South Asians and (The Lack of) Political Engagement

The US experienced many political, economic, and social disasters in 2020, but these were not a series of random events! These have been results of late-stage capitalism, failed and outdated policies, centuries of systemic racism, and, on a wider scale, a severe lack of government representation for communities that normally face the worst effects of US politics. 

The South Asian American community has been been historically neglected and undermined from political participation; in a post-9/11 world, our community has mainly experienced violence, discomfort, and discrimination from US culture. Today, disparate impacts of COVID-19 and increase in hate violence are also shaping the diaspora’s presence. 

Political leaders have never placed particular emphasis or prioritization for South Asian community needs. This trend of neglect has been a major reason why the diaspora has found itself distanced from civic engagement efforts and larger voter turnouts. As the US political climate becomes more threatening for underserved groups, a large political engagement focus in the South Asian community can help mobilize individuals to participate in civic processes, get their voices heard, and work with members of their community to ensure their needs are being represented in government.

How Does Civic Engagement Work?

During national elections, candidates and citizens prompt one another to vote, but it takes civic engagement in local communities to make people aware, informed, and registered to vote! This can be done in many ways, such as creating and providing accessible resources, knocking on doors to share voting information, and educating people on policy issues that are impacting the community.

The South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI) in Illinois conducted a study in 2013 which found that “targeted voter engagement can have long-term positive benefits that will make elected officials more responsive to immigrant and minority communities’ needs and result in policies that better reflect their perspectives and concerns.” 

An effective example they provided is when the state of Illinois passed a 2013 law allowing undocumented immigrants to drive legally. This was not the work of state legislators, but the community organizing of undocumented people (who were unable to vote themselves) and allies that led to the bipartisan support and passage of the bill. 

Local civic engagement allowed the community members to work in various capacities to push and support a measure that benefited the community overall. At times when leaders fail to address the issues we face, civic engagement can allow us to educate, inspire, and support one another to address the needed changes ourselves.

During my time as a Volunteer Deputy Registrar, I discovered that civic engagement can have a very broad and personal meaning. Though my focus was primarily on registering citizens to vote in upcoming elections, I recognized that this was a tool applicable for various social issues with no necessary limit to how we engage our communities. For me, the term ‘civic engagement’ has become synonymous with community organizing, because both actions work towards the best interests of a community. 

Civic engagement allows me to organize against harmful policy actions, collaborate with local community groups for larger outreach and awareness, and encourage my fellow families and friends to display our growing influence by voting.

South Asian VoterS In Texas

Racial and religious profiling, systemic and cultural discrimination, and historic exclusion from political affairs have dramatically affected South Asian American civic engagement efforts. The lack of current representation has also failed to emphasize or highlight issues of the community that can be addressed with better policy. Emerging South Asian leaders have been resonating with the community’s historic perspective on civic affairs and are finding inclusive, adaptive ways to encourage their involvement.  

Many inclusive strategies were adopted in 2020, when South Asian civic engagement groups and candidates, especially in Texas, relied heavily on community members to volunteer, participate in voting, and bring awareness about the election to others in the community.

Many Texas-based candidates campaigned in new and effective ways, such as:

• phone-banking in multiple languages

• candidate and voter information pamphlets in South Asian languages

• interfaith dialogue at worship centers

• physical appearances in community spaces

Civic engagement efforts from community organizers and candidates resulted in the community showing up with more support and involvement than ever seen before. South Asian voters in Texas, though still reporting low turnout, showed up in larger numbers and demonstrated the growing impact of the community in Texas. These trends will continue rising as more elections happen, but they will still depend on candidates and community leaders emphasizing the political and social influence of South Asian Americans through civic engagement work.

KEY QUESTIONS

• What are some other ways we can make political information about candidates, or voting, inclusive and accessible for our communities? 

• How can more South Asian Americans feel encouraged to vote?

• Do you and people in your community feel empowered to run for public office?

The “American” in South Asian American

As of 2017, there are nearly 5.4 million South Asians living in the US and of that number, more than one million are eligible to vote. The people are diverse in nearly all aspects, including religion, language, ethnicity, and even areas of employment. Despite the varying backgrounds, South Asians tend to share similarities in immigration experiences, socioeconomic statuses, and cross-cultural identities.

Following the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which lifted quotas limiting the number of immigrants arriving from certain nations of origin, the South Asian population in the US rapidly increased. The new wave of immigrants were quickly minoritized in the US, with modes of stereotypes and assumptions of docility limiting South Asians’ abilities to gain societal or political attention, even today. 

Additionally, the dangerous “model minority” myth convened by overgeneralized data on “success” of Asian Americans, including South Asians, distanced the communities from Blackness, and any real means of inclusivity or solidarity. This divisive and competitive immigrant treatment, enforced by the US focus on cheap but “skilled” labor, has also brought in homegrown issues of casteism, colorism, and anti-Blackness into South Asian American communities (SAYHU has a resource page on these topics here). 

