This presentation summarizes the TLC show All-American Muslim, which focused on the lives of five Lebanese-American Muslim families living in Dearborn, Michigan. It discusses how the show portrayed Muslims and Muslim women, and their religious practices. It also analyzes the controversy surrounding Lowe's decision to pull advertising from the show after complaints from a conservative Florida group.
2. We will be focusing on how Muslims are
portrayed on the TLC television show All-
American Muslim. We will also be looking
at how women particularly are portrayed in
this television show. The controversial
problem with Lowes will also be discussed
on this presentation.
3. This show was
produced by the
television network TLC.
The network first
premiered the TV show
on November 13, 2011.
The show features lives
of 5 Lebanese Muslim
American families.
The show was shot in
Dearborn, Michigan.
4. Suehaila and Shadia
Nader and Nawal Aoude
Samira Amen-Fawaz and Ali Fawaz
Mike and Angela Jaafar
Fouad Zaban
Nina Bazzy
6. These families look and act like every other
typical American family. Meaning they go
through struggles, they work, they are into
sports, and own their own businesses.
However, many people look at Muslims
differently since 9/11. They treat them like
terrorists and assume the worst just based on
appearance.
The families practice their Muslim religion in
ways such as, performing rituals and prayers.
7. The women on the show do normal things
that American women do. They enjoy
shopping and hanging out with friends like
average women.
However they differ from them because of
their strict religion. Some wear traditional
Hijabs and cover their entire body at all
times, completely by choice. In one
episode, there are two out of the three
women who do not wear the traditional Hijab.
8. Nina Bazzy describes what it’s like to be an
American-Muslim woman.
“I am an All-American Muslim. It’s true. Despite what
people might say or think, I value both of those
identities. I was born in the United States. I voted in the
last 3 presidential elections; I pay my taxes; and I love
apple pie. Also, I was born into a faith that I hold near
and dear to my heart. Part of what I love about being
an American is that I have the freedom to practice my
faith and believe what I choose to believe. And
although, I don’t fit the stereotypical view of a “Muslim
woman,” nothing or no one can shake my beliefs or
love of God.”
9. The Hijab is referred to as a head
covering or style of dress for most
Muslim women.
In the Qur’an, it is known as a
headdress or veil that is typically
warn by Muslim women.
The hijab is required to be worn in
Iran and Saudi Arabia, but is
banned in schools in France. In
America, wearing the hijab is
completely optional.
The veil is much like the hijab. The
hijab covers the head and
hair, while the veil covers the face.
11. All-American Muslims only lasted one season
due to much controversy from viewers.
The Florida Family Association urged people
to stop watching and advertising the show.
They argued that, "propaganda that riskily
hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present
danger to American liberties and traditional
values."
Lowes, which does a lot of advertising for
many different things, followed this argument
and stopped advertising for the show. This
became very controversial.
12. Another source explains this controversy as Lowes
dropping it’s sponsorship following complaints by a
Florida based conservative group that accused the
show of “glossing over Islamic extremism.”
The Florida group called the Florida Family
Association, campaigned against the show. The group
approached sponsors and urged them to drop their
support of the show.
They claimed All-American Muslim was biased
because it didn’t deal with topics such as Americans
concerned about Muslim Sharia La.
Lowes stated, shortly after making their decision, that
the program had become “a lightning rod” for “strong
political and societal views.”
13. Lowes explained that they knew there were many
different people watching the show and took into
consideration all of their perspectives.
They stated, "We based our decision to pull the
advertising on this research and after hearing the
concerns we received through
emails, calls, through social media and in news
reports.“
However, with all of these concerns, there were
still many supporters of the show signing petitions
to keep the ads, yet Lowes remained cancelling
their advertisements.
14. Inthis presentation, we focused on the
TLC television show All-American Muslims.
Particularly how Muslims are
portrayed, how others view Muslim women
and how they view themselves, traditional
hijab of women both wearing the
headdress and not wearing it on the
show, and the controversial issue with
Lowes advertisements of the show.
