By Julia Berkman
In case you missed it, or were maybe a little confused, a few weeks ago students on campus hosted “Turban Awareness Day” in Red Square. The event invited people of all creeds and colors to try on a Sikh turban for themselves and to learn a little bit about the history behind the headwrap.
Bellingham hasn’t always had an extraordinary track record with tolerance. As many know, there is even a memorial in Fairhaven devoted to Chinese immigrants who were shot if they passed a certain street. In September of 1907, members of Bellingham group Asiatic Exclusion League (predominantly white men), descended in droves to attack the homes of East Indian immigrants in the area. These residents were pushed out to neighboring areas, where most of them still received similar treatment.
So, as you can see, Bellingham has come a decent way from it’s pitchfork-wielding days, but many point out that it still has pretty far to go. There has recently been dissent among the community following the racial tension at recent Marches. People of color (a scarce 20% of the total Bellingham populus) feel increasingly isolated and less connected with their own heritage.
That’s why Sukh Singh, a Western student and member of the Sikh community, decided to educate campus about his culture through the most visually identifiable factor of Sikhism: the turban.
“This was a good opportunity for people to have some fun and get educated at the same time,” Turban Awareness Day volunteer Fahren Mansour said. “While you are getting your turban tied, you learn all about it.”
The Dastaar (aka turban) worn by Sikh people, signifies their commitment to their religion, as well as courage and self-respect. Dastaar are often shared between friends, in an event called Pag Vatauni. Much like the hijab of Islam, visual cues of a religion are helpful in forming a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals.
However, for some Sikh and/or Punjabi members of the Western community, the outreach was difficult to interpret. One Punjabi student–who wished to remain anonymous–felt that too many events on campus have been not a celebration of culture, but more of an education for white students.
“This event was organized so white people wouldn’t be afraid of turbans,” the student said. “Was this event really a cultural rising of the Sikh population? Or was it another event for white people to feel like they are gaining a cultural understanding? I think it’s awesome they want to educate others, but where is the support within our own community? Do all our cultural events as PoC [People of Color] on campus have to teach white people?”
Raji Gill, a Sikh student, agreed.
“I do wish a little more focus was brought upon reaching out to PoC,” Gill said. “As a mixed woman of color, I often feel as if I don’t fit in on campus since I don’t tend to see a lot of people like me–especially when it comes to knowing other Sikhs.”
Gill also felt that non-Sikh students wouldn’t quite grasp the significance of the turban once they left the event.
“This kind of education is really important in combating the stigma and stereotypes behind turbans,”
-Raji Gill
“This kind of education is really important in combating the stigma and stereotypes behind turbans,” she said. “However, I did feel a bit wary seeing others (especially non-PoC) wearing turbans. Turbans hold a lot of identity and meaning to me as an Indian/Sikh.”
Gill said that visual indicators of culture garner a variety of responses.
“Growing up, my family members, myself included, were discriminated against because of misconceptions behind our culture and religion,” she said. “Specifically, after 9/11, many of my family members feared to continue wearing turbans in public. So to see non-Sikhs and non-PoC easily walk around with turbans on, not knowing the Sikh experience, made me a bit uncomfortable.”
For many it was a bit jarring to see white people walking around wearing a turban. Non-Sikh students may not have been able to answer the difficult questions they would receive about their choice of garment. And it’s just that: a choice. Similar to cultural appropriation, white people have the ability to put on an identity like an accessory and then take it off again when they’re done with it.
However, outreach and exposure are essential to helping people understand other cultures. Every person seen on campus that day wearing a turban also knew a lot more about Sikhism than they did that morning was encouraging.
“Many people with whom I have shared that I am Sikh often do not know what Sikhism even is,” Gill said. “I’m always having to explain it as ‘the religion with the turban,’ but our turbans and culture are much more than that!”
Hopefully, after learning more about a new culture and even trying it on for size, Western students will be around to respect and raise the voices of Sikh students of campus.
Mansour had this to say: “One of the most important things you can do during your years at a university is to reach out to those that have a completely different life than you and learn about them.”