In his column at the Chicago Tribune, Clarence Page says that since Muslims have replaced blacks on the lower rung of ignorance-based stereotypes, Americans would greatly benefit from a Muslim version of The Cosby Show, which helped break down social barriers in the 1980s.
A conservative Christian group has launched a boycott against "All-American Muslim." The TLC cable TV reality show about Muslim families in America fails to live down to the group's narrow-minded stereotypes. Their gripe, in my view, makes about as much sense as boycotting "The Cosby Show" back in the day because it didn't mention black street gangs.
The Christian group's boycott made national headlines this week when the home-improvement giant Lowe's pulled its ads from the program. If the North Carolina-based company was hoping to dodge controversy, it failed. The move touched off protests joined by music mogul Russell Simmons and actor Kal Penn, among other celebrities, and a second boycott campaign — against Lowe's.
The company apologized to everyone who is offended, citing its "strong commitment to diversity and inclusion." But it stuck by its decision, explaining the show became a "lightning rod for people to voice complaints from a variety of perspectives — political, social and otherwise."
Read Clarence Page's entire column at the Chicago Tribune.