Not just Kamala: How Indian and South Asian American women are shaping politics around the country
Source: GBH
Two high-profile Indian American women — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance — are shining a spotlight on South Asian women in politics. They’re just two of 4.4 million Indian Americans in the U.S. — the largest Asian demographic identifying solely from one country, and an increasingly powerful voting bloc.
Indian Americans are also the most represented Asian demographic in elected positions, including mayors, school board members, state legislatures and, of course, the vice president of the United States. The five Indian American members of Congress even have a name for themselves: the Samosa Caucus.
Indian and South Asian Americans responded quickly and with tremendous fervor to the announcement of Harris as the potential Democratic nominee, leading to a “South Asian Women for Harris” Zoom call that drew nearly 10,000 people.
“I don’t think any of us could have imagined what we saw in the last couple of weeks,” says Anurima Bhargava, founder and director of Anthem of Us and one of the co-organizers of the Zoom call. “It’s been a really gorgeous and wonderful time, not only in terms of people feeling like they’re getting activated but also the ways in which women of different backgrounds have been helping each other and inspired by each other.”
Read here the full article published by GBH on 16 August 2024.
Image by GBH
Two high-profile Indian American women — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance — are shining a spotlight on South Asian women in politics. They’re just two of 4.4 million Indian Americans in the U.S. — the largest Asian demographic identifying solely from one country, and an increasingly powerful voting bloc.
Indian Americans are also the most represented Asian demographic in elected positions, including mayors, school board members, state legislatures and, of course, the vice president of the United States. The five Indian American members of Congress even have a name for themselves: the Samosa Caucus.
Indian and South Asian Americans responded quickly and with tremendous fervor to the announcement of Harris as the potential Democratic nominee, leading to a “South Asian Women for Harris” Zoom call that drew nearly 10,000 people.
“I don’t think any of us could have imagined what we saw in the last couple of weeks,” says Anurima Bhargava, founder and director of Anthem of Us and one of the co-organizers of the Zoom call. “It’s been a really gorgeous and wonderful time, not only in terms of people feeling like they’re getting activated but also the ways in which women of different backgrounds have been helping each other and inspired by each other.”
Read here the full article published by GBH on 16 August 2024.
Image by GBH