Key Terms
These two religions emerged in the Indian subcontinent as alternatives to caste-based hierarchies and emphasize egalitarian ideals.
What are Buddhism and Sikhism?
These types of South Asians comprised the bulk of the first South Asians to immigrate to the U.S.
Who were South Asians of caste-oppressed and religious minority backgrounds?
Along which racial line did South Asians argue for their rights during early South Asian American history?
What is whiteness?
Famous Dalit activist and the author of The Trauma of Caste
Who is Thenmozhi Soundararajan?
This taboo discouraged upper caste people from traveling over the ocean due to the fear of losing their caste status and caste privilege.
What is Kala Pani or Black Water Taboo?
Post-1965, many South Asian Americans came from these social backgrounds.
Who are caste privileged South Asians?
This term refers to the group in the late 20th century which targeted South Asians through Orientalist and xenophobic racism and violence - especially visibly Hindu women
Who were the "Dot Busters"?
These are the two works Dr. Ambedkar is famous for
What are The Annihalation of Caste and the Indian Constitution?
This unique form of prejudice and oppression has existed for a long time, but became heightened after 9/11. It is directed at vast swathes of people hailing from parts of Africa and Asia, as well as anyone who is perceived to "look" a certain way. Some prominent targets of this prejudice include hijabis and Sikh men who wear turbans.
What is Islamophobia?
Due to these TWO kinds of laws, many Asian American men were unable to form families in the United States:
What are anti-miscegenation laws and anti-Asian immigration laws (specifically, the Page Act)?
This term refers to the late 19th century/early 20th century anti-Asian xenophobia targeting brown Asians/South Asians
What is "Dusky Peril"?
This was started by Ambedkar to mass convert Dalits from Hinduism to a new religious system.
What is the Dalit Buddhist Movement?
Policies, practices, and beliefs that presume the superiority of and materially privilege native-born white citizens over immigrants of color
What is racist nativism?
Many South Asian men on the West Coast interracially married with this specific group of women
Who are Mexican women?
These are the 3 key moments of racialization of South Asians in the United States:
What are: Post-9/11 Islamophobia, "Dot Busters", and "Dusky Peril"?
This is what DBA stands for (include definition of each term)
What is Dalit, Adivasi, and Bahujan?
Dalit: "broken" - those below the caste system or on the lowest rung of the caste system, forced into servitude, slavery, and apartheid under casteism
Adivasi: indigenous people of South Asia
Bahujan: "the many" or "the majority" - all caste oppressed peoples