Why all the tension between American Blacks and East Indians?

Question

I've always wondered why Indians choose to distance themselves from Blacks. I hope they don't feel to different from us because if it's a skin color thing, there are plenty of Indians that are darker than me! I've asked this question before but one answer only applied to those from Trinidad.

Answer 1

NEVER SEEN IT.

Answer 2

I guess they feel that they have to make a place for themselves and because they are dark complexioned they could be grouped in with blacks. So the hatred, disdain and disgust are playing into the idea that "If Indians hate blacks as much as racist whites do then they must be OK" and is a shortcut to acceptance. This has been noted in the movie Mississippi Masala with Denzel Washington who falls in love with an Indian woman and her family vehemently objects.

The saying about "Is the enemy of my enemy my friend or my enemy?" comes to mind. Well since the Asians were not at odds with us they could not show thier allegiance to the "ruling class" of the country and then derive thier own comfortable status. In India, it is this way. They have a dyed in the wool caste system and they actively treat *darker* people in thier culture like crap. I guess if you don't supress people there is no way to feel superior and if you do it long enough then people may buy into it.

Answer 3

I think it's a combination of their caste system and the English and Portuguese(Damao and Goa) colonization of their country. It is similar to the tension between the 2 tribes in Liberia. The descendants of slaves think they are more civilized than the native Liberians and the natives feel superior because the were never enslaved. It's funny because I've known Indians from Uganda,Trinidad,and even South America who feel superior to those who are in India because they are successful.And believe me,they are extremely successful!

Answer 4

I can't speak for all Indians, but of the Indian friends I have, it seems that the everyone has been raised to be prejudiced in some way or another. They are encouraged to hate Pakistan (even though Pakistanis were Indians only 50 years ago), they are divided by their religion (Muslim vs Hindu), by their caste, by their state and language, north against south, you name it. They are also very sensitive about their skin color, and will always claim that their skin is a lighter color than it actually is. It is considered desirable to be fair skinned, and dark skin is undesirable and in some cases shameful. A friend of mine who has dark brown skin describes it as a "light wheat". I tend to agree that it's a byproduct of being colonized by Britain. The easiest way to control someone is to make them feel insecure about themselves and keep them bickering amongst themselves so they stay weak with no solidarity. This will hopefully fade as their culture becomes more integrated with the rest of the world.

Answer 5

Once I work for a east Indian guy and He told me one day that he trust white people or any other race, Before he would ever trust a black American. But I have always though that they distance their self from us because they feel white people will really like them and help them out of the poor life style they are so use to living in. Because Black American won't help anybody that won't help them self.

Answer 6

A lot of Indian immigrants look down on blacks because they claim they have been sucessful without handouts and we aren't.

Also there is that colonial "white is right!" mindset that people from coutries colonized and imperialized by europeans have.

There is last of all and commonly stereotypes that blacks endure day to day.

Answer 7

It's not an issue of skin color.
"You weren't raised in the hood so you don't understand what it's like to be black. Don't judge me. You're a racist."
There's your answer.
.

Answer 8

if u dint know,...indians especially the ones from indians like to be associated more with the whites.....

Answer 9

http://www.thesite.org.uk/healthandwellbeing/mentalhealth/bodyimageandselfesteem/skinbleachingvstans
http://www.boloji.com/wfs5/wfs539.htm
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/145/story_14568_1.html

Apparently,it has alot to do with India's caste system.

Answer 10

I never seen it personally.