5 ms·

> I know other Asians who say stuff like "oh, I wouldn't want to go to the south because people are racist." Interestingly, it was southern states that elected

> I know other Asians who say stuff like "oh, I wouldn't want to go to the south because people are racist." Interestingly, it was southern states that elected the first two governors of Indian descent: Bobby Jindal in Louisiana (2008-2016)[1] and Nikki Haley in South Carolina (2011-2017)[2]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jindal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jindal [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Haley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Haley

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rayiner 4y ago
An Indian American has a better shot running for governor in a red southern state than in Maryland or New York. In blue states, race quite explicitly matters a lot in politics. But Indians are at a disadvantage because they Indian voter community is small compared to Black or Hispanic people.
- tptacek 4y ago
  Did you look at actual data about that, or does it just sound right? Wikipedia's lists of Indian-American politicians doesn't appear to bear this out.
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  - rayiner 4y ago
    Are you accounting for the fact that Asians overwhelmingly live in blue states? 40% of Indians live in just California, New York, and New Jersey. The latter two states have no federal or statewide south Asian politicians. California has had four, but none in statewide office. (Not counting Harris, who identifies as politically Black.) Red state desis represent a small share of the overall south Asian immigrant population—they mostly come from an earlier wave of migration that has since been vastly outnumbered by post-H1B immigrants to coastal hubs—but have seen outsized success in appointed and elected positions.
    - tptacek 4y ago
      I didn't account for anything; I just read what you wrote, said to myself "hm", and went to see if there was data. I'm just asking if you have data. I'm not dunking on you, just trying to calibrate where your comment lies on the spectrum of message board truth.
      - rayiner 4y ago
        Indian Americans are a small minority, and Indian American politicians are an even smaller one. I don’t think there is anything but anecdote from which to draw impressions. I think that’s pretty obvious from the nature of the subject without needing a bunch of throat clearing in the comment.

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rayiner 4y ago

An Indian American has a better shot running for governor in a red southern state than in Maryland or New York. In blue states, race quite explicitly matters a lot in politics. But Indians are at a disadvantage because they Indian voter community is small compared to Black or Hispanic people.

tptacek 4y ago
Did you look at actual data about that, or does it just sound right? Wikipedia's lists of Indian-American politicians doesn't appear to bear this out.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- rayiner 4y ago
  Are you accounting for the fact that Asians overwhelmingly live in blue states? 40% of Indians live in just California, New York, and New Jersey. The latter two states have no federal or statewide south Asian politicians. California has had four, but none in statewide office. (Not counting Harris, who identifies as politically Black.) Red state desis represent a small share of the overall south Asian immigrant population—they mostly come from an earlier wave of migration that has since been vastly outnumbered by post-H1B immigrants to coastal hubs—but have seen outsized success in appointed and elected positions.
  - tptacek 4y ago
    I didn't account for anything; I just read what you wrote, said to myself "hm", and went to see if there was data. I'm just asking if you have data. I'm not dunking on you, just trying to calibrate where your comment lies on the spectrum of message board truth.
    - rayiner 4y ago
      Indian Americans are a small minority, and Indian American politicians are an even smaller one. I don’t think there is anything but anecdote from which to draw impressions. I think that’s pretty obvious from the nature of the subject without needing a bunch of throat clearing in the comment.