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Discrimination against Muslims and Arabs is the focus of a recent ABC sitcom |
Just because the news stories die down doesn’t mean it isn’t still happening. I’m talking about racial discrimination against Muslims, which exploded in post-9/11 America, especially in the workplace. This subject matter received a necessary high profile revisit courtesy of ABC’s half-hour sitcom the George Lopez show.
But instead of falling prey to the problem that plagues most sitcoms tackling a heavy subject (what the Los Angeles Times aptly calls “a heavy-handed Very Special Episode”), the show rightly mixes serious discussion with its trademark sharp, minority-infused humor. It’s thoughtful yet comedic approach to the subject last Wednesday night proves that “in the land of the free” there will always be some minority faced with discrimination.
The episode, titled “Profiles in Courage”, brings comedian George Lopez to a moral impasse when he is told to demote upstanding head employee Hosni, an Arab-American (played by Jason Antoon), in his airline-parts factory to put the company in better standing for a coveted government contract.
George is determined to stick to his principles. But doing so will most likely cost the company the government contract, resulting in the layoff of 20 other employees. What’s a man who wants to do the right thing to do?
That problem is coupled with hilarious (and telling) bigotry jokes from Lopez’s staff (including his suspicious mother).
To wit: Benny, Lopez’s mom, and a few employees gather with George to tear down Hosni. They are amusingly suspicious because he doesn’t drink, swear, gossip and does his work with no problem. “It’s a great day in America when white people, black people and Latinos can all come together and pick on another minority,” George dryly says.
George invites Hosni to dinner to get to know him better. Of course we learn Hosni once went to flight school, which further aggravates Benny. But that’s the point – just because a man is Middle Eastern doesn’t mean he’s a threat, even if he went to flight school.
It’s simply refreshing to see this issue addressed again in the national spotlight. In the months after September 11th, the news stories on racial discrimination were there, and many television dramas addressed the subject, including The West Wing, 24 and Law and Order.
It’s healthy to see these issues in popular dramas. Of course the characters are often minor, but five years ago they weren’t even there. I remember a few years back watching an episode of ER when a Muslim nurse with a prayer mat on her shoulder approached Dr. Carrie Weaver (a main character).
“I need a break,” she said to Weaver, who exasperatingly asked why. “It’s Ramadan, and I gotta pray,” she said. Well, I was floored. A mention of Ramadan and prayer in ER? I immediately called my brother to share my excitement.
But a whole story line dedicated to Middle Eastern racial discrimination – it’s been a long time since that happened. (Has it ever happened?) And racial discrimination, bigotry and subtle harassment of Muslims and Arabs is still happening, whether the media and entertainment industry address it or not.
A half-hour sitcom – who would’ve thought this subject matter would be picked by a comedy? But George Lopez tackled it gracefully with plenty of humor to boot.
As in life, there’s rarely a happily-ever after solution to our problems. And George reluctantly decides to give in to the pressure and demote Hosni to save the other 20 employees. But he explains his decision to Hosni, who takes it with dignity and sadness.
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