Who am I: South Asian or American?
“I don’t want to be identified as South-Asian and neither do I associate my roots with Americans. I was born in America. I was raised up in America. I did all my schooling and college in America yet I don’t want association with any of two identities.”
"What need do we have to wear an identity? It should be personal choice and my choice is neither of two."
These comments were made by a South-Asian American girl during the South-Asian/Middle Eastern caucus at Student of Color Conference (SoCC) in Yakima, Washington.
Everett Community College sent 38 young student leaders and eight advisers to take part in the 23rd Annual SoCC held on April 11-13. The theme for 2013 was "Awakening Your Inner Scholar: Legacy, Resilience and Action."
Among part of many caucuses at the conference, the South-Asian caucus’s aim was to provide students a platform to share their experiences and challenges they face in the U.S. as well as in the countries of their origin and to figure their solutions.
Local and international students graced the occasion by partaking in discussion, which lasted for two hours.
Mr. Ata Karim of Bellevue Community College and Mrs. Neera Mehta from Lake Washington Technical College facilitated the caucus by sharing their personal experiences about what it means to them to be South Asian American.
Karim said that there are three generations of S-A Americans. The latest generation is the most confused today. He said that kids from the third generation are American by their habit and culture, however, from the ethnic and racial identity; they are as much South Asian.
Another girl who was born and raised in the U.S. said that she underwent many restrictions because of her family’s religious culture. As she grew up, she would be asked not to befriend with boys, not to come home late hours and not to have parties with boys.
When asked that people complain S-A Americans are inhospitable and unwelcoming, an American-born girl said, "I don’t trust South Asians anymore so I might be unwelcoming apparently. This is because my experiences with them have been bad – I felt they abused me to obtain U.S. nationality or permanent residency."
A student from Highline Community College proposed S-A Americans to renounce their South-Asian identity and to embrace American culture wholeheartedly. They said that however hard they try; their color of skin was a reminder that their roots were not from here.
Kunti Rawat, an international student from India, studying Business Management and Administration at Whatcom Community College, said, “Discrimination is not a small thing to change. It is everywhere and will take a lot of time to abolish. Change will come through our understanding and treating people.”
“Gender-based discrimination is common in countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and others where girls always get a treatment like they have no right to live in this world,” she added.
Identity-based debates and discussions at conferences like SoCC are treasured opportunities for students to bag new ideas in order to open their minds, open their hearts and connect with people from diverse culture. Their chances to walk away with knowledge are always very high.
Everett Community College sent 38 young student leaders and eight advisers to take part in the 23rd Annual SoCC held on April 11-13. The theme for 2013 was "Awakening Your Inner Scholar: Legacy, Resilience and Action."
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| A large group of students represented EvCC at the Students of Color Conference in Yakima. |
Among part of many caucuses at the conference, the South-Asian caucus’s aim was to provide students a platform to share their experiences and challenges they face in the U.S. as well as in the countries of their origin and to figure their solutions.
Local and international students graced the occasion by partaking in discussion, which lasted for two hours.
Mr. Ata Karim of Bellevue Community College and Mrs. Neera Mehta from Lake Washington Technical College facilitated the caucus by sharing their personal experiences about what it means to them to be South Asian American.
Karim said that there are three generations of S-A Americans. The latest generation is the most confused today. He said that kids from the third generation are American by their habit and culture, however, from the ethnic and racial identity; they are as much South Asian.
Another girl who was born and raised in the U.S. said that she underwent many restrictions because of her family’s religious culture. As she grew up, she would be asked not to befriend with boys, not to come home late hours and not to have parties with boys.
When asked that people complain S-A Americans are inhospitable and unwelcoming, an American-born girl said, "I don’t trust South Asians anymore so I might be unwelcoming apparently. This is because my experiences with them have been bad – I felt they abused me to obtain U.S. nationality or permanent residency."
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| Students that attended the South Asian/Middle Eastern caucus. |
Kunti Rawat, an international student from India, studying Business Management and Administration at Whatcom Community College, said, “Discrimination is not a small thing to change. It is everywhere and will take a lot of time to abolish. Change will come through our understanding and treating people.”
“Gender-based discrimination is common in countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and others where girls always get a treatment like they have no right to live in this world,” she added.
Identity-based debates and discussions at conferences like SoCC are treasured opportunities for students to bag new ideas in order to open their minds, open their hearts and connect with people from diverse culture. Their chances to walk away with knowledge are always very high.
Story by Adnan Ali Syed
