We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future
by Deepa Iyer
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"Many of us can recall the targeting of South Asian, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh people in the wake of 9/11. We may be less aware, however, of the ongoing racism directed against these groups in the past decade and a half. In We Too Sing America, nationally renowned activist Deepa Iyer catalogs recent racial flashpoints, from the 2012 massacre at the Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, to the violent opposition to the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and to the Park 51 Community show more Center in Lower Manhattan. Iyer asks whether hate crimes should be considered domestic terrorism and explores the role of the state in perpetuating racism through detentions, national registration programs, police profiling, and constant surveillance. She looks at topics including Islamophobia in the Bible Belt; the "Bermuda Triangle" of anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim hysteria; and the energy of new reform movements, including those of "undocumented and unafraid" youth and Black Lives Matter. In a book that reframes the discussion of race in America, a brilliant young activist provides ideas from the front lines of post-9/11 America. "-- show lessTags
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An important read, frustrating at times (not because of the book but the cases it examines). In the last 15 years, the experience of Asian Americans with darker skin has taken a turn for the worse, with an increase in slurs and hate crimes. Author [a:Deepa Iyer|6874000|Deepa Iyer|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has first hand experience in organizing communities to respond together against things like the protests against Park51, the shootings at a Sikh gurdwara (and defacement of mosques and temples), islamophobic laws by states, etc. It's a recent enough book that there's a chapter on solidarity with Ferguson and #Blacklivesmatter, but also further presses the notion that show more solidarity with other communities of color is important.
This book was also another reminder that "Asian American" is a VERY broad term. My experiences as a fourth generation Chinese American is not the same as a fresh-off-the-plane Hmong American living in California is not the same as a Sikh actor who wasn't allowed to board a plane. Being aware of how multifaceted our demography is a crucial step so we don't harm our own community (example: AAs against affirmative action). show less
This book was also another reminder that "Asian American" is a VERY broad term. My experiences as a fourth generation Chinese American is not the same as a fresh-off-the-plane Hmong American living in California is not the same as a Sikh actor who wasn't allowed to board a plane. Being aware of how multifaceted our demography is a crucial step so we don't harm our own community (example: AAs against affirmative action). show less
this was kind of hard for me. there are so many important things that she's talking about but spends far too much time on many of them, and not enough time on others. it feels disjointed and like maybe this should have been a couple of longer articles? still, the stuff she's talking about is so important; so much of the discourse around racism has revolved around specifically black or muslim issues, so there is plenty of space for what she's bringing into the light with this book.
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History & Political Science: US
158 works; 1 member
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- Nonfiction, Anthropology, History, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 305.80097309 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social group - Age, Gender, Ethnicity Ethnic and national groups standard subdivisions / Ethnic and national groups with ethnic origins from more than one continent, of European descent standard subdivisions Biography And History North America United States
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- E184 .A1 .I94 — History of the United States United States Elements in the population Afro-Americans
- BISAC
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