The documentary New Muslim Cool is available on Netflix Instant.  Made a couple years back, the film follows a Puerto Rican brother by the name of Hamza, who converted to Islam and credits the religion for turning his life around.  In my opinion, this doc offers one of the better, more personal views of what it’s like to be an American Muslim in a post 9/11 society.  Through Hamza’s eyes, we see him and others build a community for themselves in Pittsburgh, we see his family’s reaction (confusion that becomes acceptance), we see his ‘courtship’ and marriage to a Muslim sister, and the family they build together.

A proud member of the hip hop nation, we also see Hamza express himself both as a rap artist, and then as a cleric going to counsel brothers in the prison system.  It’s  only verbalized once, but there’s also a strong subplot involving the Patriot Act that does a great job of voicing the paranoia many American Muslims have.  There’s the universal desire we all have to provide for our wives and protect our children; and then there’s the McCarthy-esque shadow that only hangs over some of us, thinking  the powers that be can pull your world apart at any given time with no explanation given.

Was that a dramatic enough tease for you?  Seriously, the doc is only 82 minutes long.  If you have a long lunch or dinner break, I recommend it.