The journey to discover one’s self-identity is a perilous one that is forever changing due to social and environmental factors. Being an American-Muslim adds another facet to the mechanics of searching for self-identity through such tumultuous times. However, I find clarity and solace in my faith, adding hope for the future of humanity.

Cultivating an identity means to know oneself, recognizing talents and weaknesses and understanding the multitudes of roles we play. According to prominent professor of communication George Gerbner; who fled to the United States from Europe due to anti-Jewish persecution: exposure to media over time subtly “cultivates” one’s perceptions about others, as well as the self.

To put it simply; the characters that we see on television and on the media, will positively or negatively affect the impression we will feel about ourselves and others. Gerbner experienced this first hand in Europe, and parallels of how Jews were portrayed in the media prior to the holocaust can clearly be drawn with how minorities are portrayed in America today.

Although our representation has been improving; minorities have historically taken the disproportional brunt of vilified characters. This has left a lasting, negative stereotype as well as a lack of positive role models for minorities to identify with. Unless, I and other minorities educate ourselves and reflect upon our faith and culture in regards to this phenomenon; we will have a distorted view of our own self-identity and that of others.

We are living in an era of polarization and strife, from a widening political divide, gender inequality, and the most visible form: racial injustice towards minorities; especially towards the African American community. Once again, many of us Americans have played into the hands of media fueled stereotypes, becoming tools of oppression, intolerance and hate.

There are however; tremendous forces of empathy, love and understanding at play that we can each cultivate into our own understandings of ourselves and others. My greatest inspiration is the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who’s message was to empathize and help the distraught, downtrodden and oppressed. His final sermon is known to be the first anti-racist sermon, which helps bring well needed understanding and commonality between a polarized people:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also, a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.

– Muhammad (pbuh).

In the ever-changing search for self-identity, I find these prophetic words to be the best example to follow. We all need a beacon of light to guide us through these times and aid us in the search for true self-identity and to shed negative stereotypes.

First published by Redlands Daily Facts, 7/24/20