Word: asani
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Everyone was shocked." Asani says, recalling the many times when he had to introduce himself. "They asked me, 'How can you be African? You look Indian. You can't be African.' I would respond, 'What's an African supposed to look like?' I was really shocked at the extent of ignorance among the students. They would ask me if we lived in huts. One person even asked me if there were lions roaming the streets...
Eventually, Asani says that he was able to adjust, though he still had to deal with a sense of ethnic isolation...
...still am, shocked by the stereotypes and prejudices in American society against Muslims and Islamic culture," Asani says. "There were people who, when you tell them you're a Muslim, think you're a fanatic or a terrorist. This is based on ignorance. I thought I wanted to dispel stereotypes through my teaching...
...Asani says that growing up removed from the events in the subcontinent gave him a more unbiased perspective on South-Asian affairs, which is reflected in his teaching of Urdu-Hindi...
...Asani also remarks that his teaching methods have changed to accommodate the recent increase in Americans of South Asian descent...