ASIA AM 20 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Jhumpa Lahiri, Bengalis, Panethnicity
8 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Part II: Labor
South Asians and Patel Motels
Questions to consider:
● Wha tare some similarities and differences of Indian and South Asian immigrants to
other Asian American groups?
● How did the South Asian community who immigrated to the US change after WWII, and
especially after 1965?
Who is South Asian?
● Tremendous amount of Ethnic diversityy!!
○ India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim
A lot of laborers during the early 20th century
● Bachelor society: immigrant laws prevented women (wives) from coming over to US and
marriage laws prevented South Asian men from interracial marriage
● Rise of Punjabi Mexican communities (both working in the field)
● Chain migration occurring among South Asians and other groups as well
○ Group of people who come to a different country and start a farm or business and
keep in contact with home; Others from home are being recruited to work (friends
bring friends and so on…)
○ Occurs on a micro level as well as a macro one
○ Explains why many motel owners are from the Gujurat region
Legislation
● US v. Bhagat Thind Singh (1923)
○ “Not all Caucasians are White”;
■ South Asians are not white, therefore ineligible for naturalization (for
citizenship), and citizenship was stripped from those who received it in
years prior (can’t own land, can’t vote)
○ Bhagat Thind Singh was a WWII veteran
○ Later overturned by….
● Luce-Celler Act (1946)
○ Gave naturalization rights to both South Asians and Filipinos
Many SA populations moved to urban locations: NY, LA, SF, DC, etc
● Many were students (educated) contributing to Brain Drain of South Asia; jobs were
offered to them in computers, tech, gov workeres, healthcare, hospitality, etc etc.
● Lots of back and forth interraction and travel between US and home country
South Asians in office
● Dalip Singh Saund
○ First Asian American elected to Congress in 1956 from 29th CA district
(Riverside & Imperial Coounties (family background of reform and activism)
● Bobby Jindal
○ Former Louisiana gov
Document Summary
India, pakistan, bangladesh, sri lanka, nepal, bhutan, nepal, sikkim. A lot of laborers during the early 20th century. Bachelor society: immigrant laws prevented women (wives) from coming over to us and marriage laws prevented south asian men from interracial marriage. Rise of punjabi mexican communities (both working in the field) Chain migration occurring among south asians and other groups as well. Group of people who come to a different country and start a farm or business and keep in contact with home; others from home are being recruited to work (friends bring friends and so on ) Occurs on a micro level as well as a macro one. Explains why many motel owners are from the gujurat region. South asians are not white, therefore ineligible for naturalization (for citizenship), and citizenship was stripped from those who received it in years prior (can"t own land, can"t vote) Bhagat thind singh was a wwii veteran.
