Black and Desi: A Shared History,” written by Anirvan Chatterjee and published in the June 2015 issue of India Currents, is a landmark article tracing over a century of solidarity between African Americans and South Asians in the United States.
The article highlights key moments and figures in this intertwined history, including:
Swami Vivekananda speaking against anti-Black racism in Pasadena in 1900
The Black Bengalis of Harlem and early South Asian–African American intermarriage (1880s–1940s)
Civil rights collaborations between Indian freedom activists and African American leaders (1920s–1947)
Jawaharlal Nehru and W.E.B. Du Bois, global anti-colonial dialogue, and mutual ideological influence
African American activism in the 1960s overturning racist immigration laws that restricted South Asian migration
Modern movements such as #Asians4BlackLives and the work of DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving)
Through personal narrative, historical analysis, and contemporary activism, the article reveals a deep legacy of shared struggle against racism, casteism, colonialism, and xenophobia. It reframes how both communities understand solidarity today.
Black and Desi: A Shared History,” written by Anirvan Chatterjee and published in the June 2015 issue of India Currents, is a landmark article tracing over a century of solidarity between African Americans and South Asians in the United States.
The article highlights key moments and figures in this intertwined history, including:
Swami Vivekananda speaking against anti-Black racism in Pasadena in 1900
The Black Bengalis of Harlem and early South Asian–African American intermarriage (1880s–1940s)
Civil rights collaborations between Indian freedom activists and African American leaders (1920s–1947)
Jawaharlal Nehru and W.E.B. Du Bois, global anti-colonial dialogue, and mutual ideological influence
African American activism in the 1960s overturning racist immigration laws that restricted South Asian migration
Modern movements such as #Asians4BlackLives and the work of DRUM (Desis Rising Up & Moving)
Through personal narrative, historical analysis, and contemporary activism, the article reveals a deep legacy of shared struggle against racism, casteism, colonialism, and xenophobia. It reframes how both communities understand solidarity today.
A short community service announcement from Bolly 92.3 FM (KSJO San Jose) promoting the station’s Blanket Drive for those in need during the winter season. The clip highlights the station’s role in engaging listeners through charitable efforts and civic awareness, showcasing how South Asian media in the Bay Area extends beyond entertainment to serve the broader community.
A short station identification audio clip for Bolly 92.3 FM (KSJO San Jose), the Bay Area’s first full-time Bollywood FM music station. Produced around the station’s 2016 launch under Universal Media Access, this ID reflects Bolly FM’s energetic, bilingual sound and its role as a hub for South Asian pop culture in Silicon Valley. The clip encapsulates the moment when Bollywood music transitioned from AM radio to the FM dial, bringing high-fidelity sound to the region’s South Asian diaspora.
Bolly 92.3 FM (KSJO 92.3 FM) is a commercial FM station licensed to San Jose, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area. It broadcasts a Bollywood-music format branded as “Bolly 92.3 – The Bay Area’s Bollywood Station” and is owned by the Silicon Valley Asian Media Group, LLC.
The station offers a musical and cultural platform for the South Asian community, airing Hindi film songs and related content, while also engaging diaspora audiences online.
In 2024, BollyFM modernized its workflow by transitioning to a fully cloud-based studio operation — one of the first of its kind in a major U.S. market.
On March 1, 2016, Universal Media Access relaunched KSJO 92.3 FM as BollyFM 92.3 — the Bay Area’s first full-time Bollywood FM station, responding to strong community demand for Bollywood music on FM.
CapRadio (Capital Public Radio) is a public media organization serving the Sacramento region and California’s Central Valley. CapRadio produces local news, investigative reporting, and cultural programming and is a key contributor to California’s public radio ecosystem.
Carnatic is a style of violin playing which involves different tuning and a seated playing posture as compared to Western violin playing. It is used in Indian Classical music.
The Chimta is a percussion instrument often used in Punjabi Bhangra music and Sikh religious music. It is typically made from pieces of steel or iron with brass jingles or rings attached.
The Chyabrung is a percussion instrument used in Nepal and India. It is a large wooden drum with animal skin on each end and is played with a stick and the hands. It is often used an an accompaniment to folk dances.
