For the Love of Paint

Muslim Position on Racism

Racism exists everywhere in the world due to skin color, religious affiliation, and just being from a different ethnicity. Today people are affected by racism in different ways for example; prejudices assumption and being stereotyped. How has the Muslim community responded to being stereotyped everyday by the images and events that are shown on television today?

The prejudices against the Muslim community that is shown in the media today, has become so absurd that it portrays Muslims to be a group that isn't peaceful. For example The Reverend Jerry Vines, called the Prophet Muhammad a "demon-possessed pedophile." Also the Reverend Pat Robertson, popular television host of the 700 club said, "The Qur'an makes it very clear, if you see an infidel, you are to kill him. (Michael, 2004, p.284) According to President Bush who visited a mosque in downtown Washington D.C declared "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace." (Michael, 2004, p.284) After his visit people realized what the faith is about they disowned the previous views of the Muslim people.

In America, after 9/11 Muslims face several challenges like, xenophobia, racism, sexism, and now "Islamophobia." Several African American Muslims also have suffered lack of economic and educational opportunities. (Michael, 2004, p.284) with these discrepancies and challenged the Muslim community has established their own community and forging ties with communities outside the Muslim community. They began establishing their own political organization and self-help organization. (Michael, 2004, p.284)

The media today is portraying the Islamic world in a negative way. With political instability and civil