POV Season 22 Episode 1 New Muslim Cool

POV is a documentary series that showcases inspiring stories of people from various walks of life, while exploring pertinent issues that shape our society. In season 22, episode 1, titled "New Muslim Cool", the show delves into the life of an inspiring individual named Hamza Pérez, who successfully navigates his way through the complexity of religious and cultural identity.

As a Puerto Rican-American from Pittsburgh, Hamza had a tumultuous past. He was a former drug dealer, rapper, and hustler, but one that saw a turnaround that lead to his conversion to Islam and a life-changing journey. The episode follows his journey from thug to devout Muslim, as he builds a community around himself and becomes an influential figure within the Muslim community.

The episode starts with a glimpse of Hamza's past, including his music career as a rapper and his past prison time. We also get a glimpse of his spiritual journey, and how he eventually found peace within Islam after years of searching for a purpose. In particular, the episode focuses on Hamza's struggle to negotiate his identity as a Muslim and a rapper, a vision that runs counter to the expectations of many in the Muslim community.

As the episode progresses, we see Hamza, in his full-beard and flowing robes, performing for his Muslim community - music that slowly transitions away from his expletive-filled music past towards religious themes. We also get to see how Hamza is giving back to his community, founding the Nur al-Islam mosque, and becoming a mentor and role-model for the youth of his community. We see him connect with a young rapper in his community, who is also questioning his direction in life, as Hamza shares his worldview with him, trying to show that art and religion can coexist in new ways.

Furthermore, the episode also touches on the issue of race and identity, showcasing the difficulties Hamza experiences in reconciling his Latino cultural identity with his newfound Islamic faith. There is a compelling scene where his mother, a non-Muslim, but supportive of her son’s new path, reminisces about her son and his changed perspective.

As the episode draws to a close, we see a more grounded Hamza who is slowly beginning to come of age, and learning to negotiate the lingering tensions between his performing art and his religion. Hamza's story serves as a powerful reminder of our own hypocrisies and biases, as well as being a celebration of the power of one individual to enact change within his community.

Overall, POV's season 22 episode 1, "New Muslim Cool", is an insightful and inspirational look into the life of a unique individual and an informative documentary of his journey into Islam that educates us on the complexities in identity navigation and what that means for a person in a changing world.