Tasveer Book Discussion
Our Stories: An Introduction to South Asian America

Date: Six Thursdays: Feb 16th, March 2nd, March 16th, April 6th, April 20th, May 4th 2023

Time: 5-6:30pm PST

Location: Tasveer Office (Industrious, 500 108th AVE NE, STE 1100, Bellevue)

Please join us for our new book discussion group to read :

Our Stories: An Introduction to South Asian America, a far-reaching and thoughtfully selected collection of short, accessible articles that cover all historical periods and a wide range of South Asian nationalities (Amazon; $35). The book is published by South Asian American Digital Archive (May 11, 2022)

Our Stories, representing 64 diverse authors, is organized into the following ten chapters:

  1. Early South Asian American History (pre-1923)
  2. Forging Lives in Uncertain Times (1923–1965)
  3. Immigration after the Civil Rights Movement (1965– )
  4. Post-9/11
  5. Identity & Equality
  6. Faith & Religion
  7. Civic Engagement
  8. Arts & Popular Culture
  9. Work, Labor, and Entrepreneurship
  10. Family

Reading Schedule:

Feb 16: Member introductions; read introductory material in the book, along with Chapter 1 (pp. xxi-46)

Mar 2: Chapters 2 & 3 (pp. 49-127)

Mar 16: Chapters 4 & 5 (pp. 131-208)

Apr 6: Chapters 6 & 7 (pp. 211-266)

Apr 20: Chapters 8 & 9 (pp. 269-355)

May 4: Chapter 10 (pp. 366-404) + Next Steps for future discussions

This book discussion is the first in what we hope will be a continuing structured conversation, which may involve other objects of study, events, or formats such as film screenings. Such conversations will allow us to explore our diverse experiences as South Asians (Desis) in the United States, including questions of culture, religion, caste, gender, sexuality, disability, income, generation, US race relations, etc., as well as develop our roles and projects as progressives in WA.

This first book group on Our Stories will be facilitated by Vivek Bahl (English faculty, Green River College). Please RSVP here if you are interested in joining this book discussion. Please purchase the book and plan to read through p. 46 for the first meeting on Feb 2, which may go a bit longer till 7 pm to allow for member introductions.