The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) awarded the Emmy-Award winning television show, “The Simpsons,” with its first MPAC Media Award this past April 25th. Animation director Steven Dean Moore accepted the award on behalf of “The Simpsons” production team, over the episode titled “Mypods and Broomsticks” which features a Muslim-American family new to Springfield. Many stereotypes about Muslims were presented and debunked in the show, which ultimately helped the show’s patriarch, Homer, to realize that Muslim-Americans were very similar to other Americans. “I hoped to humanize them,” Moore told IFN referring to the Muslim characters, adding that he was “pleasantly surprised” by the recognition. During the MPAC awards reception, Amy Goodman, founder and producer of the internationally-syndicated radio show “Democracy Now!” was also applauded. The ceremony, held in Los Angeles, California, was held to applaud and “recognize voices of courage and conscience.”
