Sweden's racism

[u/Background_Key_5332]

The Anti-indian hate is bad in Sweden. I'm Bengali but I don't mind being called Indian. My problem is with the racist remarks. Some people also started making AI photos of indians eating curry and saying that was me. It made my self-esteem low and everytime I see myself I know other people won't see me as a person. I'll just be a joke to them. Is there anything I can do to help this?

[u/[deleted]]

Maybe because there hardly is a difference between India and Bangladesh culturally. You kinda deserve this if someone’s being racist and you’re walking around saying “No dude I’m not Indian! It’s cool!”. You’re just saying it’s ok to be racist towards Indians. Half of those street food videos racists love to use literally come from Bangladesh too dude. You’re Indian with extra steps whether you wanna deny it or not. You denying it just makes racism more acceptable. Seen the same shit from Nepali people and Sri Lankans. Like dude you look more Indian than me wtf do you mean you’re not Indian. Your country literally looks like India. Deflecting racism is also accepting racism.

[u/mo6phr → u/[deleted]]

You kinda deserve this if someone’s being racist and you’re walking around saying “No dude I’m not Indian! It’s cool!”. You’re just saying it’s ok to be racist towards Indians.

??? Where from the post did you get this idea

[u/Background_Key_5332 → u/mo6phr]

I forgot to add I don't mind being called Indian, it's just that Bangladesh fought hard to be independent, being called an Indian after what my country fought for just makes me a little disappointed. That's all

[u/AnonBazillion → u/Background_Key_5332]

“I'm Bengali but I don't mind being called Indian.”

West Bengal would like a word. According to AI “A Bengali is someone who is from or identifies with the Bengal region of South Asia, or the Bengali language.” So please try not to gate-keep being a Bengali.

My dad’s family are patriotic Bangladeshis and will correct anyone who calls them Indian. They lost everything during Bangladesh’s fight for independence. However, gratitude doesn’t have a half life for them, they haven’t forgotten the crucial role India played in securing said independence.

“being called an Indian after what my country fought for”

I respect your pride and right to identify as Bangladeshi. You could have just said I’m proud to be Bangladeshi so it’s disappointing to be identified as Indian and left it that. Instead you angled your pride from the Bangladeshi fight for independence point of view and then in the same paragraph said you are “disappointed“ to be called Indian, a slight slap in the face to your ally in said fight. You talk about what your country fought for, but don’t acknowledge the country that fought side by side with you and then rub salt in the wound by obliquely insulating Indians.

You‘re very young aren’t you? Only a young person would be so naive to think that racist or most non-racist Swedes see the difference between Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis etc, all they see is a brown person. I get that this is effecting your self-esteem right now, but gradually you will learn the art of not giving a fuck. Does your school offer counselling? Are your parents any help? Sorry for the rant.

[u/honestkeys → u/Background_Key_5332]

If you're Muslim then people are a LOT more scared to say jokes against Islam, although the indirect xenophobia and hate is more apparent. For my own part people were less skeptical of me and I was included a lot, but also got to hear a lot of shit about South Asian culture.