Anti Indian racism is on the rise. I expect it to continue as Indians emigrate from India and leave their footprint across the globe. Around the world, wherever we may be, Indians are forcing us to compete. In some cases, they’re giving us a run for our money. In other cases, cities are beginning to appear as though they’re flooded with people. I think anti Indian racism is unfortunate, but it’s real. I wanted to talk about why it happens and how I expect the problem to be solved, if at all.
It’s not jealousy
Every ethnic group is racist against Indians. It might not be as harsh as towards black people, but I’ve never heard anyone say they wish they were from the Indian subcontinent. I have heard people from every ethnic group deride Indians. People aren’t jealous, they’re bitter. It’s unfortunate. That being said, the hatred does seem to come from some sort of obsession.
It’s not about behavior
Sure, there’s a negative stereotype about South Asian men, but I’ve seen people be racist towards Indians in countries where they don’t have that type of stereotype. A lot of people are angrier than they think at Indian people, and it’s really weird.
Indians ruin the market
This is the unfortunate truth. When it comes to making money online, Indians make it really tough for people in pricier countries to earn a living. It’s about twice as expensive to live in my country as it is to live in India. As such, there’s a lot of envy towards Indians. Right now, they have to work half as hard to achieve the same result. I’m also envious. I’m just not a racist.
All we can do is wait
When India is as wealthy or wealthier than my country on a per capita basis, it’s highly likely that Indians will stop moving here. The same principle applies for the rest of the world. While India remains poor, Indians will go where the jobs are. This means that we basically need to wait for the global economy to shift in place. Countries like Nigeria and India are becoming wealthier, while some rich countries are finding themselves increasingly saddled with debt. Whether or not these countries will fully catch up to the “first world” remains up for debate. But as things stand, things evening out across the globe should render things less competitive. That’s the only thing which will ease the racism on a global scale.
If you’re from a wealthier country, be better.
That’s honestly your only option. If you don’t make yourself better, you’re going to end up being lumped in the same bucket as people who can live comfortably on $500/month. If you want the privilege of living in a wealthier country, you’re going to have to put in the work. Don’t be lazy. Be better. It’s hard to hear when you’re young and looking for shortcuts, but there’s no way around working hard. Technology just makes it easier as time goes on.
Racism will increase
Skills should matter, but right now people are being tribalistic. Racism will increase because the shifting of the global economy is throwing people into turmoil. People want to protect themselves and their families. So they resort to fear and hatred, often. Everyone should be on alert.
Anti Indian racism is stupid, but it’s a fact of life. If you’re Indian, hang out with respectful people. If you’re not, be respectful. Life is too short, and things are improving too rapidly for people to be focused on what divides us rather than what raises our collective living standards. I want to live in a world in which not only am I wealthy but so is pretty much everyone who lives around me. I know that’s idealistic, but I think we should strive for such an ideal as a species. Racism isn’t an option.
Thanks for paying attention.
