The Emmys and the Future of Muslim Portrayals on Television1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe 71st annual Emmy Awards nominations will be announced this week and we can almost be certain that Hulu’s “Ramy” and Netflix’s “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” will be among the shows nominated. Anything to the contrary would be a noticeable slight.
Both shows bring a unique viewpoint to American audiences: that American Muslims are multidimensional, deep, funny, and complex all at the same time. Despite their different formats, the shows share a common treatment of the American Muslim experience. Their Muslim identity is a part, but not all of who they are, which makes them both so relatable to wider audiences.
The future for any undeserved community in entertainment is riddled with challenges and hard work. American Muslims are also under the weight of vilifying stereotypes that we’ve seen on screen for decades. However, with the success and recognition of “Ramy” and “Patriot Act,” the future of American Muslim portrayals on screen feels brighter today than it ever has before.
Photo credit: The Wrap
