Life as a Muslim American Teenager

Simplistic but effective, a special episode of the Noggin channel’s empathy-building children’s series, “A Walk in Your Shoes,” gives viewers a glimpse into the post-Sept. 11 life of a Muslim American teenager through the eyes of a Protestant teen.

In the 30-minute show, which will be simulcast on Noggin and Nickelodeon at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, the cameras are running as Nancy, a 15-year-old Protestant from a Boston suburb, spends two days with 13-year-old Mariam, a Muslim teenager in New Jersey, during the ,Islamic holy month, Ramadan.

Nancy is apprehensive before the adventure begins, referring to media images and rhetoric that seem to equate all Muslims with terrorism and hate. Mariam wants Nancy to know that she’s not so different from any other teenager, and that she and her family are proud to be Americans.

Nancy attends Mariam’s school for a day, where the curriculum and gossip are familiar, even if the clothing isn’t. She’s a bit nervous wearing the traditional hijab to cover her hair, but is surprised to find that she’s not uncomfortable praying at a mosque and at home with Mariam’s family.

She and Mariam are also soon giggling together and ice-skating, Web-surfing and exchanging fashion opinions at the mall.

Nancy is interested in the tenets of modesty that govern Muslim women’s dress, and surprised that Islam preaches peace and kindness to others and that Allah is another name for God.

Developed with the help of members of the organization Muslims Against Terrorism, the program doesn’t dig deep, but it does get its anti-stereotyping, anti-demonizing message across with clarity and integrity.