Application: DuBois and the Veil

Application 2: Dubois spoke of the ‘Veil’ between Caucasian and African-Americans. Does something similar exist with respect to Muslims?

I argue that something similar to the Veil between Caucasians and African-Americans exists between people and Muslims, although I think that we cannot put it into exactly the same terms that DuBois used.

DuBois described the veil between Caucasians and African-Americans in a number of different ways. First, it was the actually color difference between Caucasians and African-Americans; white skin compared to the literal darker skin of African-Americans creates a color difference. In this way, there exists a veil between people and some Muslims, because the majority of Muslims come from countries in the Middle East and have specific ethnic traits and different colors skin. However, not all Muslims are Middle Eastern; Muhammad Ali, for example, was a black Muslim, and there are other Muslims who are white. So, the color difference, while potentially a factor to a veil, isn't a complete factor.

Second, DuBois argued that the veil between Caucasians and African-Americans existed because Caucasians didn't see African-Americans as true citizens or Americans or even people. I think that this certainly exists between some people and Muslims - religious discrimination, judgement, and persecution, especially under Trump, creates a sense of antagonism toward Muslims that is encouraged by society, creating a veil between people and Muslims as a social group.

Finally, DuBois put that the veil also came from African-Americans' inability to see themselves outside of what Caucasians saw them as - the double-consciousness element of the veil. I absolutely think this is an element for Muslims in the world, considering that they are constantly scrutinized and have to be aware and conscious of that scrutiny in order to go about their lives. In this way, I do believe that something very similar exists for Muslims in America, and in most of the Western world.