How South Asian Muslims and Mexican Americans United in the 1920s | American Muslims

[@danielchand944]

Thank you for the wonderful story. My grandfather, Pandit Mehar Chand, was another one of those Punjabis who moved to the U.S. and married a Mexican woman in 1919. The KKK framed him for a crime, and ultimately, he was saved from being deported by a pardon from Franklin Roosevelt.

[@kollectivelyvigilantchannel]

wow!

[@madhoney2292]

So fascinating!!

[@antoniodepaz2441]

So then your grand father just married some mexican women but that's not important, the important part is your grand father.

[@gilbertomoran9553]

Thank you for sharing. I come from the Imperial Valley where there is well documented history of Indian men who married Mexican American women and created new generations of blended families as well as fusion foods like curry enchiladas. Such rich history in regions often over looked by the country.

[@danielchand944]

@gilbertomoran9553, my grandfather lived there! :)

[@mjiqbal810]

Amazing story. Watching here in Sacramento, CA with all the comforts brought up by the struggels of these pioneers. Thank you Mir. Dad and many many other such brave and adventurous early explorers. May your souls rest in eternal peace.

[@angeltaloyo9791]

I’m a proud Filipino-American and I am proud of Mir Dad story of triumph. His story is similar to many other immigrants that came to this country encountering difficulty. His story is very inspirational.

[@Abelonee1904]

Pretty sweet. My half brother is Punjabi Mexican. I didn’t know about the Muslim Indians in California.

[@MichaelWadhwania]

@@Abelonee1904 Punjabis in California were 95% Sikhs at that time

[@dabom4479]

A lot of those Punjabis in Cali were also Muslim like Mir Dad but most were probably Sikh

[@improveself3263]

Punjabis are mostly Muslim from Pakistan

[@pakistanimuslim4431]

@@improveself3263 yes we punjabi muslims migrated to Pakistan after 1947 partition India's Punjab state has less than one percent muslim population

[@improveself3263]

@@pakistanimuslim4431 there is Punjab in Pakistan. Largest part of Punjab is Pakistan. people need to learn that punjabs aren’t just Sikhs. Punjabis are Muslims aswel are the third largest Muslim ethnic group

[@Blocxthef]

What a fascinating story! As a Pakistani myself i am considering moving to Mexico! Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met! Y he perfeccionado mi español

[@Monchis181-he3fy]

Muy bien hermano.

[@Coldgeiser]

Where to ?

[@mohammadalipe730]

A wonderful story of Mir Dad, a true pioneer. Those of us who are of South Asian Muslim heritage, the story of Mir Dad and all the early Muslims, gives us something to be proud off. Thank you PBS and Asma Khalid.

[@youngmasterzhi]

Mir Dad may be a mere dad, but he is truly the father of all non-white communities in Arizona!

[@reginaldblack8326]

@ Why is "south asian" said instead of the specific country? Are people not proud to proclaim Afghanistan Pakistan Nepal India Bangladesh Bhutan Burma ?

[@MariaNI-yf1bz]

​@@reginaldblack8326yes, that too. But also this "color" thing i hear passing by; as a non American Euro muslim i dont understand this devision of humans on the basis of color. For me this sounds strange in a way that it helps the elite.

[@MariaNI-yf1bz]

​​​@@youngmasterzhiwhy this deviding people into color and the rest? I thought this was about a muslim(as a follower of Islam) community. Islam is for all of humanity, regardless background, erhnicgroup and/or phenotype.

[@anahaqq]

@@MariaNI-yf1bz Your Punjabi people say Sikh religion is for all humanity.

[@YaseenAsc]

Great story. Salute to Mir Dad, who braved and kept his faith. May Allah bless his soul.

[@JackFrost-u6f]

Ameen.

[@Marvee78]

How fascinating. Never knew there were desi latinos in the 1920s

[@kem1233]

Notice there is no mention of latino men

[@wewenang5167]

@@kem1233 well this segments was about Muslims immigrants...of course no Latino men were involve. He married his wife when he went to Mexico. PBS is not a Mexican tv program.

[@Guest-c8e]

Pak not desi

[@alannahprestaynofbraavos5759]

@@kem1233 during this time period only men were coming from South Asia (they also were on the East Coast) and at that time they were here illegally, so of course they married local women wherever they were. Hence no Latino men, because there were no South Asian women coming over.

[@igcsestudent6756]

Nosuch thing as desi

[@7-Aniya]

The first Muslim who arrived, early 1527, in what later became USA was a man from North Africa.

[@michaelorr2628]

Abu Bakr came before Columbus

[@SheksgemWhepdo]

@@michaelorr2628 ?

