South Asian American Vignette #1

Written by a first generation South Asian American, born a year after his parents immigrated to the United States from India.

Part A

         I work at a non-profit agency where we had a three-day mandatory Diversity Training. Our entire staff, around 130 people, was present. After watching a film about racism, we were asked to break into discussion groups.  All the people of color were asked to be in one group so that we could support each other while discussing this topic.  The white community had a strong negative reaction to this, stating that they felt as if a huge rift had been opened between us. The following day we addressed these sentiments. We moved our chairs to form concentric circles, with the people of color occupying the innermost circle. A number of people of color spoke, and when it came my turn, I shared one particular story of overt discrimination that happened while I was working and how I was and was not supported afterwards.

Commentary to South Asian American Vignette - Part A

     Something many white folks don’t realize is that people of color can, at times, feel unsafe discussing racism with white people. In their daily lives, people of color are often bombarded with what Derald Wing Sue and others call “microaggressions”**  Here are some examples: people of color’s experience of racism is invalidated; they are told it’s an equal playing field when it’s not; their cultural values are subtly put down; they are given the message to assimilate to the dominant culture; or they are instantly stereotyped. Asking people of color to discuss their experience of racism with white people present might be asking them to open themselves up only to be further wounded.  For this reason, it is quite common in diversity work to ask that people of color and white folks meet separately - especially at the beginning stages of diversity training. 

Part B

     After the training a colleague approached me and asked if we could talk. He said, "Y'know, I used to have an Indian girlfriend, she actually looked a lot like you...and people would always assume that she was good at math and intelligent. Does that happen to you too? Isn't that a good thing?"

Commentary to South Asian American Vignette
Part B

     First, it’s probably good to keep in mind that people in minority ethnic or racial groups can be sensitive to the perception sometimes held by those outside their group: “You all look alike; I can’t tell you apart.”

     We might assume that a stereotype that is complimentary (“good at math and intelligent”) is a good thing.  However, most of us want to be seen for who we are as unique individuals, not as stereotypes.  Even a complimentary stereotype can leave a person feeling unseen and automatically lumped together with every other member of his racial group.  In other words, people of color are asking, “please make an effort to get to know me before you decide what I am and am not.” 

**Footnote:
Sue, Derald Wing, Capodilupo,  Christina M., Torino, Gina C.,  Bucceri, Jennifer M., Holder, Aisha M. B.,  Nadal, Kevin L.,  Esquilin, Marta.  “Racial Microagressions in Everyday Life.” American Psychologist  (May-June, 2007, Vol. 62, No.4, 271-286)

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