"Almost single-handedly, NEW MUSLIM COOL challenges the distortions, stereotypes, and misunderstandings around Islam - A new outlook on Islam in America." Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
"I look forward to showing it in my classroom in years to come and can hardly wait to hear what students might say about the intersections of race, class, gender, and religion that are highlighted in every frame."
Sylvia Chan-Malik, Department of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley
"A thoughtful, inspirational, and transformative production that defies any and all expectations. NEW MUSLIM COOL is a riveting film that not only captures the complexity of contemporary American Muslim life, culture, and music, but also explores and disrupts our notions of Hip Hop Culture, Latino and Black communities in the U.S., and the current state of interfaith relations."
Professor H. Samy Alim, Department of Anthropology, UCLA
Puerto Rican American rapper Hamza Pérez left drug dealing 12 years ago, and started down a new path as a young Muslim. Now he's moved to Pittsburgh's tough North Side to start a new religious community for African American and Latino Muslims, rebuild his shattered family, and take his message of faith to the streets through his uncompromising hip-hop music. Raising his two kids as a single dad and longing for companionship, Hamza finds love on a Muslim networking website and seizes the chance for happiness in a second marriage. But when the FBI raids his mosque, Hamza must confront the realities of the post-9/11 world, and challenge himself. He starts reaching for a deeper understanding of his faith, discovering new connections with people from Christian and Jewish communities.
NEW MUSLIM COOL takes viewers on Hamza's ride through the streets, projects and jail cells of urban America, following his spiritual journey to some surprising places - where we can all see ourselves reflected in a world that never stops changing.
*This EDUCATION Edition includes the original feature-length version of the film (83 minutes) as well as the abridged version (56 minutes) with four standards-based Video Modules to accompany Lesson Plans with Classroom Activities.