Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

The recent wave of immigration monopolizes the narrative of South Asians Americans. Early immigrants from East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) built richly diverse communities and organized across racial lines more than half a century ago.

The 2012 election revealed that although Muslims are voting, they are not organized to the degree in which they can advocate for policies that protect and benefit their communities.

Democrats have targeted four AAPI Congressional races as "red-to-blue," or as having a good shot at transferring from Republican control. 

Our writer Nadia Hussain recaps her experience as a California delegate at the Democratic National Convention, where she hobnobbed with leaders, pundits, and celebrities and nominated President Barack Obama to run for a second term.

The political discourse in the US fuels the fear of Muslims. Policies such as the Patriot Act, and more recently the National Defense Authorization Act, have contributed to this environment, as have speeches and stances taken by elected officials and candidates. 

Long marginalized by the political establishment, Muslim Americans are standing up and sending a sizable elected delegation to this year's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.

Assemblyman Upendra Chivikula holds the title of being the first Indian American in the New Jersey state legislature and the fourth Indian American to be elected to a state legislature. Now he has his sights set on Congress.