We live in a multicultural world, so let’s not forget that during the holidays. There are more opportunities for inclusion and new story ideas. Films and TV shows are finally acknowledging non-Christian holidays.
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The Oscar contender ”perpetuates a harmful history“ of Orientalism, argue The MPAC® Hollywood Bureau’s Sue Obeidi and scholar Evelyn Alsultany in their article for The Wrap.
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‘We Are Lady Parts’ Is “the Muslim Representation We Have Been Waiting For” (Guest Column)
The British punk-rock comedy, now streaming on Peacock, is "complicated, unconventional, shatters stereotypes – and is real," write Muslim advocates Sue Obeidi and Evelyn Alsultany.
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With ‘The Mauritanian’ Snub, Oscars Missed an Opportunity to Spotlight Muslim Issues (Guest Blog)
”For Muslims, this omission is not a surprise. We have absorbed the shocks of stereotypes for decades,“ writes Muslim Public Affairs Council president Salam Al-Marayati.
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As the nation heads into a new era with Biden and Harris, Hollywood should continue to bolster Muslims throughout the industry including bringing more stories and authentic portrayals to audiences.
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There's the Bechdel Test that evaluates representations of women; the DuVernay Test on racial representations; the Russo Test on LGBTQIA+ representations; and the Riz Test on Muslim representations. Now we're proposing the Obeidi-Alsultany Test, which evaluates whether a TV or film project presents Muslim characters in dynamic, nuanced, and intersectional contexts.
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Follow the lead of everyone’s favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers, to use “television for the broadcasting of grace” with these eight children’s series that respect the imagination, creativity, and intelligence of all children. Compiled by Martine McDonald of Practice Wonder and Sue Obeidi of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, this curated list highlights inclusive content that can have a positive impact on youth audiences while being fun and entertaining.
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American Muslims are multidimensional, deep, funny, and complex all at the same time. Despite their different formats, shows like Hulu’s “Ramy” and Netflix’s “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” share a common treatment of the American Muslim experience. Their Muslim identity is a part, but not all of who they are, which makes them both so relatable to wider audiences.
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For every positive step forward, there is still another stereotype or trope to address, but at The MPAC® Hollywood Bureau we will continue to work to bring our community even beyond equity and inclusion to appreciation and respect. We congratulate all of this year’s nominees and look forward to a future that authentically includes us all.
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Taking the 76th annual Golden Globes as a case in point, the current state of diversity and inclusion in the industry is not just a fleeting Hollywood moment, but an actual movement towards greater and more authentic representation.
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Inclusion and authentic representation of our communities on screen have the unique power to shift the public’s negative view of Muslims for the better. To do so, they have to reach audiences that hold those views.
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Anthony Bourdain used his platform to showcase regular people doing everyday things. Instead of telling their stories, he amplified their voices to tell their own, giving his audience an authentic glimpse into their daily lives.
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With its newly committed funding to the entertainment industry, Saudi Arabia has an opportunity to help change the narrative around Muslims, righting some of the wrongs that it helped to perpetuate for so long.
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Authentic representation opens people's minds to the realities of multidimensional communities. Television is the perfect platform to reflect the broad spectrum of Muslims to viewers in their own living rooms.
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Telling the stories of ordinary Americans who happen to be Muslim will make what was once viewed as foreign familiar. It will create an environment of increased empathy and understanding - and it will still make great television.
Muslims in the business can take the lead in changing the perception of Islam and Muslims in America especially now as the Trump administration continues to marginalize our community.
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More celebrities are speaking up to defend the American Muslim community. This increased support means acceptance, respect and inclusion and marks important progress in the journey to “normalizing” Muslim characters.
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If Muslims want to see a better world for themselves and others, this is the industry we need to be contributing to. To change the narrative in Hollywood, we need to engage with the industry and bring our perspectives to the table.
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