Good Muslim, American (TV) Muslim

Will a reality TV show help mainstream a besieged community?
Dr. Aref Assaf

October 29, 2011
Published in Arabisto and the Star Leger's NJ.Voices

No, it won’t be the Muslim version of the "Jersey Shore." So called “reality television,” a mainstay of   The Learning Channel, TLC, is about to mainstream American Muslims. According to press statements from the cable channel, “All American Muslims” deal with the same small and large issues of life that other Americans encounter. But do they? A new eight-part series on TLC that premieres November 13 will try to answer that question by following the lives of five very different Muslim-American families. The show, "All-American Muslim,” was filmed in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit that's known for its large Arab-American population and America’s largest mosque. It promises to go "inside the rarely seen world of American Muslims to uncover a unique community struggling to balance faith and nationality in a post 9/11 world."

According to Hollywood Reporter, the show’s producers selected a diverse group of people and topics. It will cover segments on sisters who are polar opposites (one wears a headscarf and prays daily, the other has tattoos – forbidden in Islam-- and is married to an Irish Catholic). It will also follow the story of a high school football coach, and newlyweds. The media kit hopes to show people who "share the same religion, but lead very distinct lives that often times challenge the Muslim stereotype." Additionally, the series will also delve into the hot topics of post 9/11 life for Muslims and gender roles in Islam.

The reality show, rare for its focus on American Muslims, has garnered much interest in the Muslim-American community as well as non-Muslims. Mohamed Elfilali, Executive Director of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, said he is “looking forward to watching the series. My hunch is that the series will shed light on the varied lives of ordinary Americans who are also Muslims.” Elfilali added, “I believe the intent of the show is to mainstream the community even though they may practice Islam.” Elfilali commented that the show would document the diversity of the community’s ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Choosing Dearborn, Michigan is a good choice because it encompasses a majority of American Muslims. Yet, Americans Muslims are everywhere. A more inclusive picture would not be possible if we only recount events and people in a Muslim enclave, where it is safe, normal, and expected to see hijab-wearing women, shops selling Halal foods, and a magnificent mosque with a sky-high minaret. The show should include aspects of Muslim lives from other parts of the country.

Arabs and Muslims have not fared well in America’s Hollywood. Jack Shaheen has painstakingly canvassed hundreds of movies and television shows in his monumental work, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. The author documents a decidedly negative if not deliberately racist depiction of Arab culture and the religion of Islam. His underlying thesis is that stereotypes can lower self-esteem, injure innocents, impact polices, and encourage divisiveness by accentuating our differences at the expense of those human qualities that tie us together.

Arab and Muslim organizations have endeavored to present the true picture of the faith. Secular organizations such as the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Muslim ones such as the Council on American Islamic Relations have yet to silence the well–financed organizations, especially Internet-based ones, who have incessantly depicted Islam and Arabs as the enemy of America.

Unquestionably, American Muslims face a seemingly insurmountable challenge as they attempt to impact the media’s representation of the community. Partly, there is a fatalistic resignation amongst even leaders in the community that the larger society will never change its views on Islam. Yet there are those who believe that ignorance not racism is at the heart of the anti-Muslim sentiments. A promising example of media focused Muslim organizations is that of Unity Productions which has for years produced high quality documentaries on topics ranging from the earliest history of Islam in America to the lives of American Muslims who suffered in the 9-11 attacks.

The upcoming TLC show is not, however, without loud critics who have clamored to denounce TLC for ‘capitulating’ to terror-sympathizers. Threats run the gamut from the benign promise not to watch the series to prodding advertisers to shun the show and to scare America of the creeping Sharia. Debbie Schlussel, long known for her anti-Islam rhetoric is having a feast denouncing TLC. She is even accusing one of the show’s characters as being a member of a terrorism group.

Alas, the show will not change many minds especially those with an anti-Muslim agenda. For those with an open mind, it will do wonders. American Muslims are fully American while at the same time faithfully Muslim. In fact, a recent fatwa, Arabic for religious decree, just stated the obvious: There are no inherent contradictions between Islam and the American Constitution. This is of course a subject worthy of another and a more in-depth commentary.

Dr. Aref Assaf, president of American Arab Forum, a think-tank specializing in Arab and Muslim American affairs. www.aafusa.org

Here is a run-down of the show's characters, courtesy of TLC.

Suehaila and Shadia: Suehaila wears a traditional headscarf and follows daily prayer rituals - while Shadia, her outspoken sister, is decorated with piercings and tattoos and recently married Jeff, an Irish Catholic who is converting to Islam.

Nader and Nawal: Newlyweds expecting their first baby, Nader and Nawal are working to strike the right balance between their traditional Muslim roots and American culture.

Fouad: As head coach of the Fordson High School football team, Fouad has pioneered a shift in his team's summer practice schedule by flipping to night workouts from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. since a majority of his team are Muslim and are fasting for Ramadan.

Mike and Angela: Mike, a deputy chief sheriff, and his wife Angela, a consultant to a major auto manufacturer, are juggling their busy careers with raising their four children in a modern Muslim family.

Nina: A strong, independent Muslim businesswoman, Nina's family runs the premier wedding and banquet hall in Dearborn — but against their advice, she is trying to venture off on her own to open a nightclub.

Samira and Ali: Samira and her husband of seven years, Ali, struggle with fertility issues and are pursuing numerous options including conventional fertility techniques, dietary alternatives, and Muslim supplication prayers. After years of unsuccessful attempts, Samira considers putting on the Hijab in order to be closer to God and hopefully be blessed with a child.

The first episode of "All-American Muslim" airs at 10 pm on November 13, 2011. Eastern Time on TLC.