The Racialization of Islam: Islamophobia in the United States by Maryam Qureshi

The Racialization of Islam: Islamophobia in the United States

by Maryam Qureshi

“Islamophobia” is discriminatory behavior with racial, political, and historic underpinnings towards Muslims or “look like Muslims” in the United States. A discriminatory reality created by politically motivated rhetoric and imaginations, Muslims across this nation suffer from racial profiling and hate crimes in increasing numbers in our society (Considine). At the forefront of combatting Islamophobia, Nihad Awad, the Executive Director of Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), published in a 2016 report stating that anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia has “moved from the fringes of American society to the mainstream” (CAIR 2016, 5). During the 2016 presidential campaign, comments against Muslims were made on national television such as, “Islam hates us,” “[Muslims are] uncorked animals,” and “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation” (Considine). Undoubtedly, such rhetoric has inspired attacks against Muslims and non-Muslims in too many states. In November and December of 2015 alone, there were 34 violent attacks reported by American Muslims against their mosques. Many more accounts of assault, murder, and verbal abuse have been reported by American Muslims in only the last few months (Considine). 

Islamophobia is intensified by many groups and organizations. Recently, at least about $205 million were used to spread Islamophobia in America (Considine). Among such organizations are seven charitable institutions that have spent around $42.6 million between 2001 and 2009 (Considine). Moreover, representations of Muslims in media and entertainment have given rise to Islamophobia, as well. “According to Media Tenor International, new outlets such as Fox, NBC, and CBS have depicted Islam as a source of violence between 2007 to 2013” (Considine). A study by Erin Kearns shows that attacks by Muslims receive, on average, 449% more coverage than attacks carried out by non-Muslims. If a terrorist attack is carried out by a Muslim, “you can expect that attack to receive about four and half times more media coverage than if the perpetrator was not Muslim; a perpetrator who is not Muslim would have to kill on average about seven more people to receive the same amount of coverage as a perpetrator who is Muslim” (Considine).  On the other hand, in about 932 out of 1000 films depicting Arabs in America portrayed Arab Muslims as “brute murderers, sleazy rapists, religious fanatics, oil-rich dimwits, and abusers of women” (Shaheen); only 12 films showed Arab Muslims in a positive light. Popular media and the entertainment industry display representations of Muslims that permit hatred towards them. Reinforcing that Muslims are all extremists and violent “lead to dire consequences for Arabs, Muslims, and people who are believed to be Arab and Muslim” (Considine). Muslim Americans have been targets of race-based violence by constructing negative rhetoric of Muslim names, dress, culture, and language.

References

Considine, Craig. “The Racialization of Islam in the United States: Islamophobia, Hate Crimes,

            and ‘Flying While Brown.’” Religions, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 26

            Aug. 2017, www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/165.