“The Secret Life of Muslims” is a web series which premiered last week on Vox with the goal to “subvert stereotypes and reveal the truth about American Muslims: fascinating careers, unexpected talents, and inspiring accomplishments” (per the website).
Featured on the premiere episode is Egyptian-American comedian Ahmed Ahmed who talks about how, as a young actor, he was only offered roles playing terrorists so he gave up acting and turned to comedy. He says performing stand-up has allowed him “to have a voice to talk about being Muslim in a funny way.”
“I felt the portrayal of Muslim Americans in the media and in Hollywood was problematic,” says the director of the series, Joshua Seftel. “So we had the idea to do this series of short films that would allow people to tell their own stories in their own words.”
Seftel, who is Jewish, said the mission of the series was a personal one. “I grew up in a part of Upstate New York where there weren’t a whole lot of Jews and I faced discrimination and some bullying for being Jewish as a kid. That has stayed with me. It’s deeply upsetting to see the kind of discrimination that is happening right now in the U.S., so if we can help create understanding in some small way, that would make me happy.”
Be sure to watch the premier episode of “The Secret Life of Muslims” —
