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"Cpl. Simranpreet Lamba receives congratulations at his promotion ceremony on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Friday, Sept. 27. 2013." (Photo: Adam Ashton | News-Tribune)

Picture of the Day: Breaking the camouflage ceiling

September 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Formerly Specialist Simranpreet Lamba, the US Army’s only enlisted solider in a turban and beard was promoted last Friday to the rank of Corporal in the US Army: Lamba hopes his promotion will show “there’s nothing about being Sikh, about our turban and our beard that can stop us from excelling in the Army,” he said. Read more at The News-Tribune.

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day • Tags: Employment Discrimination, Simran Lamba, Simranpreet Lamba, United States, United States Armed Forces, US Army, US military

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Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Source: About.com)

The benchmark for social justice

August 28, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On the Sikh blog Naujawani.com (based in the UK), Ranjit Singh “Kuki” Gill discusses Martin Luther King, Jr., and the legacy of his speech at the March on Washington in 1963: He created a bench mark for all the people in America and around the globe who are committed to the cause of justice and equality and who wish to stand up for human dignity and liberty. It is remarkable that many who celebrate the anniversary of the march and […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events • Tags: "Washington, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin Luther King, Naujawani.com, Ranjit Singh "Kuki" Gill, United States

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"Spc. Simranpreet Lamba carries the guidon for his platoon in Company A, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, during the battalion's Basic Combat Training graduation Wednesday morning." (Source: US Army)

Petition: End US military ban on Sikh articles of faith

July 16, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh Coalition is collecting signatures to petition President Barack Obama to reverse the ban on Sikh articles of faith in the US military, which in effect bans many observant Sikhs from serving their country. In a submission to the United States Commission on Human Rights during a briefing on May 31, the Sikh Coalition provided a thorough account of the issue: In the United States, Sikhs are subjected to unusually high rates of racial profiling and employment discrimination, including […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: Employment Discrimination, Sikh Coalition, United States, United States Armed Forces, US Army, US military

"Union workers march along the street with a huge American flag during a May Day rally in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 1, 2013. In celebration of May Day, people have gathered across the country to rally for various topics including immigration reform." (Photo credit: AP Photo | Jae C. Hong. Source: OregonLive)

Patriotism as a double-edged sword

July 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

An essay in The Berkeley Blog by author Jeremy Adam Smith (via The Dish) frames patriotism as a double-edged sword — as both a unifying and dividing influence — and proposes a focus on “authentic pride” versus hubris: If we feel pride, it should be in the accomplishments of our fellow citizens and in any contributions we ourselves have made toward making our country and community a better place, however small and local. Pride of simply being born American leads […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Independence Day, Jeremy Adam Smith, Patriotism, United States

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A fascinating map of the world’s most and least racially tolerant countries

The bigotry over there

May 31, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A YouTube video posted by a Japanese high school teacher (nod to Karaminder for the link) describes the revelation that his students did not recognize racist attitudes within their own country or society, thinking of it as an “American” problem: I was surprised to find out that almost all of my high school students (about 1000 students) were not aware of the racism and discrimination that goes on in Japan. Racism and discrimination in Japan does exist, however, it is […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Reflections, Reports/Studies • Tags: caste system, Japan, Martin Luther King, Racism, United States

Simran Preet Singh Lamba graduates from U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. He is the first Sikh enlisted soldier since the 1980s. (source: Sikh Coalition)

Sikhs have proven they can serve in the US military

May 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On The Daily Beast, Simran Jeet Singh examines common — and often, outdated — rationale used to deny practicing Sikh men from serving in the US military with turbans and beards intact: Concerns with placing protective masks on people with beards first emerged during World War I, but technology has developed enough over the past century to render this a moot issue. Sikhs who maintain their articles of faith are serving in the military but require specific exceptions from military […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: Employment Discrimination, Simran Jeet Singh, Simran Lamba, United States, United States Armed Forces, US Army, US military

Cover of A History of Prejudice: Race, Caste, and Difference in India and the United States, by Gyanendra Pandey (photo credit: Amazon)

A history of modern prejudice

January 25, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The blog 3quarksdaily introduces Gyanendra Pandey, a history professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, whose upcoming book (A History of Prejudice: Race, Caste, and Difference in India and the United States) compares the evolution of prejudice in India and the United States. Gyanendra Pandey contrasts different levels of prejudice at play in both timelines: the visible “vernacular” prejudice, and a more invisible “universal” prejudice that defines what it means to be different in society: The American political scientist Samuel […]

Categories: Literature • Tags: A History of Prejudice, Emory University, Gyanendra Pandey, India, Prejudice, United States

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Tejdeep Singh Rattan dons a gas mask during his military training in 2010. (source: US Army)

US military lifts ban on women in combat; could Sikhs be next?

January 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, it was announced that the Pentagon will be lifting its 1994 ban on allowing women solidiers from serving in combat situations: [Defense Secretary Leon] Panetta’s move comes in his final weeks as Pentagon chief and just days after President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in which he spoke passionately about equal rights for all. The new order expands the department’s action of nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: DADT, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Employment Discrimination, gender discrimination, Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Pentagon, Simran Jeet Singh, Simran Lamba, Tejdeep Singh Rattan, United States, United States Armed Forces, US Army, US military

What were some of the most important stories involving Sikh Americans in 2012?

What were the top Sikh American stories of 2012?

January 3, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The year 2012 proved to be a significant for Sikh Americans. From January onward, the Sikh American community would find themselves on national and international headlines, and would also engage in a higher level of political engagement, whether it be related to advocating for policy or participating in the political process. The community also earned important victories in the realm of civil rights and religious freedom. Individual Sikhs would stand out during the year as well, providing inspiration for many […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Sikh American, Top 5 Sikh American Stories, United States

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Tag: United States

Picture of the Day: Breaking the camouflage ceiling

The benchmark for social justice

Petition: End US military ban on Sikh articles of faith

Patriotism as a double-edged sword

The bigotry over there

Sikhs have proven they can serve in the US military

A history of modern prejudice

US military lifts ban on women in combat; could Sikhs be next?

What were the top Sikh American stories of 2012?