"Nonsense." That is what people say when I accuse them of being racist. Their argument goes something like this: "Muslims are not even a race, so how the hell could I even be racist? You're an idiot." Because Muslims are not a race, people believe that any type of violence or oppression directed towards them cannot be racially motivated; that this form of hatred -- known as Islamophobia -- cannot be racism. First, let me be clear. It is true that Muslims are not a race. The word "Muslim" itself connects to followers of Islam, a world religion -- not a "race." Muslims are a diverse religious grouping, and, in fact, one of the most heterogeneous populations in the world. In theory, the ummah -...
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