Desis In The House: Indian American Youth Culture In Nyc

by Sunaina Marr Maira

New York City, long the destination for immigrants and migrants, is in the 21st century home to the largest Indian American population in the United States. Coming of age in a city remarkable for its diversity and cultural innovation, Indian American and other South Asian youth draw on their ethnic traditions and the city's resources to create a vibrant subculture. Some of the city's hottest clubs host regular banghra parties, weekly events where young South Asians congregate to dance to music that mixes rap beats with Hindi film music, bhangra (North Indian and Pakistani in origin), reggae, techno and other popular styles. Many of these young people also are active in community and campus organizations that stage performances of ethnic cultures.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Sociology, Asian American

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sanchita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent investigation into South Asian youth culture, though there was zero accounting for caste networks. The parts about nostalgia, in particular were very useful.

[Sonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another academic read on South Asian second generations in the U.S. Didn't fulfill my expectations necessarily...

[(unknown) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really did have a reason why i never hung out with the desi kids.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Desis tearing it up in the clubs amongst themselves. More of a ritual than a subculture since the desis aren't really resisting their dominant culture.

[Kaiya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sucks