Recently, Lowe’s Home Improvement pulled its ads from the TLC show “All-American Muslim” in response to an organization claiming the show “falsely humanized Muslims in America.” The Lowe’s controversy has exposed more Islamophobia in America. Islamophobia is the extreme or irrational fear of people who practice Islam (or Muslims). The issue of Islamophobia falls directly in line with what the My Fellow American project is trying to prevent and overcome in our country.
My Fellow American is an online film and social media project that calls upon concerned Americans to pledge and spread a message that Muslims are our fellow Americans too and should not be discriminated against. It asks people of other backgrounds to make a pledge of liberty and justice for all and to share a real life story about a Muslim friend, neighbor, or colleague that they admire. Using the power of social media, My Fellow American seeks to change the narrative – from Muslims as outsiders in America, to Muslims as our fellow Americans.
Many Americans have never even met an American Muslim and only know Muslims through the lens of the media. American Muslims are so often vilified as a dehumanized group of people that it is possible not to recognize that many Muslims were born in the U.S. Many Muslims migrate to America in search of the same freedoms and opportunities that have always attracted people to our nation. Muslims are our fellow Americans, but due to mis-perception, they face threats to their civil rights and even their personal safety.
Instead of judging Muslims or making them feel like outcasts, we should understand their lives and realize we all share the same basic desires: to live freely in this nation.
Did You Know?
- There are 5 pillars of Islam: Testimony to faith in which one must state “I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger or God,” prayer, fasting, zakat or charity (similar to tithing), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
- It is an obligation for all Muslim adults to pray at least 5 times a day.
- All adult Muslims are required to fast in a period called “Ramadan.”
- Islam is a monotheistic religion which means Muslims only serve Allah.
- Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet instead of the son of God as Christians believe.
Please visit www.myfellowamerican.us to share what this controversy means to you and to spread the message of tolerance to fight back against intolerance and fear-mongering.
