Last year, we launched a unique campaign to respond to bigoted rhetoric and to empower people of good conscious to tell stories of Muslim contributions to America. Combining films and social media, our My Fellow American campaign has now gone viral, with its films getting more than a million views on YouTube. “My Fellow American has grown into a unique vehicle for sharing the stories that most Americans never get to hear about,” says Outreach Director Daniel Tutt, who spearheaded the project. “A woman whose life was saved by a Muslim doctor, a Marine vet who served with a Muslim, a Catholic student whose Muslim roommate helped her own faith grow stronger – these are among the many stories that mainstream American have contributed. People change their views when you reach their heart, and these stories show what the heart of Islam in America is all about.”
The project is an ongoing effort, as he further explains. “I see this project as a home base. It can only grow in volume. So far, our social media pages are busy everyday with fresh activity. Our intention is for MFA to be used in a proactive way to counter prejudice. We are building a community of people who believe that no one should be excluded from being an American based on their religion. Muslims are the new kids on the block dealing with this sort of bigotry, and people are beginning to recognize it and take action.” I echo his sentiments, and look forward with great excitement to what will unfold through this project.