Down the recent crash of Air India Flight 171 killed all 241. This tragedy has reopened national discussions about the systemic racism experienced by the Indian community in the United States. After the shooting, social media platforms—particularly X, formerly known as Twitter—were flooded with racist hate speech. This further pointed to a new and disturbing trend of discrimination against Indians, even among the class of legal immigrants.
One of them was Pree Shah, whose family friend was a student at the medical college close to the crash center. SHARE Shah shared her outrage with PPM about the offensive comments that appeared on the internet. She reiterated the point that it’s never the right time for racism. She stated, “There is no acceptable time for racism but this especially feels like a ‘read the room’ moment.” Her sentiments ring true with a widespread concern many in the Indian community feel, that the appearance of these stereotypes has become normalized.
A Study on Anti-Indian Hate
Earlier this year, the Center For The Study Of Organized Hate (CSOH) released a report. Their results revealed a shocking increase in anti-Indian rhetoric on X. The research indicated an “unprecedented outpouring of anti-Indian racist hatred” since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform and following the Trump administration’s policies. Varsha Yajman is an activism model who fights on behalf of Indian immigrants. She argues that the recent increase in online vitriol is a product of anti-immigrant fervor in the U.S.
Yajman added that even as legal residents, Indian immigrants continue to face major adversity and discrimination. “The US’s current ICE method feels like a reflection of what a lot of people across the world want,” she remarked, hinting at the systemic issues faced by immigrants. These results of the study highlight a fundamental need for social media companies and policymakers to combat these destructive narratives.
Dr. Sukhmani Khorana, a critical race scholar, explained the violent racialized nature of the comments that have proliferated online. “People are commenting jokes about Indians being scammers, smelly, and useless,” she said. The patterns of derogatory remarks reveal a deep-rooted issue that requires immediate attention from both legacy media and online platforms.
Stereotypes and Dehumanization
Yet the stereotypes these comments contribute to are not new, but have been emboldened in the last few years. Dr. Khorana emphasized that this troubling trend affects more than the US. It’s a blow to countries like Australia and Canada, too. She stated, “The sheer volume of racist comments against Indians online is not new,” indicating a longstanding problem that continues to evolve.
Pree Shah criticized the dehumanizing nature of these remarks, noting that many comments suggested the plane crash was somehow less tragic because it involved Indian victims. “Many of the comments I’ve seen indicate that the plane crash was deserved and less tragic simply because it happened in India and to many Indians,” she said. This kind of attitude is indicative of a larger systemic societal pattern of discounting the value of these lives, often dependent upon ethnicity or national origin.
Additionally, said Dr. Khorana, such comments foster an environment where dehumanization is tolerated. “They are dehumanizing Indians by saying the loss of a couple of hundred doesn’t matter, given there are so many around the world,” she explained. Such rhetoric is not only an affront to human life, but creates a climate where hatred is allowed to spread freely.
The Need for Change
Yajman and Shah emphasize the importance of acting now. They urge social media companies and regulators to do more to combat racism. Dr. Khorana emphasized the need for clearer disclosure of community standards and ways to appeal/educate on community decisions on platforms such as X. “We need more transparency around who is deciding what ‘community standards’ are and how review decisions are made,” she asserted.
Even when users actively try to report harmful content, the vast majority of racist and harmful content reported goes untouched. “They have been reported, but still not taken down,” Dr. Khorana noted, illustrating the inadequacies in current monitoring practices.
That undercurrent of collective frustration and pain from Indian immigrants reflects a critical need for discussion and awareness around these topics. Dr. Khorana concluded with a poignant reminder: “It’s important to treat someone as human.” This sentiment serves as a call to action for society to confront and dismantle the biases that continue to plague marginalized communities.
