Desi Dose: Burritos, Brown Men and Weathering the Storm
May 15th, 2008
Apparently, it’s not what’s in the ‘burrito,’
it’s who’s ‘delivering’ it that counts.
[Blogger: S.I.] Welcome to the first edition of the Desi Dose. We usually have a lot of content to share, but it’s not always enough for a full post. So we’ll compile the salient bits of info and links and send them your way as a digest (how many of you thought of Archie comics when you heard that? The Double Digests were a staple of summers in India).
The premiere edition:
* A mini entry into the Coolie Files. Reader P’s story of “the burrito”: P is an Indian guy in his early to mid 20s in LA. Works in a corporate-ish building, though his company is relatively relaxed in dress code.
During lunch break, he grabbed some food to go and made his way back to the office. As he rode the elevator up, bag with food in hand, the door opened and another building worker (different company) entered…
“Well she was a white woman probably in her late 30s. I was coming up from the parking garage and the door opened on the ground floor, I was about to step off but then I stopped and realized it was the wrong floor. She got on the elevator, looked at me and smiled, then said: “Let me guess, you’re delivering a burrito?”
I just smiled and said “No, actually its sushi. Close!”
She kind of nodded to herself as if she was disappointed that she had guessed incorrectly.
Three race-based assumptions stand out. 1) Because he was a dark skinned non-black minority, he was Latino. 2) Because he was Latino, he must have been delivering something, not working in that office. 3) And because he was Latino and delivering something, it must be a burrito.
Sigh. (Some) White people (in LA). Reminds me of all the things Latinos and Desis have in common. Maybe she was influenced subconsciously by this guy.
And does anyone even know any places that deliver burritos?
* NBA: As the San Antonio Spurs hopefully meet their demise at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets tonight (I hate the Spurs), there’s a brown moment to consider: when you see the announcers talking about the game, check out the fans sitting behind them. I’ve noticed a middle aged Desi uncle, probably about 50, sitting behind them in a Spurs jersey during many other Spurs games. Does anyone else see this guy? And while it’s a longshot–anyone have any idea who he is?
* Lady Liberty with a bindi? Even I’m not sure how I feel about that. Then again, the French gave that to America, but freedom fries are still on the menu in many places (or are they)? [Thanks SAJA Forum]
* Founder of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, passed away. Much respect. While his publication often caused angst in my home (Dad: “Look at these kids who have been mentioned! Why aren’t you in this?” Me: “Because I don’t know anyone who works for India Abroad.” Dad: “You think you are so smart… (turns to Mom) Look at these doctors they have mentioned! Why aren’t you in this?”), it was a show of Desi unity and pride (over almost anything, from inane and insignificant to groundbreaking) internationally. A link to the homeland that probably helped DBDs like our parents feel connected. Well done, sir. [Thanks SAJA]
* P’s story reminded me of when I parked at my apartment for the first time, back when I was moving in. I had on an undershirt and gym shorts, and I drive a cruddy car. As I exited, an old vaguely ethnic mustache lady approached me and asked (or yelled): “Do you work here? You can’t park there.” I informed her that I didn’t work there, I only lived there. Unabashed, she said that there used to be good people living in the building, but now she has to try to keep the bad people out. The longer I talked to her, the more I grew concerned about the other inhabitants. At least one of them. Luckily, she then asked God to bless me, so I knew I would be fine.
* Indra, Hindu God of Weather? Try Goddess (or at least, very easy on the eyes). Watch TV on a weekend in LA, and you’ll see that Indra (Petersons) looks far better than Amar Chitra Katha ever drew him (her). And don’t let the name fool you, she’s no ethnic sellout. And she actually knows her weather and has her appropriate degrees. But what’s in a name?
* Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui on GQ. Just because it’s not Indian doesn’t mean it can’t be appreciated by Indian men.
Tags: Advertisements and Commercials, Assimilation Issues, Basketball & NBA, Ethnically Ambiguous, FOB/DBD/IBI/Indian-born, Food, Hindu / Hinduism, Indra Petersons, Latino, Los Angeles Life, TV
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May 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
not terribly surprised, she prob thought she wasn’t racist because she didn’t call security.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Good you bought this up, articles like this help - though you have put up very humourously. She should have smelled buritoes, imagine if he had packed a pizza.