In the 1990s, as the US became more involved in violent acts of destabilization in the South Asian and Middle Eastern regions, South Asians, and particularly Muslims, Sikhs, and Arab Americans, all became scapegoats for the rampant increase in terror attacks. After 9/11, anti-South Asian American sentiment only increased; twenty years later, the diaspora continues to fall victim to violent hate crimes, employment discrimination, and racial profiling. The marginalization of South Asians has permanently changed the way the diaspora behaves, acts, and lives in the US today. 

THE SAMOSA CAUCUS

Currently, there are only four South Asian representatives in Congress. Sometimes referring to themselves as the “Samosa Caucus” for their common Indian heritage, House Representatives Ami Bera (CA-7), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) are all popular in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. Aside from Congress, the current presidential administration has placed many South Asians in key White House and cabinet roles, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Many may argue that the public image of South Asians in important government positions will lead to more civic involvement from communities, but others worry about the limitation of this representation; people from comfortable backgrounds may not accurately represent the needs of the community.

This South Asian Congressional delegation, especially at the national level, is unable to gain a ground perspective of local South Asian communities and their views on certain policies such as immigration, labor, and cultural barriers. It is also important to note the privilege that trails South Asians in significant national-level roles; they may not have a realistic understanding of the systemic issues affecting the communities. These Congress members are descriptive representation for South Asians. Actual representation includes meaningful engagement with community members and bringing awareness to the community’s needs.

Electoral Politics vs. Social Justice

As a transnational feminist collective, SAYHU is an active community empowering South Asian youth to engage, discuss, and respond to social issues. Our work is grounded in addressing social inequalities and advocating for social justice across multiracial community networks. As issues of state-sanctioned violence, institutional and systemic racism, mass incarceration, and white supremacy continue harming the most vulnerable communities, SAYHU recognizes the need to have these conversations and find community-first solutions. 

Thus, when we discuss civic engagement efforts to increase voter turnout, we have to ask:

• How can these types of systemic issues be eliminated, or at least improved, through the electoral process? 

In 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “Give Us the Ballot” speech, in which he advocated for Black people’s voting rights. The civil rights leader listed many profound reasons, but ultimately it was the demand for freedom and inclusion. Dr. King recognized that civil rights would allow Black people to establish community systems, organizing power, and advocacy efforts that would resonate with the entire nation.

The blueprint of Dr. King’s organizing work - along with the work of countless other civil rights leaders, including many unsung women - have become tools for civic engagement that continue empowering and engaging underserved communities today, including South Asian Americans. As more communities take initiatives to stand against systemic racism, discriminatory policies, and work towards an equitable society, we must recognize the selfless efforts of the Black community that strengthened the power of organizing action, and, in turn, civic engagement. 

Today, the US continues the systemic oppression of minority groups by attacking voting rights; a consistent effort by white politicians since the civil rights movement to delegitimize the powerful work of Black community organizers and leaders.

In turn, one of the best actions underserved groups can take today is working collectively to serve the needs of their communities by getting them politically involved and informed. Learning about what better representation would mean for our communities gives us an opportunity to empower and educate others on becoming aware and taking action. Efforts put towards political engagement will encourage community members to participate in voting, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and even running for public office—just like these South Asian Americans have.

Ways to Get Involved

• Register to Vote in Texas (in English or Spanish) or at APIA Vote (with additional language options)

• South Asians Vote is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing voter turnout with civic engagement in the South Asian diaspora.

  • Get Involved with South Asians Vote

• Want to register citizens to vote in Texas? Become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR)!

• South Asian Amer­i­cans Lead­ing Togeth­er (SAALT) is a nation­al move­ment strat­e­gy and advo­ca­cy orga­ni­za­tion com­mit­ted to racial jus­tice through struc­tur­al change. It is a tremendous resource, and provides research and “shareables” related to social justice issues and civic engagement.

• How Do I Get Involved? (PDF)

• A Guide To The Presidential Elections (PDF)

• Demographic Snapshot of South Asians in the United States (PDF)

• South Asian American Voter Engagement Texas (SAAVETX) is a grassroots effort leading the largest South Asian outreach in the state of Texas. This progressive group works to increase the community’s voter turnout through education empowerment and engagement.

• Get Involved in your Local Congressional District 

• Representation & Civic Engagement in the South Asian American Community (Video) A webinar hosted by the American Pakistan Foundation (and me!) discussing representation and civic engagement matters in the South Asian American community with South Asian policy leaders.

• Houston in Action comprises people and organizations who have come together to strengthen and grow community-led civic participation in the Houston region.

• South Asian Americans in Public Service is an organization working to empower South Asian Americans to meaningfully contribute to their communities through public service.

• Building Pathways Through Discomfort: Nurturing Allyship in the Asian American Community (ARTICLE)

• Take Action Houston: Harris County Civic Engagement Policy Audit (PDF)

• Asian and Pacific Islander Vote is a national nonpartisan organization that works with partners to mobilize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in electoral and civic participation.

• How To Vote

• 2020 Texas Fact Sheet (PDF)

This page was created in August 2021 by Usman Mahmood with support from Dr. Rachel Afi Quinn and Eesha Pandit.