Country: India
About these Stories
Since 2017, Southern Mix has been conducting oral history interviews with Asians and Asian Americans throughout the American South. This collection of distinctive and powerful interviews engages in meaningful conversations about race, identity, migration, and the pursuit of belonging in the multifaceted landscape of the South. Browse through to listen and read some of these stories.
Chavi Khanna Koneru
Chavi Khanna Koneru is co-founder and Executive Director of North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT). Koneru was born in 1983 in Oakland, California and moved with her family to Durham, NC in 1989. She describes the culture shock she experienced … Read more
Asian American, Hindu Punjabi, Indian American, Sikh, South Asian, Telugu, IndiaJhana Parikh
“I mean, I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have never lived anywhere else. So, yeah, I’m pretty comfortable calling myself a Southerner.” Jhana and her father, Snehal. / Photo courtesy of Jhana Parikh. Indian immigration to North Carolina, … Read more
Asian American, Indian, Indian American, South Asian, IndiaMoni Sawhney
“I live in the South, but my identity is not Southern.” Dr. Moni Sawhney poses for a portrait at his home in Raleigh, N.C. / Photo by Maydha Devarajan. For nearly 30 years, Moni Sawhney was a white man — … Read more
Indian, Indian American, South Asian, IndiaPirya Matai
“I’m a Southern brown girl.” If you asked Pirya Matai for a list of terms to describe herself, “Southern girl” would be pretty high on the list. Scratch that — “a brown Southern girl,” to be specific.
Hindu, India, Iran, PakistanSwati Rayasam
When I think about people in my personal life who have deep connections to North Carolina, one of the first people to come to mind is Swati Rayasam. Rayasam is almost 10 years older than me, but was a constant … Read more
Asian American, Indian, South Asian, IndiaVinal Lakhani
“I don’t think I would say I’m a Southerner…But I would say I’m a North Carolinian and I would say I am from Charlotte and I’m from the South.” For most of Vinal Lakhani’s childhood, a typical Saturday might include … Read more
, India