How do you refer to your nationality/ethnicity/race

[Sher Foundation]

I don't understand why this is confusing. Sikhism is a religion, Punjabi is culture/nationality/race. There are many people who interchange punjabi/Sikhism which is totally wrong. A punjabi is not always a Sikh, and Sikhs are not always punjabi (although most are since the religion's roots and nucleus and concentration is in punjab).

If asked child A's religion, he is a hindu. If asked child A's ethnicity, he is half caucasian and half south asian/"brown"/indian. If asked child A's nationality, it is technically Indian/American (assuming the white parent is an American) but he can just as well identify as only Indian since he is more tied to his Indian roots.

If asked child B's religion, he is an atheist or whatever religion he practices "on the surface". If asked child b's ethnicity, he is brown/south asian/indian. If asked child b's nationality, it is technically Indian/American but he can identify himself as only American if he wants to since he is born and raised here and knows little about his indian heritage.

I was born in Dubai, UAE, spent a lot of my childhood there, then came to california. But i still identify myself as a Sikh Punjabi (even though i have not spent more than a couple months at a time in Punjab) because i am a devout Sikh, and i heavily follow the punjabi culture and traditions, not to mention my parents' and their ancestors roots are in Pakistani Punjab.

Although to answer this poll, i refer to my nationality as punjabi.

 

[Jeeti]

I don't understand why this is confusing. Sikhism is a religion, Punjabi is culture/nationality/race. There are many people who interchange punjabi/Sikhism which is totally wrong. A punjabi is not always a Sikh, and Sikhs are not always punjabi (although most are since the religion's roots and nucleus and concentration is in punjab).

If asked child A's religion, he is a hindu. If asked child A's ethnicity, he is half caucasian and half south asian/"brown"/indian. If asked child A's nationality, it is technically Indian/American (assuming the white parent is an American) but he can just as well identify as only Indian since he is more tied to his Indian roots.

If asked child B's religion, he is an atheist or whatever religion he practices "on the surface". If asked child b's ethnicity, he is brown/south asian/indian. If asked child b's nationality, it is technically Indian/American but he can identify himself as only American if he wants to since he is born and raised here and knows little about his indian heritage.

I was born in Dubai, UAE, spent a lot of my childhood there, then came to california. But i still identify myself as a Sikh Punjabi (even though i have not spent more than a couple months at a time in Punjab) because i am a devout Sikh, and i heavily follow the punjabi culture and traditions, not to mention my parents' and their ancestors roots are in Pakistani Punjab.

Although to answer this poll, i refer to my nationality as punjabi.

Thank you for that break down...that is exactly right...it should not be confusing. Nationality and religion are completely independent of each other...they are different by definition...those that somehow interchange being Punjabi with being Sikh are fundamentally wrong. There are plenty of Punjabis that are Hindus or Muslims. What you identify yourself as is up to you...and what you feel more strongly tied too.

 

[nitinkapoor]

I am loving the discussions!!

I think i got what i wanted to get out of this poll.

I know there is still room for more discussions.

So Gimme More!!!

 

[raj42]

i usually say punjabi first and then i say indian if they give me a confused look
i say i am a sikh when people ask about religion
i am american born, but the only time i get labeled as an "american" is when i go to india
i use desi when im with my (desi) friends
wow...it can get complicated

 

[Mini 21]

I'm Trinidadian... it's hard trying to explain to everyone else who isn't from the islands where Trinidad is and how brown ppl got there...