Reemas,
PrivateMarriage.com
May 16th, 2008 at 11:08 am
So what?
Any single woman in India over the age of 30 is assumed to be so many things (I’m sure you guys can fill in the blank on that one).
So somebody thought he was delivering a burrito. Big deal. As if burrito delivery is beneath him or something…..
So I need to go into the details of what desis think of non-desis.
Just ask your mom, dad, aunts, uncles, etc.
Afterall, they are not lining up to arrange your marriages with the vhite voman or the kalu, right?
Reality bites. Real hard.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I don’t mean this in a bad way, but not everything in life relates to the status of women in India. And I would say that burrito delivery isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. However, that’s not what he does. And the tone with which the lady spoke (at least, how I envision it from P’s email), how it was dripping with assumptions, is what got to him.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
And not everything relates to desi’s feelings of inferiority (or superiority, take your pick), in USA. So the lady made an assumption. Big deal. So she may have been racist, or not, big deal. I don’t think this simple and silly situation calls for an infantile desi cry of “oooh mama, that hurt”
May 16th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Then why are you reading this DESI blog about DESI issues/stories/comical takes on life’s burritos?
I encourage you to start your own blog where you can relegate issues related to desis, India, or anything South Asian to a small section, a mere mention once in a while. Instead, you could focus on world events, politics, crime, even an occasional article from Oprah, and some juicy gossip on entertainment, fashion, and the like. The name “CNN.com” is taken, but you could call it “MamaThatDon’tHurt.com” or anything else you’d like.
We’ll even put it on our blogroll.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:09 am
My point, dear friend, is…
It’s not that bad.
Someone mistakes you for a burrito delivery guy. Wow.
What if she had mistaken him for the CEO of the other Fortune 500 company that was going to buy out the present company or companies they both worked for?
Then would you cry racism?
Inherent within this guy’s disappointment at being labled a burrito delivery dude is an arrogant elitism and classism. And that my dear friend, is very typically desi.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am
well why didnt she assume he was a ceo somewhere? she wouldnt have assumed a white guy was delivering stuff. theres racial motivation, esp if he was dressed for an office building and for work. if he was wearing jeans, a tee, and a hat, it would be more understandable.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Finally, a salient point. But, I disagree.
Had he been Latino, would he have accepted the burrito thing easily? No. Because no one likes being labeled without respect, and that was inherent in her comment. That sort of attitude isn’t just desi.
She wouldn’t have ’spoken down’ to someone she believed to be a Fortune 500 CEO, so the lack of respect would not have been an issue.
And finally–of course it’s not THAT bad. You can tell from the tone of his email, and the fact that P let it slide without correcting her, and how it’s phrased in the post, and how it’s on this blog with a picture of a burrito on top.
The only person who has been taking it too seriously…wait for it…is you.
Let’s move on.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Who’s says she was “speaking down” to him?
Were you there to gauge her body language and tone of voice?
From how it was presented in the re-telling of it (the writing of it), it does not seem that anything of the such was indicated.
Desi men - get over yourselves already!
And then maybe you will start getting more action. Just maybe.
Or alternatively, carry your moms along with you wherever you go so you can constantly be referred to as “raja”.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am
You’re so uptight and ornery. Sounds like you haven’t had a burrito delivered in a loooong time.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am
well why didnt she assume he was a ceo somewhere? she wouldnt have assumed a white guy was delivering stuff. theres racial motivation, esp if he was dressed for an office building and for work. if he was wearing jeans, a tee, and a hat, it would be more understandable.
Shah Jahan, why would you prefer that he be assumed a CEO rather than a burrtio delivery facilitator? This is what I’m getting at?
May 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
You’re so uptight and ornery. Sounds like you haven’t had a burrito delivered in a loooong time.
Ha. Ha.
I’m open to dosa delivery but desi men don’t like me, for some reason. Blame it on my bio-data. I’m not a professional in the corporate world.
May 21st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think they don’t like you because you use circular logic and make very little sense…sorry.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Desis are known for logic?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
With some notable exceptions it would seem…