South Asians Are Asian Too

If you are part of the South Asian community, you may have experienced not being considered as Asian. I remember when I had to go to the doctor’s office and on the paperwork I filled out, I put Asian as my race. I kid you not, the front lady said, “You’re Asian?” in a disbelieving and almost mocking way. While I do think that the term “Asian American” has become more inclusive of different Asian regions, we South Asians may not feel that way. South Asians have lived and created a rich history here since the 1800s, but we're still not considered Asian or American, let alone Asian American, in the eyes of others.

For example, the #StopAsianHate movement started due to an increase in violence towards mainly East and Southeast Asians. While it's extremely important to honor those victims, many forget that South Asians (and also Western Asians) received an increase in violence after the 9/11 attacks, and they’re usually left out of the #StopAsianHate discussion. As a result of 9/11, hate crimes have caused South Asians to be misconstrued as terrorists, and it’s typical for us to go through unnecessary security checks when we’re at the airport. Not only that, a month after the 2021 Atlanta shooting, four Sikhs were murdered at a FedEx center in Indianapolis, but this quickly cycled out of the news.

The fact that these issues are underreported in these movements makes it difficult for hate crimes against South Asians to be brought to light.

South Asians are under-represented in the Asian American community, and that’s not necessarily the community’s fault at all. Many of my South Asian peers may feel unwelcome in the Asian community at OU and may even avoid joining AASA and similar organizations, because they’re worried that they’d be excluded. AASA's welcoming environment may be distorted into a more isolating environment for South Asians due to feeling marginalized.

However, I want my South Asian peers to know that AASA has people who are just like you with similar experiences. As a South Asian myself, I understand the struggle of feeling silenced and underrepresented, particularly within the Asian American community. As a result, I hope to help other South Asians feel empowered and proud of our ethnicity and heritage, instead of viewing ourselves as another footnote in Asian American history.

Many forget that foods like falafel, fuchka, paratha, larb, biryani, nasi goreng, etc. all come from Asian countries. As the Asian Food Fair Chair, I want to spread awareness that these foods are also a part of Asian cuisine, and in result, showcase the diversity and beauty of Asia. Ultimately, AASA hopes to represent and raise awareness of the rich culture, history, and traditions that each region of Asia has to offer, and that can’t be done without the help from you all.