Indians in USA -- A Success Story
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 94 10:49:55 -0600
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Subject: [SPHS:78] Indians in America
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X-Comment: South Point High School, Calcutta, India.
The U.S. Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans issued
the following statement on October 25, 1994, regarding the economic
and political power of the Indian-Americans:
"Growing economically at a pace matched by only one other
Asian group, Indians living in America now earn more than any other
ethnic community in the United States and hence are positioned to
exercise unprecedented political influence in the upcoming
elections.
Reacting to data produced by the U.S. Census Bureau,
Democratic Representative Frank Pallone Jr., of New Jersey, the
head of the 41-member Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-
Americans said" These figures confirm what we empirically know
about Indians in America. They generally are well-educated, hard
working and at an advantage because they speak English."
"As dispersed as they are," Pallone added, Asian Americans
remain sufficiently concentrated so they can have a real impact on
certain Congressional elections. At the same time, Indians have a
great interest in politics and their impact is likely to reflect
their numbers because they are generous in supporting causes they
believe in."
Analysis of data developed by the Census Bureau shows that
there currently more than 1 million Asian Indians in America.
Between 1980 and 1990, the community grew by 125.6 percent. The
Vietnamese community, which is only three quarters the size, grew
by 134 percent during the same period.
With a mean family income of $59,777, the highest of any Asian
group in America, and with an average per capita income that is
more than 25 percent higher than the national average and second
only to Japanese Americans among all ethnic groups, Asian Indians'
economic power in America is indisputable. In 1980, Asian Indians
lagged behind both the Japanese and Filipinos in median household
income.
Further analysis of census data shows where Asian Indians'
economic power is most likely to be employed politically. While the
ethnic group is widely dispersed in America, there are populations
in excess of 50,000 in five states: California, New York, Illinois,
Texas and New Jersey.
A closer look shows significant Asian Indian populations
residing in the following metropolitan areas:
Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA 16,549
Chicago-Gary-Lake Country, IL 59,046
Dallas, Ft. Worth, TX 17,831
Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI 18,509
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX 26,559
Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA 68,887
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY 199,010
Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton 26,120
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA 35,533
In the realm of education, the Census Bureau data shows that
87.5 percent of Asian Indians in America have completed high school
with 62 percent having some college education. More than 58 percent
hold Bachelor or higher degrees, which is the highest percentage
among all Asian-American ethnic groups.
"With this high level of education, Indians in America have a
strong awareness of the manner in which political issues affect the
quality of their lives," Pallone said.
Census data shows that 14 percent of Asian Americans in
America are engaged in work related to science, medicine,
engineering, and technology. Significant percentage (19.3 percent)
also can be found in managerial, administrative, sales and teaching
positions. In fact, more than 5,000 Asian Indians currently are
faculty members at American universities.
"The contributions of Asian Indians are enormous," said
Devendra Singh, Minister for Community affairs at the Indian
Embassy in Washington, noting that two Indian Americans - Har
Gobind Khorana of the M.I.T. and Subramanyam Chandrashekhar of the
University of Chicago - have been awarded Nobel prizes, in medicine
and physics, respectively.
In certain select industries, Asian Indians have had a
particularly notable impact. It is estimated, for instance, that
about 25 percent of all small hotels and motels in America are
owned by Indian-Americans. At the same time, Asian Indians are now
significant players in the world of computer software and in
certain sectors of California's farm economy.
In the realm of politics, Asian Indians are playing an
increasing role in America. A number of American cities and towns,
including Teaneck, NJ, Hollywood Park, TX, and Burien, Wash., have
elected people of Asian American descent as mayors. A number of
Indians have also become prominent at a national level. Among those
currently serving in the Clinton Administration are the following:
Dr. Dharmendra K. Sharma, Administrator, Department of
Transportation, Ms. Arati Prabhakar, Director, National Institute
of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce; and Ms. Preeta
Bansal, counselor in the Office of the White House Counsel.
The increasing political activism of Asian Indians in America
comes out of a community that is very much centered on the family.
Only 4.5 percent of Indian-Americans households have no husband
present, and only 1.3 percent Indian-Americans households are
headed by an unmarried couple.
In summing of the recent findings from the Census Bureau,
Singh said: "Indians in the United States are quite a success
story. They are contributing on a level few other ethnic
communities have reached. They not only are educated but educating.
They work hard, believe in family values, are committed to their
children's future, and are making significant contributions
economically as well."