‘Green Book’ Mahershala Ali on anti-Islam prejudice

Two-time Oscar-winning Muslim actor Mahershala Ali has spoken out about the discrimination he has faced since converting to Islam in 1999.

Mahershala Ali, whose performance in the widely acclaimed ‘Green Book’ brought him Best Supporting Actor Academy award, says “Anti-Islam prejudice in the US is not a shock if you have grown up black”.   

As an African American and the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar, Ali was once on the FBI watchlist after 9/11.

‘Moonlight’'s Mahershala Ali said his wife had also experienced discrimination and no longer felt safe walking down the street.

“I’m proud to own [being Muslim] and I embrace that. I just feel blessed to have had the opportunities that I have had,” ‘Green Book’ actor told in an interview with Los Angeles Times.

Ali is a recipient of several awards, including two Academy Awards for Moonlight (2016) and ‘Green Book’ (2018) and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in the comedy-drama ‘Green Book’.  

Mahershala was cast in major roles in films such as ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay’, ‘Free State of Jones’, ‘Hidden Figures’ and the Netflix political thriller series ‘House of Cards’.

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