Basundhara Mukherjee
South Burlington, VT
I was born in India, lived in Saudi Arabia, and grew up mostly in a small town in Vermont. English is in my blood, just like Bengali. When someone asks me why my English is so good, it reminds me of the ignorance that still, unfortunately, exists in this country. It’s ironic because I have been raised experiencing the diversity in this “melting pot”–the myriad possibilities in the “land of opportunity.” Yet, in spite of living in the same town for 11 years, in spite of being known by nearly every resident, in spite of being involved in everything, how can I still feel so out of place? I am more than the color of my skin and the origin of my roots. I am an Indian, but I am also a girl, a Vermonter, a writer, a musician, and a teenager. These are all parts of my identity that combine like puzzle pieces to complete me.
I can only think of all the times people have asked me if I would date a non-Indian, or ask why I don’t have an accent, or wonder if electricity exists in my house in India. What’s most unfortunate is that I have come to accept this indifference, this idea that people do not know any better. Why should that be the case?
I think something that is often overlooked is that racial stereotypes come from races themselves. I have seen endless Indians bringing down the race, creating unnecessary, and often untrue, stereotypes about it. I am not ashamed of my race; rather, I take pride in the richness of the Indian culture, and the incredible history that comes with it. Needless to say, it’s saddening when other Indians refuse to take such pride in their race, and bring such a negative light to it.
I know we, as a nation, can become more educated about race in this country. But to do so, we must travel around the world, read books, accept cultures, and, most importantly, talk. If we don’t bring the topic of race to the table, we can never move forward, and without moving forward, we can never really progress as a nation.
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