There is a significant amount of discourse on this sub regarding the rise in anti-South Asian hate, and it's obvious that there has been an uptick during the post-COVID era. I'm framing this as a question because I don't think I have the whole picture but want to understand how we got to this place and how we can figure out the future. My intention here isn't to send anyone into a depressive hopeless spiral but to just talk about the issues facing people like us.
Obviously, this has been troubling for all of us and has led to some serious mental health issues in the community, along with a general feeling of mistrust (i.e., the person smiling and being friendly with you might be pajeet-posting or might even just be hiding the disgust reaction which undergirds most interpersonal racism). I don't say this to make people more paranoid because the kind of schizo-posting I've seen on this sub is a bit alarming, but I also just want to have a clear understanding of where things are in reality. This can often be difficult when it comes to something that's more or less vibes-based.
Think of this as more of a session where you can say what you want to say, and we can create a better picture and simply answer the question: "Why did we get here, and what is next?" I don't think I have all the answers, but I definitely appreciate any input from American Desis or anyone else with roots in the continent who has grown up in the West. If you don't meet that criteria, I'm fine with your input, but just know that it will not be held to the same degree as those in my target group.