Unmasking Islamophobia: Anti-Muslim Hostility and/as White Supremacy

Abstract This article considers the twenty-first century enforcement of Georgia’s Anti-Masking Act as a site of confluence for American white supremacy and American anti-Muslim hostility. Extending Judith Weisenfeld’s theory of religio-raciality, I argue that contemporary American white supremacy mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Academy of Religion 2020-05, Vol.88 (2), p.354-386
Main Author: Goodwin, Megan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Hostility
White supremacy
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Summary:Abstract This article considers the twenty-first century enforcement of Georgia’s Anti-Masking Act as a site of confluence for American white supremacy and American anti-Muslim hostility. Extending Judith Weisenfeld’s theory of religio-raciality, I argue that contemporary American white supremacy might best be understood as a religio-racial force, evidenced in part through anastrophic law enforcement. As seen in the application of Georgia’s Anti-Masking Act, laws initially instituted to deter religio-racial terror in the public square now also work to publicly discipline non-white, non-Christian bodies as well as any who would overtly challenge the supremacy of American whiteness. This case study demonstrates the importance of understanding anti-Muslim hostility as informed but not exhausted by racism.
ISSN:0002-7189
1477-4585
DOI:10.1093/jaarel/lfaa012