'All American Muslim' Reality Show Set for November

Ethnocentric reality shows are all the rage, if recent news regarding Lifetime's "Russian Dolls," Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset" (co-produced by Ryan Seacrest) and -- who could ever forget -- the original stereotype-affirming, explosive series "Jersey Shore" are any indication. But what MTV has done as the Jane Goodall of sordid Italo-American culture, a cable network hopes to do with a subject a tad more sensitive.

According to the Daily Mail, TLC jumps on the bandwagon with their own ethnoreligious-themed television show, entitled "All American Muslim." Premiering in November, the show follows the trials and tribulations of five Muslim families in Dearborn, Michigan -- home to the largest mosque in the U.S. and a similarly prodigious Muslim community.

"Through these families and their diverse experiences, we will explore how they blend their values and traditions with everyday life in America," TLC said in a press release.

Among others, the show will feature characters that range from a tattooed-and-pierced sister to a married couple in early parenthood.

Comments

[see-ellen2001]

09:49 PM on 08/04/2011

Stock photo in order to be sensationalistic, which is SO unlike the media, I know. So now many posters are once again rattling on about niqab rather than what the article is about. As far as the show; hopefully will be a fair depiction. I tend to mistrust reality shows bcs they manipulate the shows too much, and what gets left on the cutting room floor?

[LMPE]

02:38 PM on 07/27/2011

OK, I'm going to make a prediction or two:

Glenn Beck (and possible all of Pox News) will use this show as "proof" that Arab Spring has led to a Muslim takeover of the US

Victoria Jackson will say that this TV station hates America

[StopMakingSense2]

02:26 PM on 07/27/2011

This should make a few conservatives crazy... I like....

[hallokitty00]

01:53 PM on 07/27/2011

As an African American Muslim female I disagree with the "typical" representations of Muslim dress. There are many Muslim women who DO NOT even wear hijab (the head scarf) and EVEN FEWER WEAR THE NIQAB (FULL FACE VEIL). Contrary to popular belief neither one of these garments are strictly obligatory and most of which is purely cultural, for the Qur'an never makes mention of women having to wear Burqas, Niqab or any of these other things. Yes, women are told to cover themselves and be modest, but covering the hair and face is NEVER specifically mentioned, but you know what is explicitly mentioned is the fact that "There is no compulsion in religion" or "la ikrah fi'd-din" (2:256). Point is, you can cover your hair if you want too (I do), but it is not "required," as so many would have you believe.

With all of that said, I think the picture above this article gives a very poor and insular view of what it means to be Muslim in America; one cannot carry over archaic and mostly misguided traditions from another country into America and label that as "Muslim American." Furthermore, the "tattooed sister" that they are featuring in the upcoming TV show is just another extreme on the continuum of incorrect perceptions of Muslim Americans.

If Americans do fear Muslims, it has much to do with Muslims polarizing themselves and attempting to pass off their personal, cultural norms as Islamic injunctions.

[brutalefrank]

04:55 PM on 07/27/2011

The picture is a stock Getty photo, and is used because when we look at it a memory is triggered. Is it possible that the new show will help change the perception of Muslims, who knows?

[bessielil]

01:33 PM on 07/27/2011

At least it sounds better than Amish in the City (2004) living in a house with a bunch of non Amish teens. Seeing bathing suits! Hearing music! Eating fast food! Edifying.

[Wookiee1972]

04:33 PM on 07/27/2011

Have you heard of Rumspringa?

[David305]

01:16 PM on 07/27/2011

Why do Muslim women wanna walk around looking like ninjas? You're in civilization now, relax!

[hallokitty00]

01:55 PM on 07/27/2011

It's not that they do David, and many don't, but so many "think" that this is what it means to be a Muslim, which is quite untrue, and you're reading this from a Muslim girl.

[Ana Mo]

02:07 PM on 07/27/2011

It's not obligatory to wear Niqab (as you mentioned like ninjas!) but wearing headscarf is mentioned as a religious duty in Quran, however it's anyone's choice to wear it or not

[David305]

02:11 PM on 07/27/2011

My point is, when you run away from a culture, and your main reason is because that culture is oppressive, you should reconsider the ninja costume they made you wear in the name of Allah or whatever.

