1700% Project: Mistaken for Muslim

This film is the 2010 recipient of the Grand Prize award for LinkTV's One Chicago, One Nation film competition. Using the music video format as a subversive tool of engagement and collaboration, artist Anida Yoeu Ali and filmmaker Masahiro Sugano, worked with over 100 diverse volunteers, participants and community members in the Chicagoland area. In their film, narratives collide with music, poetry and politics to create a complex and layered experience. A poet, dancer, angel, prisoner converge with community to speak, deflect, and intervene against racial profiling and hate crimes. Featured portraits represent real American Muslims in Chicago, people who refuse to end in violence. Central to the video is an unapologetic poem, a response to injustices directed against the Muslim community that reflect both the absurdity and dangers of racially-motivated fears. "1700%" refers to the rate of increase in hate crimes committed against people perceived as Muslim or Arab after 9/11. The video is one facet of a larger ongoing project titled "1700% Project" utilizing art as a form of strategic intervention to present works that challenge monolithic stereotypes of Muslims. For more information visit: http://1700percent.org/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• hate crimes
• anti-muslim violence
• 9/11
• Muslim
• Islam
• spoken word
• anti-Arab
• performance art

[NoYouShutUpDad]

This is incredible and I agree with rebelmars that this is what politically oriented media needs to start taking the shape of.

I drive cab for a living in a relatively large state university and I can't believe the level of racism and xenophobia I hear on a nightly basis coming from these college students regarding Muslims and people of color in general. I think were heading into grim times and hopefully artists like you can speak up and get a message of tolerance and understanding across.

[deadtilldawn99]

I originally saw this on Link. I was moved to tears. Partially because I had to face my own prejudices. In my community it is the Hispanic. I found myself judging them at times when I didn't know them. Although the ones I have gotten to know I adore. I am learning. Your an amazing artist. Keep it up.

[StunningHijabi]

i had to say this even though im 2 minutes into this video, IS ANYONE GETTING FREAKED OUT BY THAT HALF NAKED GUY DOING THOSE STRAIGHT UP FREAKY MOVEMENTS WITH HIS BODIES????

#FreakyShit

*continues watching video*

[thekenjirx009]

@akaorilove I think he was quoting something from the video

[mynameisrits]

Ignorant America. Everybody should see this video.

[s2hanna]

muslim mistaken for terrorist!

[akaorilove]

@TheHellbilly1986 I've got news for you, buddy. You weren't here first. Should the First Nations people be saying that to us who migrated from France and England? Should we then speak THEIR language because they were here first? We all share this earth: deal with it. The sooner we learn to love one another and appreciate the differences (appreciate doesn't mean we have to believe what they believe, but accept) the better chance we have at surviving on this earth without destroying the human race

[MuslimahJourney]

@TheHellbilly1986 well maybe you should leave then, none of the Natives spoke English in OUR Country

[TheHellbilly1986]

speak english or die get these foreign pieces of shit out of our country!

[kirjaba]

i'm mexican and sometimes i have trouble to understand the poem so, would you be kind and put the whole poem?? thanks! i would like to publish it as well!!

[jordivlaai]

65% of all americans have grandparents the netherlands germany and england and all 65% are so stupid that the scream at foreingers go back to your own country, those 65% should do a check where their really from

[daniyellowjello]

Why are people so blind