A History of Resilience
Since first arrival in the United States, Sikhs had to fight to be represented and to live the lives they wanted. This timeline outlines some of the most important events in Sikh-American History
Sikh railroad workers In California
Photo credit: https://pluralism.org/first-arrivals
1903
The first Sikhs Arrive in the US
1907
Bellingham Riots
In Bellingham, Washington, 500 white men violently attacked the South Asian community who worked in the lumber mills in the area. Claiming that the"tide of turbans" was stealing jobs, the mob dragged South Asian men out of their beds and kept 200 people hostage in the basement of the City Hall through the night. Within 10 days, the entire South Asian population of Bellingham, most of whom were Sikhs, left the town, resigned to the fact that they were unsafe and unprotected.
This was one of the most wide-spread and brutal attacks on the Sikh community by white supremacists who falsely viewed the immigrants as a threat. Xenophobia and racism led to the continued dehumanization and attacks on budding Sikh communities throughout the years.
A crowd outside City Hall the morning after the riots.
Photo credit: https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/bham_history.htm
"Sikh Temple" in Stockton CA
Photo Credit: https://www.sikhcoalition.org/about-sikhs/sikh-history-stockton-gurdwara/
1912
First Gurdwara opened in Stockton CA
Called the "Sikh Temple," it was located in Stockton and served as the main hub of the Sikh religion for over 30 years. Gurdwaras have always served as the cornerstones of the community. In addition to a place of worship, they are often also used for meetings and programs for children and families.
You can read more about important gurdwaras in this post
1923
Bhagat Singh Thind denied citizenship
After serving in the US army during World War I, Bhagat Singh Thind was denied US citizenship after the Supreme Court ruled that Indian Americans were not mentioned in the citizenship laws. This ruling emphasized the sentiment that Sikhs and other Indian immigrant groups were "other"and not "worthy" of being Americans. Furthermore, the ruling caused the denaturalization of approximately fifty Indian Americans who had applied for and received citizenship. After two decades of preventing Asian Americans from becoming citizens, the Thind decision was reversed when President Truman signed the Luce-Celler act on July 2, 1946.
Bhagat Singh Thind c. 1915
Photo Credit: https://immigrationhistory.org/item/thind-v-united-states%E2%80%8B/
1956
First Sikh to hold national office
Following a rise in immigration that occurred after many restrictions were eased, Sikhs began to further integrate themselves into their communities. While some adopted Western customs as an effort to better assimilate, some decided to maintain their traditional identities. However, the election of Dalip Singh Saund, who was the first Asian to serve in the House of Representative and the first Sikh to hold National office, was a cause of celebration for both groups (Saund was one of those who had adopted a more western culture). Saund was born in Punjab, India and came to the US to study at UC Berkeley where he received a MA and then a PhD in math. After farming and becoming a successful businessman, he became a citizen and later went on to serve two terms in Congress. Throughout his life and career, he experienced many forms of discrimination and abuse, but he was adamant about sticking to his virtues and policies.
1980s
American Converts Adopt Sikh Beliefs
Harbhajan Singh, more commonly known as Yogi Bhajan, was an entrepreneur who spread Sikh beliefs among the American population in the Midwest. He founded the 3HO or Happy, Healthy, Holy organization that combined Sikh beliefs with other Indian religious ideas. Some non-Indian people in the United States adopted these beliefs, and began practicing Sikhism beliefs in their own way. Today, there are 400 3HO centers across the country. Relations between both Punjabi and Euro-American Sikhs are friendly and in some areas both Euro-American Sikhs and Punjabi Sikhs are parts of the same religious community.
Sat Kirn Kaur Khalsa, American granthi, and her son
Photo Credit: https://pluralism.org/the-american-%E2%80%9Ccousins%E2%80%9D
1990
Anti-Sikh sentiments rise during Gulf war
During the Gulf war, Anti-Sikh sentiments increased due to the perceived similarities between the Sikh identity and the stereotypical "terrorist" image. Gurdwaras were attacked and vandalized and there was a sharp uptick in verbal and physical harassment.
2001
911 Aftermath & founding of Sikh Coalition
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, hate crimes against Sikh individuals and business rose drastically. Again due to the stereotypical portrayal of terrorists as bearded men with turbans, many Sikh people were wrongly perceived as threats and were verbally and physically attacked. One of these examples of this was the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh gas station owner. His brother, a cab driver was also shot a year later.
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Following the uptick in hate crimes, the Sikh Coalition was founded to combat Anti-Sikh views and to better educate the public. Along with other such support groups, it is a large and influential resource for Sikh Americans today.
Sikh Coalition's Logo
Photo Credit: sikhcoalition.org
Family members attend a vigil on the 1st anniversary of the shooting
Photo Credit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/08/04/oak-creek-sikh-temple-shooting/​
2012
Shooting at Oak Creek Gurdwara
On April 5, 2012, Wade Michael Page shot and killed six people at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Four more people were injured, one of whom died from their injuries later. According to the Washington Post, Page was a white supremacist and entered the Gurdwara with the motive of killing as many people as he could. He was eventually shot by police officers. This event was a traumatic incident for Sikh communities because they could no longer practice their faith without fear. In a country founded on the basis of religious freedom, Sikh people were shot and killed in their place of worship.
Present
Today, the Sikh community in the United States continues to grow and flourish despite the hate and discrimination experienced. As vital members of the American community, Sikhs are often one of the first groups to step up and serve those in need. Sikhs always strive to maintain an attitude of Chardikala, or resilient optimism because we believe that everything that happens is God's will, and God always want the best for us. Even though the Sikh community has experienced and continues to experience many challenges, with God's grace, we will continue to grow stronger together.