I had this all written out and just sitting in my drafts for well over two weeks. Waiting so I wouldn’t have to post it. Waiting to perfect it. Well here goes.
Since the death of the innocent black man George Floyd, protests against police brutality have erupted around the nation. With video evidence to show the inhumane murder of the innocent man, the protests have drawn people of all sorts: black, white, even the Amish. However it takes but a minute to notice that one demographic is missing from not only the physical demonstrations, but any online presence too: the older South Asian community.
South Asians in America have always profited off of the model minority myth, and it has helped us. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we haven’t faced racism (as a Muslim I’ll attest to that). But as South Asians we’re to blame for plenty of racism ourselves, especially the older generation, and that’s what I want to talk about.
The standard for beauty in South Asian culture has always been fair skinned. We’ve grown up on commercials for “fair and lovely”. In fact, I’ve been told by people from my own community that I’m “too dark” — I could call you out by name, but I won’t. Aunties and uncles try to find potential partners for their kids based on nothing but a degree and how light their skin tone is; God forbid someone propose a black Muslim.
Speaking of which. My mosque in south central LA is made up of Arab, South Asian, and Black Muslims, while my mosque in Naperville Illinois is primarily South Asian. If a Black muslim brother or sister walked in there they are sure to get some looks from the many very judgemental old brown aunties. This is the kind of racism that happens in brown culture. Nothing may necessarily be said, but isn’t that also just as bad? Being unwelcome, not standing up for each other, being silent when you should be shouting.
You should be shouting.
George Floyd was 46.
Uncle that’s almost your age. Auntie what if that was your husband? A police officer had his knee on his neck two minutes after he was dead. Why aren’t you donating? Why aren’t you outraged? Why aren’t you signing petitions to stop more of this brutality from happening?
Because it’s not happening to brown people? So, because they have a little more melanin than us, you’re like “no beta, this isn’t our problem”.
You know, South Asians have always been cowards. We’re so good at hiding and just taking opportunities when they come to us. We’re the good kids. The nerds. We don’t take risks. The model minority. And that’s why everyone else gets all this brutality and we just reap the benefits.
My dad has gone to a protest, and said how there was no one else like him there. And when he shared his experience, one of his friends commented that “George Floyd had a criminal record”. Please tell me why that’s relevant? However, as shocking and disgusting as this act was in itself, what was even worse is that no one came out and said anything. No one angry reacted. No one was so disturbed that someone would be so ridiculous as to take an innocent man’s murder and go out of their way to find dirt on them. My dad did call him out on his disgusting action, and that comment got some likes, so people had seen the comment. Brown people are cowards. Especially that generation. You don’t want to be caught saying the wrong thing. But not saying something is also wrong.
In contrast, had something even remotely similar happened on my timeline I know for a fact my many very active South Asian friends would immediately correct the person for their extremely ignorant beliefs. And that’s why your kids, dear aunty and uncle, are going to be out there fighting this war while you sit at home, thinking it’s ok to sit at home, because this hasn’t hit close to home yet.
But it will. Because I’ve seen my fellow South Asian friends come out strong. We’re all donating, starting funds, raising money, signing all sorts of petitions, going out to protests, sharing posts, and doing what we can. My friends, your kids. We’re starting the revolution, so we’ll be hit next. And when we are, you’ll have to speak out. Or I suppose you could disown us and stay quiet.
You’re so afraid of “what will people say” that you don’t say anything at all. In this day and age we can see everything in real time. History will know which voices spoke out against injustice, and won’t forget the utterly distasteful way in which we didn’t hear yours.
Don’t take it from me, Take it from someone famous! Watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_FE78X-qdY
Ways to help the BLM movement!: (Click on the link)
https://t.co/23nsHydHEN
