Islamophobia and Muslim Comedians in America - Pages 92-104

Wajid Zulqarnain^1,2, Taimur-ul-Hassan² and Farzana Kausar¹ 

Published: 16 January 2018

Abstract: The main aim of the study was to analyze the sentiments about Muslim comedians in America. Soon after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, many Muslim American stand-up comedians had to suffer Islamophobia; the stereotype perceptions and hatred remarks about them because of their Muslim Identity. Therefore this study applied the qualitative content analysis technique to investigate the role of Muslim comedians and the sentiments of the viewers about their stand-up comedy videos. The findings showed that Muslim comedians are engaged in dialogue to help the Muslim community deal with the impact of the September 11 attacks and to try reassure the public about Arab and Muslim Americans as being unpatriotic and hostile to the United States. Muslim American stand-up comedy is a unique response to negative social discrimination after 9/11, and social critic’s comedians debate the stereotype and reality of Muslim American life. Analysis of functionalist theory from humor sociology to discern expected social messages of joke intended for entertaining and education. It shows how the American Muslim comedy affects American Muslims.

Keywords: Muslim, Comedians, Stand-up comedy, Islomophobia..

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