Throughout the War on Terror, the United States government designed and deployed narratives that demonize Muslims and construct them as foreign, uncivilized, inherently violent, and opposed to democracy. Not only have these narratives served to justify state violence against Muslims, they have also become entrenched discourses in society.
These narratives about Muslims, which play an important role in setting the norms, values, and policies by which society is governed, have gone largely uncontested. Unfortunately for Muslims, this has meant that there have been few opportunities to tell and have our stories told on our terms. How do we disrupt and subvert these narratives? What alternative narratives can we imagine that center Muslim humanity and dignity?
This workshop will provide the skills and knowledge to deconstruct state narratives in addition to providing tools designed to cultivate generative narratives about Islam and Muslims. We will also facilitate a space to co-create alternative narratives to the harmful discourses utilized by the state to repress resistance movements.