Allah Made Me Funny

Caught a fascinating special on pbs last night (the older I get the more I am really appreciating public television) – “Allah Made Me Funny” is a Muslim comedy tour featured on the pbs special, about ethnic Muslim comics, reflecting a surgence of minority comedians / entertainers. It was wierd. From what I understand of Islam, at heart it is about submission to Allah, but mixing submission with making funny seemed strange to me. Still, this guy above was pretty funny, what with the self-effacing ethnic stereotypes seems to be the humor-du-jour. I had to laugh when he

talked about the stares he gets when he walks on an airplane. While a serious topic, it diffuses the fear we feel about terrorism. So I was impressed to see how these comics are bringing a different face to their faith and addressing their identity as Americans in tension with what has been branded an un-American religious identity.

More and more I’m finding ethnic entertainers coming onto the scene, Russell Peters is making a killing and is so hot right now, Kumar is making a move for movie legitimacy, and Bi gets on Speed Racer. The entertainment biz reflects the gradual shift that’s happening with the “browning of America” today… and it is fascinating to watch these new faces in the comedy biz.