing down what I had for breakfast for an entire week. Like other Arab families, we ate hummus, falafel, fava beans, olive oil and za’atar for breakfast. There was no way I was going to write that down, but I also didn’t want to lie.
So just for that week, I asked my beloved late mother to buy food like the kids on the “Brady Bunch” ate for breakfast — cereal with whole milk, white toast with a pat of butter, and orange juice, just so I could report back with honesty. I believed that was what all of my friends who were not Muslim or Middle Eastern were eating.
At the time, my mom acknowledged my plight to fit in, but also made sure I understood that our culture was just as good as the dominant culture. But nonetheless, she complied. And so for five days in a row, I had a breakfast that was full of sugar, fat, carbs and empty calories so I could fit in. Ironically, today people are paying $15 for trendy falafel and hummus wraps.
That experience comes to mind often in my work as the Director of MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau. I work in the entertainment industry to counter the dominant narrative of Islam and Muslims on TV and in film.
If America’s view of Muslims is changed for the better, and we are seen as fully-fleshed human beings rather than a national security threat, decisions such as the one made last week will be as foreign as hummus was back when I was in elementary school. Muslims have been here since this country’s founding, and we always will be. And America is better for that very reason.
Muslims are woven into the fabric of American society. However, the perception most of our fellow Americans have of us needs stitching. Through improved representation in media and pop culture, such broken seams can be mended.
15 Stars You Probably Didn't Know Were Muslim (Photos)
Friday, May 26 marked the start of Ramadan, a month of fasting in the Islamic religion to mark the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Here are 15 celebrities you might not have known were Muslim.
Zayn Malik The former One Direction singer hasn't been too vocal about his religion. He garnered a worldwide trending topic #respectforZayn when Bill Maher compared him to the Boston Marathon bomber.
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Ice Cube The former N.W.A rapper has said, "What I call myself is a natural Muslim, because it’s just me and God. You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it’s just not in me to do. So I don’t do it."
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Ellen Burstyn Burstyn was raised Catholic and then began her journey to Islam by practicing Sufi Islam. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore."
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Mehmet Oz Better known as Dr. Oz, the TV personality hosts a talk show that discusses popular health concerns. Oz was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in 2009 by The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, a leading Muslim group.
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Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid The Somali supermodel (and widow of the late David Bowie) most commonly known as Iman is Muslim. Her name means "faith" in Arabic. She's said she considers herself Muslim even though she doesn't practice.
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DJ Khaled In an interview with Larry King, Khaled described himself as a Muslim and then said "I practice it, but I could do a better job.”
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Aasif Mandvi The actor-comedian, best known as a former correspondent on "The Daily Show," has openly criticized the fact that he has to spend so much time defending his religion instead of engaging in open dialogue about it: "I have a complicated relationship with my own faith."
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Lupe Fiasco The Chicago native isn't one to be quiet about his beliefs, but the fact that he's Muslim is something many might not be aware of. In an interview with Katie Couric in 2014, he addressed the struggles of being Muslim while in the entertainment industry.
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Mike Tyson Muhammad Ali wasn't the only boxer who is Muslim. In an interview with Fox News, Tyson says "I'm very grateful to be a Muslim." He has also said "Praise be to Allah," in an interview following a fight.
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Dave Chappelle One of the most well-known comedians, Chappelle told Time Magazine in 2005, "I don't normally talk about my religion publicly because I don't want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is a beautiful religion if you learn it the right way."
Fareed Zakaria The host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" says he is neither a practicing Muslim nor is he very religious, but he self-identifies as Muslim nonetheless.
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Zinedane Zidane The legendary soccer star most known for exiting his career with an infamous headbutt heard around the world, is Muslim.
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Busta Rhymes The Grammy-nominated artist is probably best known for rapping a mile a minute on some tracks. He has stated "I live my life by Islam and at the end of the day I think that's pretty much what grounds me."
Cat Stevens Better known now as Yusuf Islam, converted to Islam in the 1970s. Islam went on a pretty long musical hiatus after his conversion.
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Omar Sy The French actor, best known for his role as Bishop in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," is Muslim. He was also listed in the World's 500 Most Influential Muslims publication in 2016.
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A pop star, an Oscar winner and several rappers all identify with the religion
Friday, May 26 marked the start of Ramadan, a month of fasting in the Islamic religion to mark the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Here are 15 celebrities you might not have known were Muslim.
As director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau, Sue Obeidi works with studio executives, producers, directors, and writers to create authentic, accurate and fair portrayals of Islam and of Muslims in film, television, and on digital platforms. Her goal, and that of the Hollywood Bureau, is to help the entertainment industry tell better stories about Islam and Muslims, a need that is now more pressing than ever. The Hollywood Bureau's consulting credits include film and TV projects with Participant Media, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, Showtime, FX, Hulu, Super Deluxe Television, and Nat Geo.