ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
Bangladeshi Americans
Video overview for Bangladeshi Americans.
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What histories do Bangladeshi Americans embody?
Chapter objectives
- Learn about the Bangladeshi American community through its history, literature, activism, and art in the US.
- Understand the political histories of Bangladesh and US immigration policies that have influenced Bangladeshi migration and community formation.
- Explore how writers, artists, and activists from immigrant communities stand up for their communities.
Since the 1990s, the Bangladeshi population in the United States has been growing rapidly. Neighborhoods such as “Little Bangladesh” and “Banglatown” have sprung up in cities such as New York and Detroit, reflecting the changes in US immigration laws that have influenced the growth of this immigrant community. While the Bangladeshi American community continues to grow, their history and politics are not widely known. However, the stories of Bangladeshi American writers, artists, and political activists showcase the diverse ways in which they are remembering the histories of Bangladesh and navigating their own identity in the US. Looking at history, literature, activism, and art, this chapter explores how Bangladeshi Americans have created their own definitions of belonging.
Modules in this chapter
Bangladeshi Migration and Settlement in the US
Bangladeshi Americans and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladeshi American Literature
Bangladeshi Americans and Political Activism
Banglatowns, Public Art, and Community Formation
Bangladeshi Migration and Settlement in the US
Bangladeshi Americans and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladeshi American Literature
Bangladeshi Americans and Political Activism
Banglatowns, Public Art, and Community Formation
Chapter Sources
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Bacani, Xyca Cruz. “The American Dream of Bangladeshis,” Asia Society Magazine, November 11, 2022. https://asiasociety.org/magazine/article/american-dream-bangladeshis
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Mural Project Committee. “Bangladesh: Coming to America Mural Project,” Patronicity, https://www.patronicity.com/project/bangladesh_coming_to_america_mural_project#!/.
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Cohen, Aaron. “Ravi Told George, They Told the World: The Birth of the Celebrity Benefit Concert.” National Public Radio: Goats and Soda, July 31, 2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/07/31/1022807721/ravi-told-george-they-told-the-world-the-birth-of-the-celebrity-benefit-concert
Faruque, Jemmima. “1971: Becoming Bangladesh.” The Oracle, March 29, 2023. https://theoracleonline.org/features/2023/03/29/1971-becoming-bangladesh/
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