KIM LAWTON, guest anchor: American Muslims have developed a variety of strategies to combat ignorance and prejudice against their community, from grassroots political pressure to high-profile media campaigns. But Azhar Usman has chosen a more unorthodox route -- standup comedy. The 30-year-old Muslim comedian doesn't pick easy targets for his jokes. In fact, he often ventures into areas where most comics would fear to tread. How does he pull it off? Judy Valente reports.

VALENTE: Before an audience of college students in Illinois, Azhar Usman jokes about being a Muslim at a U.S. airport.

AZHAR USMAN (at performance): "Öme walking into the airport. Heads turn simultaneously. Security guys are, like, "Oh, my God, we've got a Muhammad at four o'clock. Ten-four. Muhammad at four. Over and out. You get the smelly one. I got the hairy one."

There's a fair amount of political material, and then there's a lot of silly stuff. I mean, I'm a silly guy, and I've always, you know, been the class clown, and so I'm sure that comes through in my act as well.

(At performance): "Of course everybody's real nice to me once the plane safely lands. They just lean over and smile, and they're like, 'Ha, ha, ha, ha (waves hi).' I'm just waiting for a real honest passenger at the end of the flight, like, 'Excuse me, sir, I thought you were going to kill us. Sorry about that.'"

There is definitely an intent to show Americans a face of Islam, a face of Muslims that they've just never seen. He's, you know, a regular guy, he's laughing, he's telling jokes.

JUDY VALENTE: When Azhar Usman is on stage, he says he's doing more than just telling jokes. He's waging peace by promoting a better understanding of Muslims, using humor as his vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Not knowing any Muslims personally, I'm glad to find him. I think it's a good representation, and I think he's funny with an open mind, and it's a good way to represent his community -- through comedy.

VALENTE: Like any standup comic, Usman knows what it's like to lay an egg.

Mr. USMAN: You never want to walk into, you know, an upper-middle-class, white neighborhood at an open mike and do the following joke, which is: "People come up to me all the time and they be, like, you know, 'What does the Qu'ran say about terrorism?' It's like, gee, what does the Bible say about genocide?" Dead silence, you know.

VALENTE: Usman's parents emigrated from India. He grew up in a Chicago suburb, which at the time was mostly Jewish.

Mr. USMAN: The more I figured out I was different from people, the more I also figured out I was the same. And wherever I've gone in life -- I lived in Minneapolis, and I lived abroad for a short time -- I've always found that the more different we think we are, actually the more we have in common.

(Preparing for performance): Öand it will be just a list of key words to remind me of the bits that I want to do Ö

VALENTE: In a St. Louis hotel room, he prepares for another night's performance, this time before an audience of Muslims. Usman had practiced law for three years before becoming a full-time standup comedian.

Mr. USMAN (at performance): Thank you for that kind introduction that I wrote.

VALENTE: Here Usman is doing what he likes best, holding up a mirror to American Muslims and inviting them to laugh -- at themselves. The audience, most of whom showed up late, are Indian and Pakistani.