March 29, 2012

MPAC announced today it will be honoring The Learning Channel (TLC) for its show “All-American Muslim” and the film “Kinyarwanda” at the 21st Annual MPAC Media Awards on Sunday, May 13, in Los Angeles.

Each year, in coordination with the MPAC Foundation, MPAC honors artists, actors, activists and executives for their “voices of courage and conscience.”

Since 1991, MPAC has honored those who use art and media to create enriching and humanizing portrayals of Islam and Muslims and promote diversity and social justice issues that inspire action.

“This year’s honorees are two vastly different projects that are perfect examples of what the Media Awards stands for – honoring voices of courage and conscience,” said Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC President. “Though TLC faced a lot of pressure from Islamophobes, it stuck to its principles and continued airing the show. ‘Kinyarwanda’ provides viewers a human face to the victims in Rwanda, which was otherwise reported as a tragedy in terms of mere statistics.”

The Honorees

MPAC is honoring TLC for airing "All-American Muslim,” the first reality television show dedicated to showing the lives of a segment of the Muslim population, in the face of adversity and a negative smear campaign. “All-American Muslim” examined life in Dearborn, MI, -- home to one of the largest mosques in the United States -- through the lens of five Muslim American families.

Amy Winters, the General Manager for TLC, will be accepting the award on behalf of the network.  

MPAC also will honor the powerful and moving motion picture "Kinyarwanda.” During the Rwandan genocide, several heroes emerged to remind the Rwandan people of their humanity; among them was the Mufti of Rwanda, who exemplified religious leadership for peacemaking, contrary to the notion that religion usually starts conflicts.

As the country became increasingly torn apart due to war, “Kinyarwanda,” which is based on true accounts, tells the story of Muslims and Christians and Hutus and Tutsis who took refuge at the Grand Mosque of Kigali and the madrassa of Nyanza. It recounts how the Imams opened the doors of the mosques to give refuge to the Tutsi and those Hutu who refused to participate in the killing.

“Kinyarwanda” writer, director and producer Alrick Brown, will be accepting the award for the feature film about the Rwandan genocide.