Unveiling Muslims in America

Masked by burkas and muted by explosive blasts, Muslims face harsh stereotyping in the United States. Muslim women are seen as oppressed while men are seen as overly patriarchal. Muslims are feared and are thought to be terrorists, while in reality all that exists is a lack of knowledge.

The Mathers Museum of World Cultures is currently featuring the exhibit, “Esse Quam Videri” (To be rather than to seem) by photographer Todd Drake. The exhibit consists of Muslim self-portraits along with personal essays in order to share real self-reflections of Muslim Americans, aiming to bridge the gap in understanding.

“We are used to people telling us about the lives of American Muslims, this exhibit offers people a chance to see individuals in a different perspective,” says Judy Kirk, Associate Director at Mathers.

Sponsored by the Indiana University project, Voices and Visions: Islam and Muslims from a Global Perspective, Todd Drake was able to exhibit his collection at Mathers. Drake worked with Muslims in North Carolina and Manama, Bahrain in order to capture real self-portraits that reflected individual Muslims.

“It’s hard to get Muslims to showcase their life,” says Rosemary Pennington, Project Coordinator for Voices and Visions. “But there is something about portraits that is magical because it captures you.”

Sharing stories from Muslims of different backgrounds, each portrait is able to successfully tell the tale of an individual.

Stories of isolation exist in individuals like Halona from Greensboro, North Carolina. Halona cowers by a desk at school in her self-portrait representing the discrimination she faces in her college classroom, forcing her take college courses online.

Contrastingly, there are Muslims like Ansar from High Point, North Carolina who have found comfort in America. In his self-portrait, Ansar holds a sign in Urdu that translates to “Thank God and thank you America for giving me a new life.” Ansar found happiness in America after receiving treatment for his cancer and has embraced the freedom to worship.

“The stories these images tell are very compelling, and a good starting point for conversation,” says Kirk.

The exhibit aims to draw a richer portrait of the Muslim community and bridge the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. By showcasing individuals, fear can be replaced with understanding, allowing students and community members alike to reconsider stereotypes.

“When you consider that Muslims seldom get space in the media, they are often framed by others. For that reason, we thought it was important to bring the exhibit here,” says Pennington.

The exhibit will remain open to students and the Bloomington community until June 15^th at the Mathers Museum of World Cultures. Visitors can also visit www.muslimselfportrait.info to further explore the portraits.