Throughout my youth, I never actually had MTV. The rare time I had access to cable at a friend’s house though I’d seek out MTV’s The Real World, the original reality show. As soon as I started imagining myself on the show I would unimagine it almost immediately. As a Muslim, I knew I could never be real on the Real World. What if I wanted to flirt with a boy?  Or didn’t pray? My parents, their friends, the whole ummah would be watching!  But what a nightmare to be a practicing Muslim on the show as well – I would for sure be characterized as the prudish, uptight, outsider.  I’d have to know everything about everything in Islam, in case a question came up on the show, the response to which would inform millions of viewers. There would just be no winning and I would be forever self-conscious about how I was representing my religion – the sole identifiable Muslim on the airwaves.

And now, many years later, a real world of sorts made up entirely of Muslims – TLC’s new reality TV show, All-American Muslim. Discussions of the show have been lively and many already want to dissociate from the show’s cast. I’ve even heard the word “trashy” used to describe the cast by upper-class white-collar Muslims who likely wish the show could follow people like them around. There will be numerous things to criticize and no matter where you place yourself on the scale of religiosity, there will be something to cringe at. The fervently religious will be upset by the seemingly haste and utilitarian conversion of an Irish-Catholic fiancé, or by the blonde bombshell wanting to open a nightclub. More liberal Muslims will not appreciate some gender discrepancies or the constant emphasis on the hijab (which is not universally accepted as an Islamic requirement).  

There are other complaints as well – the show depicts a specific class, sect, nationality and location, which in most cases are actually the minority representation (i.e. most Muslims are Sunni not Shia, most live in less Arabized communities than Dearborn, and South Asians, not Arabs, are likely the largest ethnic Muslim community in the US). Because one woman wears the hijab and another doesn’t, does not mean the cast is “diverse”. Truth be told, all concerns are understandable. Racist (to use the term incorrectly) attitudes towards Muslims are one of the last publicly acceptable prejudices (see Herman Cain discussing Islam) and so Muslims are justifiably paranoid, careful and defensive about their image. Perhaps it doesn’t help that the show is produced by a network that thrives on extremes and oddities – shows like Hoarding, 19 Kids and Counting, and Toddlers & Tiaras.

Still, I think the critiques are unreasonable and offensive. The show is about American Muslims, not American Islam.  The producers deserve credit for showing at least some sort of range for its characters. They did not appear to seek out the most successful, most radical, or most Jersey Shore-esque cast, and the criticism that cast members are “boring” is perhaps not such a bad thing. Thus far the scenarios are representative of how many Muslims live, struggle and act – whether or not everything they do is in compliance with Islam. In reality, we all understand and practice our Islam differently – as do Christians, Jews, and Hindus. Anyone that interprets the show or any of its characters as the embodiment of Quranic scripture may as well interpret their local grocery clerk in the same manner. And, in my opinion, the cast members deserve enormous credit for exposing themselves to the kind of microscopic judgmental scrutiny they will receive from within and without the community. The same scrutiny that kept me from even dreaming of appearing on The Real World.

Ultimately the question is: Is this good for our image or bad for it?  Will this reinforce stereotypes or challenge them?  The truth is, while media is extremely powerful, we also give it too much credit. Those hostile to Muslims will undoubtedly be able to reconfirm stereotypes by watching the show (or more likely, will not be watching in the first place). Those with an open or curious mind, however, may have their preconceptions challenged. It is refreshing to see Muslims on television as supportive husbands, tattooed country-music fans, converts-for-marriage, popular police chiefs, and devoted coaches.  And if Muslims want to disavow or disparage other Muslims for their beliefs or lifestyles – which the cast members themselves don’t yet appear to do – then they will lose a whole lot of their imperfect brothers and sisters in the process. I just pray to Allah that I have not spoken too soon.

All-American Muslim airs on TLC on Sundays at 10/9c.