[sextonfan]

12:38 PM on 07/27/2011

I think this is relevant and a great idea, but will anyone watch? Leaving aside the possibility that TLC might fail at the actual production and casting of the show, I hope so. In my experience, people don't want to change their minds and those who are anti-Muslim might just dismiss this as liberal propaganda (though that's no reason not to try).

[cdncommentator]

10:15 AM on 07/27/2011

While I'm not a huge reality tv fan, I think this is a great idea. For Muslims in North America to see their lives reflected back to them; for non-Muslims to see people in the flesh; and for middle easterners (who undoubtedly will see this show on satelite) to see the reality and possiblities of Muslim life in a non-Muslim majority country.

[StopMakingSense2]

02:28 PM on 07/27/2011

If it's a reality TV show you can be assured there will be little reality in it..

[Joseph Schmoe]

09:42 AM on 07/27/2011

We learn so much from "reality TV."
:-/

[mustardhead98]

09:14 AM on 07/27/2011

Ugh...yet another "faux reality" show. There isn't much "reality" in these scripted programs.

[Ninjasareclassic]

08:48 AM on 07/27/2011

Sounds like a great idea - I just hope its inclusive enough to show the diversity of Muslims also. For example most Muslims aren't Arabs, South Asian and Indonesian muslims for example, also I'd imagine the American Muslim experience would also include African American muslims within which there is also a big divide between those following Islam ala the Global Abrahamic versions and the US only Farrakhan race-based version...but its MTV so....

[FaceTheTruth00]

07:57 AM on 07/27/2011

I absolutely loathe the entire "reality tv genre". Not a big fan of tv in general; although I might check out this show for an episode or two.

I think it might be interesting to people who have never encountered the religion; but for those know Muslims in real life, it's probably not going to be anymore interesting than the rest of the dreck on tv these days.

[DanoX]

04:03 AM on 07/27/2011

Could be good, but I'll reserve judgement. A lot of what TLC has been doing lately has been pretty ham-fisted.

[TubaGirl21]

12:59 AM on 07/27/2011

Can't wait for this to come on, will definitely be watching!

[Ayana Fakhir]

11:08 PM on 07/26/2011

Gag. And that's coming from a Muslim American. These shows always focus on Arabs and Persians and they aren't even the largest community of Muslims in America--Blacks have the largest number of Muslims in America and some of the oldest Muslim communities in America. And to choose Dearborn, of course, where the largest Mosque in an almost exclusively Shiite Muslim area. Gag.

[RogueJedi14]

10:23 AM on 07/27/2011

I understand your complaint, and in fairness, I totally agree with most of it. But this TLC show is attempting to enlighten certain Americans about the Muslims that they fear. when Bill O'Reilly says 10% of Muslims are terrorists, people don't think of African Muslims, they think of Arabs. When Jaun WIlliams said Muslims on planes scare him, his viewers pictured Arabs. When Rep. King talks about holding Muslim leaders in this country accountable for fostering homegrown terrorism and anti-American sentiment, he drags Arab Muslims before the committee for questioning. TLC is looking to give a more genuine and accurate portrayal of Muslim Americans to combat the boggie man republicans have created, and I support that.

[hallokitty00]

01:23 PM on 07/27/2011

I think what you're missing RogueJedi14 is you cannot attempt to demystify one stereotype by reenforcing another one. I completely agree with Ayana's statement and it speaks to the truth of the matter. I think the major reason Americans have this fear of Muslims in general, is because they only know of Muslims "in general." For example, the media likes to paint the picture that most Muslims are either Arab or Indo-Pakistani, and that's just not the truth. As Anya said, African Americans do indeed have one of thee most sizable populations of Muslims here in America, and if we are talking about "All American Muslims," I do not think you can get more American than African Americans, for unlike most Arabs, Pakistanis, etc, African Americans have been born and bred in this country for several generations; it's the only home they know, unlike many other Muslims who are only 2nd or perhaps 4th generation Americans. Point is, TLC seems to have a good idea, but I'm not sure if it will open anyone's eyes to anything. In fact, it is already very polarizing and will most likely fail to point to the discrimination that many African Americans suffer through within the Muslim community.