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[[Seattle, Washington, is the first U.S. city to ban discrimination based on caste — the primarily Indian social hierarchy that is tied to family. VOA’s Natasha Mozgovaya has our story.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptCASTE DISCRIMINATION
HEADLINE: Seattle Lawmaker Hopes Bans on Caste-Based Discrimination Serves as Model
TEASER: Ancient social hierarchies endure
PUBLISHED AT: 05/23/2023 at 4pm
BYLINE: Natasha Mozgovaya
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Seattle, Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Natasha Mozgovaya
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, MAS, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:51
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO:)) [[Seattle, Washington, is the first U.S. city to ban discrimination based on caste — the primarily Indian social hierarchy that is tied to family. VOA’s Natasha Mozgovaya has our story.]]
((NATS Inside Seattle City Hall, crowd shouting)
First Seattle, then the nation – end caste discrimination!
((NARRATION))
Microsoft developer Alok Kumbhare, who had been born into an oppressed caste in India, says as a teenager, he was subject to ugly remarks and questions about his ability to train as an engineer.
((Alok Kumbhare, Caste Ban Activist))
“I was told by my teachers that, ‘Hey, maybe you should not aim for those because that is out of your reach, right? You should probably focus on something else.’ And that was just purely based on that assumption of what I'm capable of.”
((NARRATION))
Kumbhare says he was surprised to find that discrimination followed him to the United States, where a professor from a higher caste accused him of cheating in a Ph.D. program. When Seattle moved to outlaw caste discrimination, he was among hundreds of people who provided testimony.
((Alok Kumbhare, Caste Ban Activist))
“It was very disheartening. I almost cried during the testimonies to hear so many instances of discrimination, even here in the U.S.”
((NARRATION))
Since 1950, the Indian Constitution has prohibited caste-based discrimination, and over the past decades, efforts have been made to uplift marginalized castes through affirmative action. Yet the 2,000-year-old social hierarchical system that classifies people at birth still influences communities in South Asia and the United States.
Kshama Sawant is a Seattle City Councilmember.
((Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember))
“I have personally witnessed the entrenched nature of the caste system, even in the social context, like just sitting down to dinner with a group of people will reveal in the group of South Asian people will reveal how embedded the caste system is in everybody's consciousness that people don't even realize that they are living and breathing the issue of caste.”
((NARRATION))
She introduced the caste-discrimination ban because she says existing laws did not offer the right protections.
((Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Councilmember))
“When South Asian immigrant community members, workers face caste discrimination, it is not from white American workers. It is from other workers, bosses, who also come from South Asia but are of a dominant caste. And so that aspect of discrimination cannot be encapsulated in other forms of the law.”
((NARRATION))
Responding to criticism that discussing caste issues publicly portrays South Asian communities poorly, Kumbhare says these are uncomfortable but necessary conversations.
((Alok Kumbhare, Caste Ban Activist))
“I think we should not necessarily run away from the challenges that we face within the community just because we want to portray a certain image outside. You have to confront your past. You have to challenge your assumptions to make it better for everyone.”
((NARRATION))
Councilmember Sawant is hoping the legislation here will serve as a model in other jurisdictions. California lawmakers are considering a similar law.
((Natasha Mozgovaya, VOA News, Seattle))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Seattle, Washington
Embargo DateMay 23, 2023 17:28 EDT
Byline
Natasha Mozgovaya Seattle, Washington
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English