Mipsterz, stylized as #MIPSTERZ (short for Muslim Hipsters^[1]), are an international group of primarily hipster Muslims (loosely defined, and not limited to Millennials) who have evolving views on religion, identity, community, politics, and culture.^[2][3][4][5] Prior to 2012, the term "#MIPSTERZ" did not exist, though the application of "Muslim Hipsters" had been used.^[6] Abbas Rattani is credited as the creator of the formal #MIPSTERZ movement, culture, community, and identity^{[7][8][9][10]} Other known #MIPSTERZ include tech entrepreneur Layla Shaikley, author & artist Sara Alfageeh,^[11][12] Riz Ahmed, Ibtihaj Muhmmad, Hasan Minhaj, Linda Sarsour, Reza Aslan, Amina Wadud, Omid Safi, Rabia of Basra, and Jalal al-din Rumi.

Mipsterz have been self-described on their Google Groups community page as:

"The 'Mipsterz' first began as a satirical, thought-generating jab at corporate culture and evolved into a limitless collective that empowers individuals to find coolness in themselves and share their God-given gifts with all. You see, hipster rule number 1: never self-identify as a hipster—namely, because these labels are a social constructed means of typecasting limitless beings. But let’s be honest, (and this is where the tongue-in-cheek ethos of Mipsterz enters), you are a hipster."^[13]

The group has published various videos, including a controversial music video for Jay-Z's "Somewhere in America,"^{[14][15][16][17]} as well as original programming^[18] such as Hot Sauce x White Sauce,^[19] the concert series SUNDAYS/cool,^[20][21] an online magazine: The Field Between,^[22] and the fashion-activism project BOY/BYE.^[23][24][25]

As of 2017, the group currently functions as a non-profit arts and culture collective with a focus on presenting and producing original content by Muslim creatives in the domains of film, music, and illustration.^[1] A marketplace was opened in early 2018 which features their work.^[26]

References