Based on true events, the 2010 film "Mooz-lum" tells the story of an African-American Muslim family living in Dearborn, Michigan. The majority of the film takes place around the time of the devastating events of September 11, 2001. The movie focuses around the character of Tariq (Evan Ross, "ATL"), a college freshman who suffers internally, while trying to find himself. He has become bitter and hardened due to his rough childhood, enduring a number of obstacles, such as cultural ridicule and strict religious policies. The latter was eventually brought about by his parents' divorce, separating Tariq and his father Hassan (Roger Guenveur Smith) from his mother Safiyah (Nia Long, "Boyz N the Hood") and sister Taqua (Kimberly Drummond).
Upon arriving on campus, Tariq is instantly thrust between his religion and the outside world. He experiments with alcohol and interactions with the opposite sex, at the same time distancing himself further from his Muslim roots. This seems to be a difficult task for him, seeing as his roommate, Hamza, is a devout Muslim. He constantly tries to include Tariq in his religious endeavors. He even goes as far as mentioning Tariq to their World Religions professor, Jamal, who also happens to be Muslim, in hopes of winning him over. Tariq wants no part of it, still full of resentment and hostility towards the faith, which becomes clear through numerous flashbacks to his early childhood years. However, the unexpected events of 9/11 force Tariq, as well as other students, to come together when his sister and others' lives are threatened by Americans blaming the terrorist attacks on all Muslims.
Director Qasim "Q" Basir wrote this film not only because he could relate to it personally, but also to paint an accurate picture of Muslims in America's society. Depictions of Muslim terrorists in movies are overly common misconceptions. Even though Muslims were believed to have been behind the tragic events of 9/11, they experienced a great deal of discrimination in the United States because of the fact. All citizens of the United States were in a state of fear and emergency, the Muslim community included. As Basir stated in one of his Huffington Post blogs, "We have to live in fear not only of terrorists but also of being associated with them." Here he provides a perfect example of the ignorance regarding some individuals' misunderstanding of religious and cultural differences.
Despite the undertone of religious tolerance, the film basically portrays the struggle of an average teenager trying to find out where he fits in society. We as college students should be able to understand Tariq's personal dilemma. Many of us have suffered from cases of identity crisis, and that's pretty much what college is about. It allows us to enter a state of self-reflection; to just look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out who we really are as individuals. That is probably the most difficult period in any teenagers' life to go through. However, if we can all learn to come together in unity and attempt to understand one another, then it will make the situation a whole lot easier.
