American Arab Teaser Clip: Taqwacore

An excerpt from AMERICAN ARAB, an in-progress Kartemquin Films documentary by Usama Alshaibi, featuring Marwan Kamel of the Taqwacore band Al-Thawra.

Credit to EyeSteelFilm for excerpts from "Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam."

What does it mean to be an Arab in America?

Ethnicity is complex. As with other groups, Arab Americans both self identify and are defined by others. The documentary American Arab investigates this tension and sheds light on the state of multiculturalism in America today.

In American Arab, director Usama Alshaibi explores his own life experiences and introduces us to a diversity of other Arabs -- Muslims, Christians and atheists, recent immigrants and those who have lived in the United States their entire lives. Arab-American identity is as varied and complex as America itself, especially for the younger generation.

Born in Baghdad in 1969, Alshaibi and his family moved to Iowa City in 1974. His struggle with identity has been an undercurrent at every moment of his life. The political has been personal, from the nightly news to the big screen.

The chorus of external voices who seek to define what it means to be Arab has never been louder.

We join Alshaibi and his subjects as they open their lives to the lens.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Ktq
• Kartemquin
• Kartemquin Films
• documentary
• taqwacore
• American Arab
• Arab American
• islam punk
• punk
• Arab documentary
• arab music
• hardcore punk
• muslim punk
• Muslim identity
• Islamic stereotypes
• Taqwa Core
• propaganda
• muslin stereotypes
• religion
• music
• Al-Thawra
• althawra
• Marwan Kamel

[seyedsam]

What trash. Drinking? Having sex? Crossing "sh&$" out from the Quran?!? This guy doesnt deserve the title of a Muslim.

[Sabbiramuslimah]

Soooooooooooooooooooooo what's the point in being muslim, if ur in between, basically ur juss wasting ur time. If u can't handle Allah's (swt) decree, then u should not be a muslim, plain and simple, don't cross out what u dont like coz u can't accept, u juss have a problem with submitting wholeheartedly. There's a reason why Islam the way Allah (swt) made it

[Eternalabdallah]

"Why should ye be divided into two parties about the Hypocrites?

God hath upset them for their (evil) deeds. Would ye guide those

Whom God hath thrown out of the Way? For those whom God hath thrown

Out of the Way, never shalt thou find the Way." (Al Nisa: 88)

[HopeforTomrrow09]

@Sabbiramuslimah

Excuse me, maybe you should get rid of your outdated traditional value, it's NOT 1834 it's 2011. Also maybe you shouldn't even being watching this video honestly if you disagree with it.

[Monkomatic]

Cant you guys just accept that maybe it is difficult for some people to follow every word of their religious text while still remaining true to themselves? I wouldn't like to be told that just because I have done some wrong I CANNOT believe in the god that I believe in. Most of their songs are about being accepted in the eyes of their god and the people who live around them.

[thedudefromthehood]

These guys are just like Anarchist Punks.

They hide Islam behind this weird music. I bet none of these guys pray...

[shalah31one]

let we return back to the al quran and sunnah.

just imagine, if rasulullah (pbuh) is still here around us, and then we invite him to go to see and listen the concert of those who called themself "taqwacore"..... let we suppose how will rasulullah (pbuh) react???? will him be pleased or happy???

[fattome91]

WTF >>> jst shut tha hell ur mouth Up looozer .. u r nt a MUSLIM .. u r tottaly nth !!!

[MangoLuve]

Canr say i agree with what hes saying but being a punk muslim is awsome - just follow the rules

[moeezS]

@seyedsam Exactly, why not just call themselves agnostic. You can't make Islam fit for your lifestyle and desires.