The Community Film and Discussion Series is a series of virtual gatherings built to share thoughts about documentaries that tell the stories of Muslim communities. We use these stories as starting points for discussions about how we envision our future as a Muslim community in America, what challenges we face, and what solutions we can gather from the experiences of others.
On October 28th we will discuss New Muslim Cool. The film is about Hamza Perez’s journey through religion, culture, and the FBI to finding a life of love, community, and commitment to God. A trailer and summary is below.
Watch the film before our meeting for free with a trial of the new Muslim video streaming service Alchemiya here or on Kanopy here with a library card number.
Bring your thoughts and reflections to the virtual gathering at 7:30pm CDT on Wed. October 28th.
Puerto Rican American rapper Hamza Perez ended his life as a drug dealer 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, rebuild his shattered family, and take his message of faith to other young people through his uncompromising music as part of the hip-hop duo M-Team.
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.
*There are a few segments of the film with grey-area content - use your mute button when you feel necessary.
