The Shared Values Initiative is a series of videos produced in 2002 by the U.S. State Department. The goal of the videos was to dispel myths about persecution and discrimination of American Muslims, and were broadcast in several Muslim countries, including Indonesia and Jordan. The videos show ideology and purpose in that they show Muslim Americans who seem to be living the “American Dream.” In one video, Farooq Muhammed states that he has “never gotten disrespected because I’m a Muslim,” and in another a school teacher is seen with young students who are nonplussed by her hajib.
These videos present the U.S. as being the innocent victims of terrorism. The audience of this campaign were citizens of Muslim countries, and by making the U.S. appear blind to any discrimination against Muslims, the State Department may have been responding at the anger towards Americans.
Real Muslims are the stars of the Shared Values videos, which promotes a sense of authenticity to the Muslim audience. Muslims are seen praying and doing “normal” activities – which gives them credibility and gives the audience a reason to believe that the message is coming from someone like them, rather than an outside source.
The Shared Values Initiative is not necessarily a lie, as the American Muslims may be telling the truth about their own lack of racism in America, but the videos make these claims out to prove a larger truth – that America is treats Muslims the same as everyone else. As the examples on the U.S. Propaganda After 9/11 page showed, this was not the case. Therefore, this failed campaign is black propaganda. It fabricated, exaggerated, and attempted to deceive the audience about America as a whole’s treatment of Muslims and Muslim Americans.
These videos present the U.S. as being the innocent victims of terrorism. The audience of this campaign were citizens of Muslim countries, and by making the U.S. appear blind to any discrimination against Muslims, the State Department may have been responding at the anger towards Americans.
Real Muslims are the stars of the Shared Values videos, which promotes a sense of authenticity to the Muslim audience. Muslims are seen praying and doing “normal” activities – which gives them credibility and gives the audience a reason to believe that the message is coming from someone like them, rather than an outside source.
The Shared Values Initiative is not necessarily a lie, as the American Muslims may be telling the truth about their own lack of racism in America, but the videos make these claims out to prove a larger truth – that America is treats Muslims the same as everyone else. As the examples on the U.S. Propaganda After 9/11 page showed, this was not the case. Therefore, this failed campaign is black propaganda. It fabricated, exaggerated, and attempted to deceive the audience about America as a whole’s treatment of Muslims and Muslim Americans.