Racism Against Immigrants in American Society

Persistent Discrimination Against Immigrants

You will find one thing in society that no matter how many years you have been a citizen of that place, no matter how much you believe in their ideology, if you are an immigrant, if your origin is from another country, then you have to face abuse. You have to face racist remarks. Racism Against Immigrants in American Society.

The Vivek Ramaswamy Case

And think about Vivek Ramaswami here. Vivek Ramaswami is a politician who supports the right-wing ideology. Despite that, he has had to face these remarks. You can think about this, go back to India, and H1B visa, Vivek Ramaswami’s anniversary post for his wife, which was met with racist remarks.

What Does This Incident Show?

Therefore, there is a need to understand what has happened. Look here, what is there, the racist backlash that Vivek Ramaswami has faced online, and why? Because he shared his wedding anniversary post. It had been 10 years since their wedding. It was the ordinal day of remembrance.

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?

Background

Look, he is a prominent Indian American biotech entrepreneur and author. And keep in mind that he was also a former Republican presidential candidate in the US election of 204. He was going to many places and requesting many speeches. And ultimately, he gave his full support to Donald Trump.

Political Views and Family

He is also known for his anti-vocal rhetoric. He often appears on right-wing platforms and gives his opinion on many controversial issues related to immigration, race, and cultural identity. His wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, is a physician of Indian origin, and both reside in Ohio. You can see this here on the map of America, if you look at the eastern side, here is your New York City. It is here, and you will see this in Ohio.

What Exactly Happened?

Anniversary Post

Look, it was his 25th, sorry 10th anniversary on 25th May, so he shared his heartfelt Instagram post on Twitter. That is, he shared a post. You can see this here: in the fall of 2011, I met a brilliant medical student named Apoorva.

Their Story

So basically, if I tell you in short, he got married in 2015. But he met his wife in 2011. Okay? So in this post, he told how in 2011 he asked Apoorva for a date and they ultimately went to Alaska, you know, there are the Rocky Mountains, so there they went to Flat Top Mountain, and when they got there, suddenly there was a snowstorm. Okay? Because of this, their date gets interrupted, and ultimately they decide that they will stay together and get married. So they had decided that they would come back. So on the 10th anniversary, they go there and they put up a photo of both of them. You can see this is a photo of 2011, and this is a photo of 2025. They have gone together. Okay? They also have two children.

The Positive Intention

So basically, here they were appreciating in a way. He was also praising his wife. This is a good thing. It’s the 10th anniversary. It’s a happy occasion. So he wanted to share this thing.

The Racist Backlash

Online Comments

But what happened? On the contrary, if you look at his post here, you will find racist, xenophobic comments. Here he is being commented on his post as Go back to India. Go back to India. We don’t want you to explore hoax trials in India instead. Meaning, go to India and do it. Are there no mountains in India? Such posts were being made here.

Attacks on Identity

Here, questions were being asked about Apoorva as well. His wife is Apoorva, so is Apoorva even an American name? So the question was being asked. This is not an American name. This is an Indian name. So here, racial slurs, remarks about his skin tone, his culture, and his name were being passed continuously in the comments.

Accent and Loyalty

Some users even mocked his accent. His loyalty towards America was also questioned. So you can understand that here in the American society, look at every country, different kinds of issues and problems are seen. So, do not think that America is a developed country. Everything is good there. It is not like that. There is a different kind of problem there. The problem of racism is very big.

Skin Tone Comments

I was looking at some posts about bleaching. Why is your skin tone a little lighter? Why is it three-four times lighter? So basically, many such racial remarks were being made about skin tone.

Why the Backlash?

H1B Visa Controversy

Now, the question is, why was there a racist backlash? Look, I will show you the background behind this. Regarding the H1B visa. Vivek Ramaswamy had basically criticized the H1B visa program. That is what I am telling you, that the things he was supporting are the same people who are backlashing him.

Hypocrisy Claims

So here, you know that Donald Trump is very much against the H1B visa, because of the visa program that is going on, many migrants come to America. So basically, he had criticised the H1B visa program in a way that the entire presidential run was going on. Apart from this, he said that this entire system should be dismantled. And if he becomes the president, then many changes will be made here so that migrants cannot come to America in such large numbers.

Conflict of Actions

So despite his criticism, it is said here that his company, a biotech company, Proviant Sciences, has hired more than 100 people, and that too mostly Indian nationals through an H1B visa. So what happens here is that many people call his hypocrisy, in that way, he criticises the H1B visa program. But on the other hand, his own company hires workers through an H1B visa.

Opposition from Both Sides

So here, the right-wing nationalists are also opposing Vivek Ramaswami, and the immigrant rights supporters are also opposing him in a way. So he is facing backlash from both sides.

Deeper Issues in American Politics

Identity Politics

Apart from this, you will get to see racial identity politics in America. The Indian American figures in conservative circles have to walk a very delicate line. I mean, look, many right-wing supporters will embrace you as long as you listen to their ideologies and believe in them.

Conditional Acceptance

So Vivek Ramaswamy supports right-wing supporters in a way. He goes with their ideology in a way. But as soon as you get into personal matters here, like Vivek Ramaswamy just posted a post related to personal matters related to family culture, then you have to face backlash immediately. You understand how many double standards you are getting to see in American society.

Online Racism and Social Resentment

Anti-Asian Sentiments

Then, apart from this, it shows in a way in social resentment. I mean, this incident is how online racism is increasing, especially in America, and especially anti-Asian sentiments are going to be seen a lot.

Post-COVID Anxiety and Immigration

And especially the economic anxieties that have arisen after COVID, there is a debate about immigration policy all over the world. So, because of all these things, more online racist remarks are made continuously.

Reactions and Silence

Public Support

Well, has there been any support for this? It is quite obvious that when this kind of backlash was happening, the way many public figures, journalists, and citizens supported him is also commendable. Ah, many people said that you can disagree with his politics, but this is unacceptable. He is an American, like anyone else.

Immigrant Stories

So many users also started sharing their stories that they are immigrants. How they came to America. So in a way, they also got support.

Republican Silence

But the surprising thing is that many Republican leaders, prominent Republican leaders, were silent on this matter. So in a way, double standards are seen here. It exposes how free speech and identity politics are talked about. But ultimately, you do not get support on such occasions.

Broader Implications

Double Standards for Immigrant Politicians

Well, what is its broader implication? The broader implication is that there is a double standard regarding immigrant politicians. Here, as I told you, as long as you support their ideologies, you are supported. But as soon as you start getting into culture and other family issues, you are declared an outsider. Racism Against Immigrants in American Society.

Effects on Indian-American Community

Somewhere in the political discourse, you will find xenophobia, which is how the American political culture does not support you here. This is one thing, and ultimately, it is that the Indian American community here is also being affected a lot.

Growing Visibility and Backlash

Because you see, especially here, if you start becoming famous in America and you are an Indian American in the home of some other country of origin. Ah, especially the dominance of Indian Americans in the tax sector, ah, here in politics, in medicine, when your visibility increases, when you start becoming a public figure. So, here you often have to face this kind of backlash.