AMST 3001 Understand Racialized Anti-Muslim Bigotry

Systemic bias and discrimination against Muslims and those perceived as Muslim are primary challenges to building inclusive communities. This course will explore the causes and consequences of racialized anti-Muslim bigotry on impacted communities in the United States.
America Indivisible · March 10, 2021

To build more inclusive societies, we must first understand the obstacles our communities face. This course introduces you to a central challenge affecting cities, counties, and states across America: systemic bias and discrimination against Muslims and those perceived as Muslim. Begin by identifying how anti-Muslim bigotry is a form of racism. While Islam is not a race, anti-Muslim bias is grounded in racist premises based on appearance, perceived national origin, and hateful tropes. Anti-Muslim bigotry impacts Muslims and those mistakenly perceived as Muslim, including Sikh, Arab, Asian, Black, and African descent. Analyze the prevalence of systemic anti-Muslim racism in American media, governmental institutions, and legislation. Examine the role of institutions and individuals who fund anti-Muslim efforts and explore the actions of those actively combatting anti-Muslim hate.

Learning Objectives

  • Define racialized anti-Muslim bigotry and who is impacted by it.
  • Understand the systemic forms of anti-Muslim bigotry, including the financial landscape of Islamophobia and the role of media and government.
  • Identify where to find credible sources of information related to racialized anti-Muslim bias, including reporting and statistics of religiously and racially motivated hate incidents in oneu2019s city, state, or county.

Contributors

Usra Ghazi MTS

Senior Advisor, America Indivisible

Melissa Levinson MA

Curriculum Writer, America Indivisible
Curriculum Developer, Islamic Networks Group (ING)

M. Arsalan Suleman JD, MPhil

Counsel, Foley Hoag LLP. Chair, America Indivisible
Fellow, Georgetown Inst. for Study of Diplomacy. Former Acting US Special Envoy to the OIC.

Dr. Nathan C. Walker

President, 1791 Delegates
Founder, ReligionAndPublicLife.org

Civic Education for a Common Good

We apply the U.S. Department of Education’s Consensus Statements about Constitutional Approaches for Teaching about Religion

▸ Our approach to religion is academic, not devotional;
▸ We strive for student awareness of religions, but do not press for student acceptance of any religion;
▸ We sponsor the study about religion, not the practice of religion;
▸ We expose students to a diversity of religious views, but may not impose any particular view;
▸ We educate about all religions, we do not promote or denigrate any religion;
▸ We inform students about religious beliefs and practices, it does not seek to conform students to any particular belief or practice.

We apply the American Academy of Religion’s “Religious Literacy Guidelines”

▸ “Religious Literacy Guidelines for College Students.” American Academy of Religion, 2019.
▸ “Teaching About Religion: AAR Guidelines for K-12 Public Schools.” American Academy of Religion, April 2010.

We apply the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Frameworks for Religious Studies

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, “Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework.” Silver Spring, MD: National Council for the Social Studies, 2017.