Thoughts of a Pale Indian

I am a part of a community of Indians, and I never would have admitted that when I was

younger. I do not look like what one would typically associate with the appearance of an Indian.

The country is more diverse than most people realize and being from the northern half means that I am pale, so that made it extremely easy for me to hide the fact when I wanted to: from others and even from myself. I realized this when I was in kindergarten in South Carolina, the only Indian in my grade, and the only one who knew. I never tried to bring it up back then because even as a five-year-old, I was also aware of what people typically associated with the stereotypes of an Indian.

I did not want to be a part of a community that had been defined by its stereotypes. If there was one thing that those assumptions got right, it was that my parents immigrated to this country with almost nothing and had to work hard to get where they are today. The struggle would likely have been easier without the biases they had to overcome.

However, no matter where we were, they always managed to find a group of Indians to belong to and call our “family friends”. This concept felt especially true when my father was in the hospital. Every one of our friends was so unfailingly supportive and kind, and more family than friend. Part of getting to be their family meant that they stopped at nothing to help us get through his treatment. I now hope that people can tell that I am an Indian, not from the way I look, but now I am trying to be more like them through my actions instead.