Broken: The Failed Promise of Muslim Inclusion

Donald Trump's executive order to limit Muslim immigration to the US sparked unprecedented opposition, including Hollywood movies and television shows featuring more Muslim characters, universities and private businesses including Muslims in their diversity initiatives, and the criminal justice system taking hate crimes against Muslims more seriously. However, Evelyn Alsultany argues that diversity initiatives fail to address the root causes of institutionalized Islamophobia, such as the firing of high-profile individuals for anti-Muslim speech, and the disruption of Muslim students' participation in Palestinian rights activism.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

Diversity initiatives often have unintended consequences for Arab Americans and US Muslims, despite their positive intentions. One of Donald Trump's first actions as President was to sign an executive order restricting Muslim immigration to the United States, which sparked widespread opposition and led to increased representation of Muslims in Hollywood movies and television shows, as well as in universities and private businesses. However, Evelyn Alsultany argues that diversity initiatives often fail to address the root causes of discrimination and instead resort to "crisis diversity," where high-profile Islamophobic incidents are urgently responded to but then ignored until the next crisis arises.

In the realm of television, this means questioning even those representations of Muslims that others have celebrated as positive. For example, a growing number of "good Muslims" on TV seem to have arrived there ironically, only after leaving the faith. In the corporate world, Alsultany criticizes the firing of high-profile individuals for anti-Muslim speech as a remedy that rebrands corporations as anti-racist while institutional racism remains intact. At universities, Muslim students are included in diversity, equity, and inclusion plans, but their involvement in Palestinian rights activism can disrupt these efforts.

Furthermore, diversity initiatives often perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases against Arab Americans and US Muslims. For instance, they may focus solely on Arab or Muslim identity, ignoring the diverse backgrounds and experiences of these communities. This can lead to tokenism and exclusion, where individuals are only included in diversity initiatives to meet a quota rather than to truly promote inclusivity and understanding.

To address these challenges, it is essential to promote diversity initiatives that are inclusive and equitable and that recognize the complex and multifaceted identities of Arab Americans and US Muslims. This includes promoting cross-cultural dialogue, challenging stereotypes and biases, and providing opportunities for individuals to share their experiences and perspectives. It is also important to recognize the intersectionality of race, religion, and gender and to address the unique challenges faced by individuals who belong to multiple marginalized communities.

In conclusion, diversity initiatives have the potential to promote inclusivity and understanding, but they must be approached with caution and sensitivity to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases. By promoting inclusive and equitable diversity initiatives, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society for all individuals, regardless of their race, religion, or identity.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479805136