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Muslim comedians laugh at racism
siddiqui
07/30/04 at 01:12:26
Muslim comedians laugh at racism

 By Jannat Jalil
BBC correspondent in Washington  


With his bushy black beard and skullcap, Azhar Usman strides on to the stage with a raucous "Assalam Aleikum."
"For those who don't know what that means, I'll explain it to you," he declares. "It means: 'I'm gonna kill you.'" The audience bursts into laughter.

But his accent reveals that as well as being a Muslim, Azhar Usman is also an American.

The "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy show is an attempt by a group of American Muslim comics to counter the negative stereotypes and attitudes about Muslims and Arabs by poking fun at themselves, their communities and the prejudices they face.

Skewering stereotypes

Like their Jewish or African American counterparts, the Muslim comedians in "Allah Made Me Funny" aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves.

There are jokes about Muslims being late and about faulty sound systems in mosques.


Just as Muslims feel that Islam is greatly misunderstood in America so too America is greatly misunderstood in the Muslim world
Azhar Usman, comedian  

The show made its US debut at a club in Washington earlier this month.
The founder of the show, Preacher Moss, says the intention is to bridge the gap between different communities, which he believes has widened since the 11 September attacks of 2001.

"Post-9/11, we wanted to do something to bring the Islamic community into the mainstream," says Mr Moss, an African-American Muslim. "It's an opportunity to have some dialogue and to make people, Muslims and non-Muslims, feel enlightened and entertained."

The audience at the show is unusually diverse for Washington.

Trendy young professionals sit alongside women in Islamic headscarves, African robes and Asian shalwar kameezes.

This is where mainstream America meets Islam, not with conflict but with laughter.

"You have a fair amount of people here who aren't Muslim," says Mr Moss. "They're just interested in dialogue and having that fellowship that's been lacking. And you have Muslims out here who are trying to come out and express themselves as well."

Unifying humour

The response from the audience is overwhelmingly positive.

"Humour brings us all together," says one young woman. "It doesn't matter whether you're black, white, Muslim, Chinese, Indian. Humour is humour."

A Muslim man at the show says: "I think anything for the Muslims in the public eye is good right now especially if it is funny and it's showing people that we also have a sense of humour.

"In the jokes the comedians highlight things like stereotypes. This performs an educational function, so it's very positive," he added.

The comedian Azhar Usman says that as well as showing Americans that most Muslims are not fanatics, he also wants to take the show to Muslim countries to help the Islamic world gain a better understanding of America.

They have had requests to tour around the world including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar.

"Now I think that this tour without a doubt is ready to really explode into the Muslim world, no pun intended," Mr Usman said.

"I think what's important to recognise is that just as Muslims feel that Islam is greatly misunderstood in America so too America is greatly misunderstood in the Muslim world," he added.

Justice

America's moral credibility among Muslims has been badly damaged by the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers. American leaders insist only a handful of soldiers are to blame.

What this show is aiming to do is demonstrate that the actions of a handful of extremists acting in the name of Islam have nothing to do with most Muslims.

But since the 11 September attacks, many Muslims now believe American justice is biased against them.

That's a theme Azhar Usman tackles in his stand-up routine.

"We've made a lot of progress towards ending racism in America," he tells the audience. "But we've been hearing about it for decades. A black man says he can never get a fair trial in America."

He pauses. "But Arabs and Muslims say they can't even get a trial."

The audience roars appreciatively.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3796109.stm

Published: 2004/06/15 10:19:32 GMT

© BBC MMIV
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
Orange_Tree
07/30/04 at 11:33:15
This sounds really cool.  I saw a documentary about a muslim American comedian.  He did a joint gig with a Jewish guy and played to a Jewish audience which went down really well.  I think a bit of comedy can help to educate ppl about issues.  I've always fancied the idea of a being a comic but I'm severely lacking in the funny department.   :)
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
siddiqui
07/30/04 at 15:47:12
[slm]

I saw Br Azhar Uth(s)man perform at U mass-Amherst earlier this year, MashaAllah he is a funny guy providing comic relief to a weary Ummah as well as providing insights on our faults and areas we can improve on that might not be apparent on regular interospection


[wlm]
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
stranger
07/30/04 at 16:40:05
[slm]

I was at an event where preacher moss performed.  To tell you the truth, I was kind of embarressed because many of his jokes were about how <some> white people were like such and such, and I kinda felt bad because people <muslims> were all laughing at his jokes, but as much as you say, I love white people or I love black people, and you go make a joke about them right after that makes your previous statement meaningless.  I guess you just can't tell jokes without offending people, but if you're going to, then I don't know if it's right to associate islam with it.  Anyway, sorry for being overly sensitive about this issue.

[slm]
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
Trustworthy
08/20/04 at 03:30:18
[slm]...

I love a good laugh.  I love comedy, but racial jokes most of the time go too far.  Like the joke about our "Salaam", NOT FUNNY!  Calling our hijabs "rags" NOT FUNNY!  Poking fun at our arranged marraiges, FUNNY.  Poking fun of our modesty between men and women, FUNNY!  Poking fun at cowboys, definately funny and stupid people...hilarious.

About not getting a fair trial vs not getting a trial at all...that's the truth.  More of an eye opener then a laughing matter.

So I'm 50/50 on this one.  You have to pick and choose your jokes.  I'm not easily offended, but if someone poked fun of my religion, you know I won't be rolling on the floor with laughter...more like you'll be rolling on the floor because I put you there.

RELIGION should never be brought on stage for ANYONE to laugh at because that's what they're doing...laughing AT the religion not WITH the religion.  Think about it.

Many du'as and Allah (SWT) bless....

Ma-assalaamah.....
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
Orange_Tree
09/02/04 at 14:40:32
[quote author=Trustworthy link=board=kabob;num=1091160747;start=0#4 date=08/20/04 at 03:30:18]

RELIGION should never be brought on stage for ANYONE to laugh at because that's what they're doing...laughing AT the religion not WITH the religion.  Think about it.[/quote]


That is so true.  Jokes poking fun at Islam leave me stony faced and uncomfortable.  The daily goings-on of muslim life can provide laughter and insights if done in the right way.  That muslim guy I mentioned in my previous post is called Ahmed Ahmed and he has won the Richard Pryor comedy award!  It's an award specifically for ethnic minorities, to encourage them to Edinburgh.  I think it's great he won.  He seemed a nice chap.  
Re: Muslim comedians laugh at racism
Asia
09/14/04 at 05:39:05
Uhm..

I've seen Azhar Usman because he had a performance in the UK lastr year I think *ponders*  yeppities

It's not ISlam he's making fun of. Heck, I would've walked right out if it was the religion itself he was poking fun at. But rather, he was making fun of US, the muslims, the ways in which we HAve deviated slightly off the road sometimes, our disorganisation and mishandling of matters..
Many a time he made fun of disorganisation in masjid's, a way of gently pushing us to change things, pointing out our mistakes.

It would be different if a NOn muslim were to say that, because then you can say he's making fun of us.. Azhar is a muslim also, and he would not make fun of Islam for non-muslims to laugh at us.


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