Picture
From the Twisted Swagger lookbook
I first noticed this in my first year of university, when I learned that two boys I had gone to high school with had started their own clothing company called "Twisted Swagger." Everyone rallied with them, touting them as a local success. And when we found out that they had gotten Kanye to wear their gear?? Well, dayum, son, where do I line up for my own shirt? It was local pride, and Riverdale Collegiate pride, and Toronto pride all wrapped up into one.

The GTA has seen a lot of local talent rise from the ground up, supported by viral media and word-of-mouth. And rather than shun them, certain groups have helped push them along even further, as a symbol of their group's overall greatness.

Picture
www.muslimgear.com
For example: every year, at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference (RIS), Muslim Gear grows in popularity. It's as much a brand as Nike is, but it stands for something else. Those who wear it seem to share a secret with each other. They know something no one else knows, and its a testament to group solidarity.

It was so astounding to see that people wanted a shirt regardless of the price. They wanted it because their friends had one. They wanted one because it was popular, and they wanted to see it become more popular. (But not too popular! Because its a status symbol after all, just like a fresh pair of Jordans.) Let's not make a shirt more than what it really is, but we have to admit that the popularity of Muslim Gear stems from something social, not just religious. 

Picture
Amandeep Kang - AkakaAmazing
"But can this group solidarity go too far?

Last year, legions of Torontonians discovered Punjabi Sikh comedy sensation Amandeep Kang a.k.a. AK Amazing. Part Punjabi street hood, part spoiled Mama's boy from the suburbs, he's Russell Peters but a little more thug.

Punjabi's love him because of the way he cusses in Punjabi, Indians because he's Indian, Sikhs because he's Sikh, and desis love him because... well, because he's brown. And funny. He hits so many of the right notes and attracts a wide sub-set of the population as he does it.

But I don't think he quite understood his own appeal. He didn't realize that minorities love him because he makes fun of himself and everyone around him without actually insulting anyone. I think he learned the hard way that if he wants to get rich and famous off of these videos he has to walk a fine line between in-group preference and out-group derogation.

Earlier in the year, he posted a video called "Indian Stereotypes" in which he lambasts Canadians and their Indian stereotypes. (i.e. all South Asians eat curry) In one example, he complains that Canadians tend to conflate Pakistan with India. "We're not all the same", he says. "One country is full of terrorists, and one isn't."

The comments section of his YouTube page and his Facebook fan page exploded. Within weeks, the video was edited and the joke was taken out. His comments page for the video was disabled and he posted this semi-apology in the notes section of his YouTube page:

"So, although I did enjoy the race/culture war that was taking place in my comments section on the original upload and don't regret anything I said, I did have to take out the part about Muslim and terrorism. Why? Quite simply, because my MOMMA TOLD ME TO! Yes, yes, that's right. "AHAH! ***** is whipped by his MOMMA!!!" DAMN RIGHT! I'm sorry, I'm not like the few of you c******s who call their moms ******, ***** and ******. I do respect my mother. So, she won't give me my camera back UNTIL I took out that part because she's afraid our house is gonna get bombed! Aw darn it! I did it again....I guess I can't use those jokes unless I'm actually Muslim myself. Aw MAN! Anyways, hopefully we can stand UNITED NOW and tackle on the racist comments the few stupid white people throw at this video TOGETHER! Let it begin! Brown (united) vs dumbass c******s! (btw, i do read your comments, so please explain thoroughly regarding your racist theories)
THANK YOU COME AGAIN!!"

I think he's probably learned a lesson that Russell Peters has had to learn the hard way as well: minority comedians are only funny because they draw a line between the minority and the majority. Draw the line too close and make the boundaries of your group too limited, and there will be fall out. We allow him to insult Canadians and white people all in good fun... but "terrorist"?!? That's a low blow, Amandeep.  Low blow.

In almost every video, AK reps something local and something Punjabi, promoting his own values and his own group in his own unique way (he threatened to stop making videos if one of his picks didn't get enough new fans within the week). Toronto-based Hun Dus Clothing and Humble the Poet have both benefited magnificently from Kang's thumbs up endorsement. (Not that I'm complaining: Humble the Poet has insane talent).

Nonetheless, it's an interesting phenomena. This is what people talk about when they say minority empowerment. Giving the oppressed a voice. Does it really amount to anything more than reverse discrimination? Do we revere the one who is best able to unite our groups of disparate voices against a common enemy? (In AK's case, that common enemy is the white Canadian.)

And if that's the case, should we care at all? At the end of the day, it's funny and it makes us proud of our heritage. That should be all that matters, right?





Picture
 


Comments

Zainab A
02/21/2010 12:21am

Great article Anila! Seriously. I love AK and Humble (though im Punjabi so biiiiiiiiias)
but great points- all of them!

I thinku should add a disclaimer on AK's video u included i was watching it and forgot how much he swears! Just a nice reminder so people...with sensitive ears don't get shocked :)

