I have... I have some big news for you, America.
Muslims are everywhere.
But the one place you won't find Muslims
is in the image behind me.
Hasan Minhaj has more.
MINHAJ:
In case you haven't noticed,
it's still a big problem in America.
Islam... hates us.
We better wake up and smell the falafel.
Now, as a Muslim living in the United States,
I've learned how to deal with it.
I just act super white, like a brown Ryan Seacrest.
But what about those people who look Muslim but aren't?
Like Sikh American Waris Ahluwalia.
He says he was prevented boarding his flight
because of his turban.
He refused to remove this cherished symbol of his faith--
a turban, which, as a Sikh, he wears everywhere.
But for some reason, it makes people uncomfortable.
Almost every time I fly back to the U.S.,
I get a secondary screening.
And it's not just a problem at an airport.
It's not just a problem, for-for me, on the streets.
And I'm always wondering: why-why do I get... profiled?
I think it's the whole...
Yeah, people assume that Sikhs are Muslims,
and that's primarily an issue because Sikhs are an in...
independent religion.
-I know that. And I'm sure... -Yeah.
You know what? Americans probably know that, too.
Don't-don't sell them short.
They know a lot more than you think.
-What is a what? -A Sikh?
A Sikh?
-What is a what? -A Sikh.
I have no idea, sir.
I'm gonna make this easy. Here we go.
Which one of these is a Sikh?
A Sikh?
Yes, a Sikh.
-That one right there. -Jesus Christ.
I am showing you a photograph of a bird, binoculars,
a child playing hide-and-go-seek
and a man in a turban and a beard.
Maybe it's the kids playing hide-and-seek.
I'm gonna go with bird, sir.
Waris was right-- they don't know (bleep).
Okay, America. Sikhs are a stand-alone religion
that started here. There are 30 million of them worldwide.
Almost a quarter million in America,
and men wear turbans as a sign of commitment to their faith.
But is Waris alone in his struggles against bigotry?
I've been called ISIS a lot recently.
Americans who see Sikhs automatically think
you're a terrorist.
The turban is what, you know, makes us the target.
MINHAJ:
The turban is part of my religion, it's part of my faith.
It represents who I am, what I believe in.
The values that I hold dear and true.
And those values are Sikh. Those values are American.
That's all great, but I'm just gonna be honest with you--
here's all Americans care about other religions:
number one, do you drink beer? Number two, do you eat pork?
Number three, will you blow (bleep) up? That's it.
I eat pork. I love bacon.
MINHAJ:
See, now we're making progress.
But can we make him even less threatening to white people?
Americans love the silver screen.
Maybe go to Hollywood, get in some movies.
I am in movies.
No, I mean movies that white people watch.
I'm in Wes Anderson movies.
Holy (bleep). Okay, those are white movies.
Really white movies. He's standing next to friggin'
Jason Schwartzman, and yet
he's still an outsider in his own country.
I'm an artist. I'm-I'm making movies,
I'm-I'm designing. I'm trying to live my life.
I do things just like you, right?
And just like everybody else.
I got it. "Sikhs-- they're just like us."
We pay five bucks for magazines that show us celebrities
doing chores, so what if we showed
how Sikhs are also just like us.
They get Starbucks!
They pump their own gas.
They rock scarves while crossing the street.
Some even eat pork.
-Really? You eat pork? -Yeah.
-No (bleep)? -No (bleep).
MINHAJ:
Why don't you just go, "Hey, I'm not Muslim"?
It's just not an option for us to throw another community
under the bus, even if it means things are harder for us.
We believe it's the right thing to do.
Like, we need to be better than that as Americans
and that's what our Sikh values teach as well.
MINHAJ:
but believe me, I work really hard at blending in.
A third of my salary goes to New Balance and Patagonia.
Come on, I mean, even Barack Obama
was like, "Hey, I'm not a Muslim."
Look, I can't hide it.
If I were you I would throw me under the bus so fast.
That's not the way I was raised.
That's why I wear this turban-- as a reminder to myself
to treat humanity with care and kindness.
So that's... So, I'm-I'm not here to point fingers.
Exactly. See? It's not about finger-pointing.
It's more of a "Hey, psst, look over there."
It's not a finger thing, it's more of a head thing.
Hasan, you need to lead with love.
I like that. Now, how do we scare people
into believing that?
I had to show him how easy life on the road could be
with a little role play.
-You're the TSA agent, I'm you. -Right.
Hello, sir. May I see your boarding pass?
Certainly, I am so glad you're here to protect us
from Muslims because I am not Muslim. See how easy that was?
I am on the plane before you can say, "Hey, stop that brown guy".
I got my carry-on up top. We are taking off.
When you do this, you're part of the problem.
But I'm also on the plane.
You're also then only thinking about yourself.
And that's the American way.
So, remember, Sikhs, you're living in America.
And if you really want to fit in,
always look out for number one.