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Hasan Minhaj calls out anti-blackness in South Asian communities

Hasan Minhaj calls out anti-blackness in South Asian communities

"I can't speak to what it's like to be black, but I know how we talk about black people," points out the comedian
05 Jun, 2020

Protests are taking place in many countries against police brutality and white supremacy.

Starting from George Floyd's murder by a cop, the Black Lives Matter movement started taking to streets in USA and now many countries including New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and England are carrying out protests while more have taken to social media to raise awareness on the racism faced by people of colour, especially black folks. South Asian folks also joined the conversation online.

Patriot Act's Hasan Minhaj, however, decided to call out the hypocrisy of the Asian communities that were speaking up about the matter, reminding them of their own racism, colourism and over all anti-blackness. And his video is going viral.

"This time, we cannot stay silent, especially the Asian community. Because the murder of George Floyd was so heinous, even [very problematic] people are speaking out."

Addressing the conversation shift from the protests to riots and looting he says, "Depending on when you immigrated, you came to this country (U.S) for order and stability. That's why we're all in our living room wondering, 'What is this madness? Why can't they follow the laws?' But imagine if you lived in a country where the colour of your skin got you killed for driving, jogging sleeping [and so on]... you would say that is a lawless country."

"So why are we shocked that people are asking for revolutionary change? We support revolutions overseas... And we can't empathise with the protesters?"

He then moves to calling out Asians for their hypocrisy. According to the comedian, "I can't speak to what it's like to be black, but I know how we talk about black people,"

"Asians, we love seeing black excellence, Barack (Obama), Michelle (Obama), Jay Z, Beyonce... how could we be afraid, we love black America. Yeah, on screen, in our living rooms. But when a black man walks into your living room and god forbid wants to date or marry your daughter, you call the cops."

Hasan adds, "You know what we call black people? We call them kaala, which means black but not in a good way. If someone is dark-skinned in your family, we clown them. We call them kallu... Our Bollywood film stars do skin whitening commercials so we don't look black."

"It is bad to be black in desi culture, even though we all wish we were black... That is the great hypocrisy."

Minhaj ends his segment making a call for Asian Americans to join the movements and also shares how to help, saying, "Millions of people around the world have taken to the street to afford us this moment."

