PBS and Unity Productions invite viewers to buckle up for a cross-country journey along historic Route 66 in THE GREAT MUSLIM AMERICAN ROAD TRIP, airing this summer on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app. The new three-part documentary series follows a young Muslim American couple—rapper Mona Haydar and her husband Sebastian Robins—as they explore America’s “Mother Road” and surrounding Muslim communities on a 2,500-mile drive from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Although they are practicing Muslims—Haydar is Syrian American and Robins converted after meeting Haydar—the couple, like most Americans, are unfamiliar with Islam’s deeps roots in America. This road trip is an opportunity for them not only to experience the breathtaking panoramas and iconic roadside attractions that have made Route 66 famous, but also to learn more about the history of their faith and what it means to be Muslim in America today.
“PBS is committed to offering content that reflects America’s wide array of communities, cultures and beliefs. In this spirit, we are pleased to share this dynamic couple’s eye-opening journey along iconic Route 66, highlighting the diversity of Muslims in the United States,” said Sylvia Bugg, PBS’s Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming.
Making more than a dozen stops, Haydar and Robins meet authors, entrepreneurs, performers and others, including Muhammed Ali’s daughter Maryam Ali in Chicago; Bosnian immigrants and restaurant owners Sulejman and Emmina Grbic in St. Louis; jazz musician Leon Rollerson in Tulsa; and award-winning actor and writer Amir Abdullah in Pasadena, California. Their conversations highlight the deep roots and impact of Islam and Muslims in American history and culture. By the end of their memory-making road trip, Haydar and Robins have a better understanding of themselves, their relationship, and the centuries-long Muslim experience in America.
“There are Muslim Americans living and working in major cities and small towns across the country, contributing to society as they have for hundreds of years. Yet their story, their history, is hardly known. What better way to share this unexpected story than on a road trip across Route 66, the quintessential American experience?” said Alex Kronemer, director and producer of THE GREAT MUSLIM AMERICAN ROAD TRIP.
Produced by Unity Productions, THE GREAT MUSLIM AMERICAN ROAD TRIP is directed by Alex Kronemer (THE SULTAN AND THE SAINT). Hossam Aboul-Magd is the director of photography. Bill Gardner is the executive in charge for PBS.
About Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins
Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins first gained national and international attention for their 2015 “Ask a Muslim” project—a booth offering free donuts in exchange for dialogue and questions in the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino extremist attacks. A few years later, the video for Haydar’s hip-hop anthem, “Hijabi (Wrap My Hijab),” went viral, gaining over 8 million views on YouTube, and was named one of the “20 Best Protest Songs of 2017” by Billboard. Together, the couple have been featured on NPR, CNN, The New York Times, BBC, People Magazine, BuzzFeed, Marie Claire, Glamour, Refinery 29 and many other publications. Robins has a background in education and a passion for sustainable farming. Haydar has a master’s degree in Christian ethics and is a fierce advocate for civil rights and inclusivity.