‘Designated Survivor’ is a hit Netflix TV show which has returned for the second half of season 1, follows Tom Kirkman and his transition from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to the President of the United States. This takes place after a terrorist attack during the State of the Union Address kills all of Congress, apart from him, which by default makes him the President.
The show is great for anyone interested in politics, but what made the show stand out to me was the underlying Xenophobia Storyline. It would almost have been impossible to not have included this storyline. It is widely known that it is usually minority groups who are affected the most when terrorist attacks happen. Despite maybe not being a victim of the specific attack, many groups, mainly Muslims, deal with hate and discrimination as a result of bigotry actions that many defend and use fighting against “Radical Islam” as a justification.
The show doesn’t shy away from this. It also, throughout emphasizes the humanity of Muslims. Too often Muslims are seen as second class citizens. They’re somehow viewed as not “Real Americans”. A classic example of this in the show is that a Governor imposes a curfew on the Muslim Community and states it is to protect his citizens. Yet, his argument doesn’t quite make sense. Those living in his state, regardless of religion, are his citizens, therefore what he is really saying is that “I want to keep the racist vote to stay in power.”
This Storyline with the Governor was probably the most frustrating to watch, as you just can’t possibly comprehend why Muslims are being treated this way. Its so difficult for me to understand how people just assume every Muslim is a terrorist.
What’s next? Every man is a rapist? Every white boy with a bowl cut is a mass shooter? The very same people who engage in an anti-Muslim Rhetoric would argue against those suggestions vigorously.
So, with Xenophobia being more prominent that ever in our communities, Designated Survivor should continue to portray the struggles and daily hatred minorities face. Especially in a time of Trump and an ever growing normalization of hatred of Muslims.
