Humanising Arabs and Muslims

Joanne Lockwood

Tags: humanizing Arabs, Muslims in media, diversity politics, Islamophobia, Hollywood portrayal, negative stereotypes, media influence, Muslim civil liberties, crisis diversity, performative diversity

The Power of Media: Humanising Arabs and Muslims through Diverse Narratives

Exploring the historical portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in Hollywood, Evelyn Alsultany discusses the limits and possibilities of diversity work and the need for authentic representation to counteract one-dimensional stereotypes.

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, host Joanne Lockwood invites guest Evelyn Alsultany to delve into the topic of humanising Arabs and Muslims. Alsultany, author of Broken the Failed Promise of Muslim Inclusion, shares insights from her research that explore the portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in popular culture and its impact on society.Alsultany begins by shedding light on Hollywood's long-standing habit of lumping Arabs and Muslims together as villains and threats to national security. Drawing from Jack Shaheen's book "Real Bad Arabs," she highlights the shocking finding that only 12 out of 1,000 Hollywood films featuring Arabs had positive portrayals. This repetitive depiction has contributed to negative perceptions and the restriction of Muslim civil liberties.The discussion moves on to the influence of media in shaping public opinion and supporting policies that hinder Muslim inclusion. Alsultany acknowledges the progress made in recognizing Islamophobia as an issue but questions the limits and possibilities of diversity work divorced from social or restorative justice objectives.As the conversation unfolds, Alsultany emphasizes the need for depicting a wide range of roles within the Muslim community to counteract the one-dimensional terrorism narrative. She cites various TV shows, including "We Are Lady Parts," "Rami," "Mo," and "Ms. Marvel," as examples of positive representation. However, she cautions against "feel good solutions" that prioritize diversity for financial gain without addressing past oppressions or promoting true inclusion.The episode touches on the concept of "crisis diversity," which examines how unprecedented responses emerge during times of crisis, such as the Muslim ban. Lockwood adds her perspective on the importance of recognizing diversity in people's thinking and prioritizing the human factor in creating a better world of work through inclusion and decency.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the historical portrayal of Arabs and Muslims, the power of media in perpetuating stereotypes, and the challenges and potential of diversity efforts. The key takeaway is the need to move beyond performative diversity and towards genuine acknowledgement of past wrongs, fostering inclusion, and creating lasting change.Tune in to this thought-provoking episode and join Joanne Lockwood and Evelyn Alsultany in their exploration of humanising Arabs and Muslims.