Changing nature of race and class in the US.
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In 1945, two Indian men testified before Congress to advocate for East Indian citizenship rights amidst a backdrop of severe immigration restrictions (Bald 1). Advocacy strategies differed between the two lobbyists, with one focusing on naturalization for existing residents while the other sought a broader repeal of exclusionary policies.
Ibrahim Choudry, representing overlooked migrants, passionately argued for the rights of working-class Indians who had formed deep connections in the U.S. He writes about the impact of South Asians who came to the country more than 20 years ago. He mentions how much of an impact their work has had on the American industries for decades (Bald 4). Regardless of what these Indian lower class non-skilled Indians have provided for the country, they are still facing injustice. In Kendrick Lamar's song "The Blacker the Berry", he states "take style from me". He implies that the African-American style has greatly influenced American culture. The African-American positive influence is not appreciated at all. Instead, black people have continuously suffered injustice and hate for years regardless of their influences. The same idea is applied to the Indian-American workers and labourers. The impact they have had for years on the American industries is simply taken for granted. Regardless of their influence, they are still suffering from inequality.
J. J. Singh assured the committee that existent Indian-American non-skilled workers in the US would not be given priority, nor would be entering the country (Bald 3). Despite the eventual citizenship law in 1946, it was heavily influenced by ideas favouring skilled immigrants, perpetuating the exclusion of working-class Indians. Singh seems to call the farmers and labourers inferior to the future skilled Indian immigrants, the difference in class plays a big role in this idea. Singh values the impact of doctors and engineers, clearly focusing on the upper-middle class like himself. In Lamar's music video, there is mainly a depiction of hatred and violence against lower-middle-class African Americans. Signifying that not only is it race that plays a huge role in injustice but it is also the class. In order, to prevent facing such injustice you must be of the middle-higher class.