Superheroes are known to scale building walls, fly through the air, and rescue civilians in distress. Have you met any who tear down cultural barriers and build communities of acceptance? I'm guessing you haven't, so let me have the pleasure of introducing you to The 99.
Clinical psychologist turned comic creator, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, saw the power in children to reverse cultural stereotypes and intolerance. And so, he decided to put cultural education into one of the most cherished youth hobbies -- comics. He created The 99, a group of superheroes based on Islamic archetype that fights for the hearts and minds of children who have been taught to use their religion for hate.
"My mission was simple," said Al-Mutawa in his 2011 Ted Global Talk "to create positive role models based on values that all of humanity shares, and in so doing, bridge the gap between East and West."
Sadly, the Islamic cast did not debut without great criticism. Parties in the United States accused the stories of "radicalizing children," and it took much longer for the series to gain publication and acceptance in the U.S. However, just like his heroes, Naif overcame prejudice and finally created a comic cross-over where all superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and The 99 stand cape to shoulder, saving the world blind to religion and culture.
The 99 is now an animated series and film showing in many countries around the world, and President Obama has endorsed the comics as "perhaps the most innovative response [to interfaith dialogue]."
For more inspiration, check out Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa's TED Talk!
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