Brown All Day Long
By Bharti Malkani
It’s hard for me to remember what precipitated this moment exactly, but a couple of years ago, I sat down my sons for a talk. The topic of this conversation would have been unthinkable to me in years prior. But on that rainy day after school, my 9 and 12 year old kids sat at the kitchen counter, and listened to me as I began describing the details of the latest racist incident that had rocked the nation. And I felt compelled to say, “Just remember boys, in this country, you are brown all day long.” I was telling my American-born boys that they could, and likely would, be discriminated against, or possibly even victimized, simply because of the color of their skin.
Having emigrated to NYC from India as a young child, I was fortunate to grow up in Queens, the most racially and ethnically diverse county in the entire nation. Nearly half of Queens residents are immigrants and approximately 56% speak a language other than English at home. Growing up in such a multicultural community where differences were accepted, even celebrated, was a blessing for me. That’s the America I know and love.
However, over these past few years, that ideal version of America, one that is welcoming of immigrants and provides opportunity for all, has been slipping away. The ugly underbelly of racism has been exposed and deliberately weaponized, sowing division and chaos. It has been painful watching this unfold, and heartbreaking to have these kinds of conversations with my children.
I distinctly remember telling my friends and fellow South Asian moms that I was having these open discussions about race with my children. I relayed my fear for the futures of all of our sons and daughters. Many of my friends seemed surprised and likely felt that I was overreacting. But the facts are clear: hate crimes against South Asians surged 45% in the year following the election of Donald Trump. I did not feel safe.
For those who don’t believe that communities of color are under attack in this country, and dismiss this fear as hyperbolic, I would remind you of the President’s own words as recently as September 18th at a rally in Minnesota to his mostly white (and mostly unmasked) supporters: “You have good genes. You know that, right? You have good genes. A lot of it is about the genes, isn’t it, don’t you believe?” As always, Mr. Trump says the quiet part out loud, and we should take his statements at face value, especially because his abhorrent views are reflected in his policies. The Public Charge Rule, the curtailment of legal immigration pathways, the Muslim Ban, the separation of children from their parents at our southern border, are all examples of policies that implement his views.
The choice in this election could not be clearer. I want my children to live in a brighter and more hopeful America. I want them to grow up in a more equitable world where social justice and climate justice are actions, not just buzzwords. Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris represent a brighter and more hopeful future. I have been waiting four long years to cast my ballot, and I’m confident that the Biden-Harris ticket will unite us, and will lead our country with empathy, integrity, competence, and compassion.
Bharti Malkani serves as a South Asians for Biden State Director for the New York Chapter.