Reply
Zena Chaudhry
02/23/2010 10:13am

Well written article but, in my opinion, not appropriate for a website called "Keeping it Halal". The message that is being sent is an important one but it could have been brought up in a different context. There is no need to read his foolish comments or to go and search his ridiculous videos on YouTube.
The goal of the article is clearly not to open up a forum for swearing and the like but the context that this topic is being discussed in, is inappropriate.
I am not saying that we should shield ourselves from the harsh world but is there really a need to have an article about this person on "Keeping it Halal"?
Of course freedom of speech is in play here but I'm just sharing my own opinion on the matter.
Now, to respond to the actual article, there are obviously those who watch his videos because they share a common heritage but that is no reason to overlook some of the things that he says. Why Muslims would continue to listen to that garbage, is beyond me. If he is funny, that is fine. When he crosses that line, it becomes an issue. I'm not saying that anyone is turning their back on their beliefs just to get a few laughs but we are taking it very lightly. I am not an uptight person who doesn't crack jokes but there are jokes which go way too far and Amandeep Kang's jokes dangerously play on the boundary. Also, if this makes someone proud of their heritage, I don't know what heritage they have but it is surely not the same one that I have.
Also, I just want to touch on the point of Muslim's making jokes about themselves. We all do it and we can't really deny it. There is the difference of us making fun oursevles and others doing it. We DO get defensive and we may overreact (like many may believe I am doing) but that still does not mean that we sit back and laugh at jokes made at the expense of our culture and/or religion. If a Muslim was to make a joke about Sikh's they would not sit back, laugh, and continue watching the videos made by said Muslim. This should make us think about what importance we give to certain things in our lives. Islam is very important in my life and I would like to think I take it seriously but there are those times where I slip and make jokes as well. We expect people to take Islam seriously and not joke about it and that means we need to fix ourselves first. Joking is a way to brush a matter off and instead of laughing at these jokes or just sitting back and taking it, we need to show that we are serious about it and we need to fix our own image. At the same time, we need to realize that we cannot ridicule other religions or cultures if we want the same type of respect. On that matter, we all need to work on ourselves.
"In AK's case, that common enemy is the white Canadian." I really hope that this is not the view of the authour because that is very sad. It is not "us" against "them". If we make it like this, we have nobody to blame but ourselves when we talk about "othering". We pit ourselves against them and then we complain. It is true that some white Canadians do not like us and want us out, but at the same time, there are Sikh's, Hindu's, Jewish people, and the like who want us out as well. There is no one religion or culture that everyone likes but this does not mean that one group bands together and considers the other group to be an enemy. If this is the view that we are going to live with, it will be very hard to be happy in this type of community.
I do not want it to seem like I am attacking the author or anything because I actually enjoy reading Anila's other pieces but this one is one which I find inappropriate for this site.
Hun dus.

Reply
Anila
02/23/2010 10:27am

"Is there really a need to have an article about this person on "Keeping it Halal"?

Every single Muslim person I know on the U of T campus has heard of AK or has watched one of his videos. For that very reason alone this is a crucial topic.

I never once endorse you to watch his videos, nor do I endorse that you rally against the "white enemy."

I simply ask the following questions: Why do we find him so funny? If everyone is getting so upset about him being haram maybe we need to ask NOT why I wrote an article about it, but why everyone already knew who he was before I even wrote an article about it.

I take Islam very seriously. My goal was to point the lens at myself at my peers, not at AK and his videos.

If you agree that the question is important why shouldn't it be on keeping it halal.com? We talk about rapists, killers, murderers, and terrorists on this website. It doesn't mean we condone it, and it doesn't mean it's not important.

Reply
Anila
02/23/2010 4:29pm

I just want to add this point: A Culture and Life article is not about me deciding what culture and life I want to promote.

It's about me reporting on what happens to be the culture and life of Muslims as I see them. And whether you like it or not, Amandeep Kang has become a big part of South Asian Muslim youth culture.

Just because you don't like him doesn't mean others don't. Alhamdullilah, I'm glad you avoid it, but if you have younger siblings or cousins in high school and middle school (as I do), chances are they are watching him avidly. And just like a parent who can't avoid talking about the tough stuff with their kids, KIH is in a position of privelege and can't avoid talking about the tough stuff with its readers.

Reply
Zena Chaudhry
02/23/2010 4:30pm

JazakAllah khair for the quick reply.
My point was not that we should not discuss this at all. I made it a point to say that we should NOT shield ourselves from this topic but maybe just not discuss it on 'Keeping it Halal'. Although you are not outright promoting his videos, this is still a type of promotion.
You bring up valid points and I do respect what you have written. JazakAllah khair for your response.

Reply
Anila
02/23/2010 4:40pm

Thanks for your reply as well Zena.
Oh and my last point didn't come out right AT ALL: I didn't mean to suggest that I'm your parent! Lol that sounds so condescending. I meant it more like just as parents have a responsibility, so do we authors at KIH have a responsibility.

I'm glad you can understand my point of view, and believe me, I definitely understand yours. This is why the link to his video was removed.

Regardless of the fact that he swears, it's important for us to talk about a young boy with a lot of influence and what he might be condoning in his videos addressed to young people. In my view, race and culture are huge issues for all minorities, including Muslims. That was my goal. Inshallah, everyone can try to see it that way in the future.

Thanks!

Reply
Zena Chaudhry
02/23/2010 5:22pm

Yeah, after I replied, I couldn't see your second reply so I got worried and thought I might have imagined it. As for the sounding like a parent part, it's alright; I knew what you meant and I am glad you see my point of view as well.
The first time I saw your piece, the link was still there so when I was writing my comment today, I still thought it was up there. Thanks for explaining your point and I do understand where you are coming from.
I look forward to reading more of your work.

Reply
mysterious zombie stranger
03/23/2010 4:51pm

WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE.

I SHALL EAT AK'S BRAINS.




MMMM.

Reply
sarah
09/14/2010 5:09pm

He doesnt appeal just to brown people.. even white people know about him. He is so interesting. PLUS he knows what he is doingggg..! :D

Reply
figureitout
09/22/2010 5:38pm

jeez some people are just haters like shut up and keep your dumbass comments to yourself.

Reply
Yo mama!
03/25/2011 2:45pm

Lmaooooooo haterzz.this kids jokesss

Reply
BallerSwag
09/01/2011 3:16am

AKamazing u are ma nigga love ur videos

Reply



Leave a Reply