In this op-ed for The Hollywood Reporter, columnist (and NBA Hall of Famer) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says that he is hopeful that recent feature films and TV series such as “The Big Sick” and “Master of None” are helping to bring an end to one-dimensional portrayals of Muslims on screen. Here are some snippet from Mr. Jabbar’s column:
Looking at current portrayals in pop culture, I feel pretty hopeful about the future. “Quantico” featured twin Muslim women, one who wore a hijab. Aziz Ansari’s Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Netflix comedy “Master of None” is a bold and necessary show because it is not only exceptionally funny and heartwarming in its portrayal of the title character from a Muslim family, it’s relentless in showing the protagonist’s immaturity and foibles. His daily conflicts are just like everyone else’s. While Jerry Seinfeld’s fictional parents were Jewish noodges, Ansari’s are Muslim noodges.
“The Big Sick”, one of the best films of 2017, was co-written by and stars Pakistan-born, Muslim-raised Kumail Nanjiani. The movie, an autobiographical fictional adaptation of Nanjiani meeting his future wife that scored a SAG Award nomination for its cast is funny and touching. It portrays a Muslim family in a comic and endearing way. HBO’s Emmy-winning “The Night Of” presented a nuanced, complex view of Muslim-American life…