Comments

M. Saeed Jun 05, 2020 04:14pm
Now, compare it with the historic antisemitism.
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Tansah Jun 05, 2020 04:24pm
Well said, Mr Minhaj. There is definitely prejudice against people who have darker or black skin in our communities, and we have to eradicate this mindset. I suggest that we indoctrinate our children to judge a person by their actions, not their looks.
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Adil Khan Jun 05, 2020 04:28pm
THey are not in your lands. You are in their lands.
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Nasiroski Jun 05, 2020 04:43pm
He is right on the money.
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Shahzad Akbar Shaikh Jun 05, 2020 04:57pm
he is very right.
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zafar Jun 05, 2020 05:03pm
What Minhaj says is true, but applies to everyone. Look what the Chinese did to Africans in China recently.
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D’Souza Jun 05, 2020 05:52pm
He’s absolutely right. For example, one sarafaraz Ahmed had used the exact same racial slur for a South African batsman not a long while back.
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Ibrahim S Jun 05, 2020 06:03pm
Someone needs to show a mirror to those who refuse to admit that they have a whiting problem as well. Would you consider speaking broken English mincing with broken Urdu/Punjabi as a sign of an elite society .
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Mann Jun 05, 2020 06:21pm
Kalia was a super hit movie in India.
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Amir Jun 05, 2020 07:36pm
while studying in US, the most racist people I met were the Pakistanis. Against sect, against provinces, against religion, caste, social status, with fixed notion that all blacks were thugs, and one had to be careful. and this behavior is seen in Pakistan as well. Same issues, sect, religion, province, social status, caste, etc
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Zahid Khan Jun 05, 2020 08:15pm
Desi community needed to be called out. I am now his certified fan.
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Adam Jun 05, 2020 09:18pm
Pakistanis are so obsessed with white skin...they prefer skin color to education
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MBA Jun 05, 2020 11:08pm
Finally someone speaking out!
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Sara Jun 05, 2020 11:29pm
AWESOME!! Thanks Hasan!
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Shahid Ali Jun 06, 2020 12:25am
Well Done! Keep up the fight against racism and keep reminding immigrants from Asia that America is not only white but also black and brown.
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Madaiyan Jun 06, 2020 12:41am
Lord Krishna is Black. Krishna means literally black. But after British came and ridiculed , Ravi varma depicted Krishna in blue and then on Krishna is associated with blue rather than black
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Abbas Syed Jun 06, 2020 01:05am
In the USA and Canada discrimination against the African Americans is not limited to just white Europeans. Us South Asians, Indian and Pakistani, are no less discriminatory towards the African American Community. In our conversation we often refer to them in a very contemptuous tone as 'Kalay'. Hasan deserves our applause for making us aware of the fact that we are no less discriminatory toward the African Americans.
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Jaredlee007 Jun 06, 2020 02:35am
He is absolutely correct. South Asians are obsessed with white and they can't accept blacks. South Asia is a place where you see lot of racism. Not a single south Asian celebrity spoke about Floyd.
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Observer Jun 06, 2020 02:56am
True! More common in North India and in Pakistan.
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Facts Matter Jun 06, 2020 04:06am
True. Need to remove our parochial mindset.
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THE MORNING STAR, MD. Jun 06, 2020 04:09am
Nice Hasan. Its too complicated. Desi are not a monolith. But do not worry, because we are mostly deeply anchored in our cultural values. Our problem is Political and often Religious. Almost never is it about Race or Ethnicity. Yes, we do make derogatory comments regarding skin tone or chinky eyes. Our perference for lighter skin tone is well known. But no one calls the Police on a Kallu.
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tipu Jun 06, 2020 06:21am
Nailed
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Tamilselvan Jun 06, 2020 07:18am
He is right in many ways. Humans by nature discriminate but must think about it. In Pakistan minorities have no place, in many ME countries they discriminate against Asians, in India they hesitate to give apartments to Africans and they discriminate based on caste especially against forward class people. In Latin America they discriminate against Amerindians , Oriental people discriminate other races and in Australia and Canada the indigenous people were slaughtered once and now discriminated. Do we hear anything about Native Americans as they have been literally eliminated. It is wrong and humans must treat every human the same way they like to be treated.
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KLM Jun 06, 2020 09:33am
Racism is everywhere. When someone says their religion or their color or their culture or their country is better - it’s racism . Let’s face it. Don’t try to pin point any community because all are guilty !
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Jehengir khan Jun 06, 2020 10:18am
Racism exists even in pakistan....just find out how many guy from well to do family has married a girl with darker skin? Any pakistani ever married any girl of african origin? Education is the only way forward.....
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jssidhoo Jun 06, 2020 10:41am
For once I agree with Hasan
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Ahmad KA Jun 06, 2020 10:44am
George Floyd has become the global icon of all suffocating minorities, and shall be remembered for ever. All those, including the USA, who have their knees on the necks of their ‘Floyds’ - it is time to pull back and let humanity breathe. When the history book turns a leaf tomorrow, may it find planet earth inhabited by humans, not merely by homosapiens. Love for all & hatred for none is the only forward.
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Buddy Jun 06, 2020 11:54am
He is right on the money.. very good. I love his talk shows on the netflix.
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Far Jun 06, 2020 01:20pm
Very true, In south asian countries we discriminate between dark colour and fair coloured people. Its hidden and no one want to talk about. People have to deal with it.
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rsultan Jun 06, 2020 03:54pm
He is Indian. He is asking about Indian prejudice. Not ours. So we can safely ignore him and stick to our whitening creams.
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Zulfiqar Jun 06, 2020 08:32pm
He probably has these arguments at home all the time.
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Sami Jun 06, 2020 10:04pm
That struck me... If you are an immigrant, child of an immigrant or a grandchild and your ancestors are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Iran, iraq, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Thailand, Philippines. Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia or any other country of brown people, you are here in the US because of the sacrifices that black people made, over many, many years... countless protests and marches, leaders vilified, arrested, shot dead.. masses tear gassed, attacked by police dogs, charged by mounted police, fire hosed, broken bones and soaked in blood, smashed skulls, shot at with live ammunitions, lynched in public, robbed of freedom and dignity and humiliated for only their skin color. They finally forced the US to pass the civil rights bill of 1965. The bill that allowed people of color to immigrate to the US. Now get off your behinds, the same black people need your help!
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naveen Jun 07, 2020 09:59am
very good mate if our daughter wants to merry a balck men we call cops hilarious and so right
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Sky Walker Jun 10, 2020 10:10am
@Adil Khan This is not "their land". America and Canada are stolen lands. Read history please.
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