Bassam Tariq

The PEW Research shows that the majority of Americans continue to have a negative perception of Islam. But the story of Muslims in America is vast and more complicated than you think: A newly converted man finds love in a South Dakota prison; a refugee community heals from the wounds of the Balkan wars in Idaho; a family in the Midwest negotiates directly with ISIS.

For the past eight years, Bassam Tariq has travelled to all 50 states chronicling stories for his viral travelogue 30 Mosques in 30 Days and his many ongoing writing projects. In this talk, he brings the complex history of Muslim America to life: starting from the African burial grounds found at the World Trade Center site to the present day War On Terror’s targeting of Muslims. Through first-hand accounts, Bassam Tariq gives a deeply intimate look into the diverse lives lived in Muslim America. Each personal, deeply empathetic story gives the audience a unique glimpse into the lives lived everyday by people just like them.

Many companies continue to scratch their heads on what “diversity in the workplace” means. Consultants are paid good money to help these companies figure out the answer. The truth is simple but harder to digest: diversity is not just about understanding, it is also about accepting what we won’t be able to understand. In this candid talk, Bassam Tariq presents a bold definition of diversity. He takes us on a personal journey through his constant fear of being pigeonholed. A blogger, filmmaker, and also a butcher, he relates his disparate professions as a response to the complicated history that America has had with diversity and makes the case for diversity always being the factor that drives innovation.