[@Blochr379]

@@michaelorr2628no it was a morrocan and he was a guide for spanish settlers in florida

[@Blochr379]

Also many muslims american came as slaves

[@Aymen7MA]

The history didn't start when European arrived ​@@michaelorr2628

[@jso6790]

This is a beautiful story! Mir Dad lived such a long life, too, 95 years (based on his tombstone)! Funny enough, I have darker-skinned Puerto Rican friends (I'm a light-skinned Boricua), who have been approached by South Asian people speaking Hindi or Urdu, because they appear to be part of the community. It just goes to show how arbitrary these racial lines really are.

[@ShalomShock]

What a beautiful story.

[@behuman3801]

He must have been such a humble Muslim that we see it in his granddaughters and family today Maya Allah Grant him the best in this life and the hereafter Ameen

[@muslim_first]

South Asian Muslims are Pakistanis Bangladeshis and Indian Muslims for those who don't know there are also lots of Muslims in the South Asian island country Maldives too there are some Muslims in Sri Lanka and Nepal as well they are South Asian Muslims as well

[@MichaelWadhwania]

Pakistanis never came to America until 2010

[@muslim_first]

@@MichaelWadhwania New York Coney island known as little Pakistan had a large Pakistani population since 80s

[@MichaelWadhwania]

@@muslim_first not that large. Most came after 2001, check the census reports

[@muslim_first]

@@MichaelWadhwania In 2021 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there were 629,946 U.S. residents of Pakistani descent, an increase from 409,163 at the 2010 Census. Some studies estimate the Pakistani population to be much higher, and in 2005, the Embassy of Pakistan in the U.S. found that the population exceeded 700,000. That number can not all come in just one decade

[@malikahmad8170]

Sikhs from East Punjab also came in the same time and mostly settled in and around Sacramento

[@aytira1829]

Thank you for sharing ! Very insightful!

[@aneebaba06]

Just watched this with my Amma. Amazing history - needs to be taught in schools. Thank you Asma for this extra special episode for us South Asians.

[@Fawn123]

Thank you PBS for your telling of untold history.

[@onurturhal6814]

WoW, As a Turkish american this hit me different.

[@Theman802]

Quite interesting piece of history. Thanks.

[@michaelreyes744]

What an amazing man. RIP.

[@jabsdrahm.3232]

Mexicans and Latino's are the best and warmest people, they share a similar culture to us South Asians

[@AbdiAneed]

Mexicans do not share any culture with South Asians, what? They're Spanish people You're eastern people

[@jabsdrahm.3232]

@@AbdiAneed Love of spicy food, love of extended family... p.s. you left out people who are natives not all are Spanish .

[@hashirasad2599]

Idk but I refer to Punjabis as Latinos of South Asia

[@seldomsceen]

All people directly from their native land are that way. Most immigrants are humble and stick together. It's not unique to South Asians or "Latinos"

[@DA-wg5cz]

@@jabsdrahm.3232 Nope. Mexicans share more in common whit Chinese, Japananese in culture and food. India its their own thin. Maybe just Colombia and brazil are similiar whit india.

[@autumn7809]

Man, I adore Arizona. Even if our government has always been a mess, we have such a rich and precious history. Perhaps I'll pay Mr Dad's grave a visit.

[@motube5]

A breathtaking and eye opening story for a young Pakistani immigrant!

[@rhs8874]

Wonderful video which needs to be shared widely.

[@javedmohammed6079]

Thank you Asma and PBS for capturing this wonderful history.

[@syedsaqibaftab19]

Love this story! Thanks for covering.

[@mev-s71]

Such fascinating history! Thank you for reporting on this

[@irfan_b5186]

story of Mr Mir Dad is so inspiring specially for those who migrate from their native land to pasture new.. how he integrated so modestly without really imposing his cultural and personal beliefs yet kept true to hi nativeness throughout his life .. being a migrant myself i will sure to learn from the life if this wonderful person.. peace 🙏

[@CatJuarez]

What a wonderful Documentary of History! Thank you... especially because some elders of certain people won't tell this History

[@tariqmehmood6759]

The place which Mir Dad belonged to in British- Indian Punjab is today’s Burhan in Attock District of Pakistani Punjab province.

[@acchazro101]

Ur right 15 miles from my in attock City.....I new Mr. Dad and his family in Arizona..

[@tariqmehmood6759]

Tussi ta fer girain o na g

[@maciejgronowski]

Wallahi Adhim! EVERY episode of Muslims history in America series makes me cry! I understand their struggle - as a Polish Muslim immigrant living in England since I was 17! I hope you're doing an episode about officially registered mosque in New York, and as far as I know first officially registered mosque in the USA (although some unregistered mosques existed. This mosque was started by Tatar Muslims immigrants from Eastern Poland (region which is today mostly Western Belarus) in New York - specifically 106 Powers Street Brooklyn. It was started in 1931 and still operates today- Alhamdulillah!!! Insha Allah we can pray two rakaat of salah in there one day! 🙏

[@Jayjay1lm]

Ameen Akhi 🤲🏾

[@allee3476]

Thank you for sharing that. Jazak Allah Khair.

[@norama3998]

جزاك الله خيرا على معلوماتك كإضافة مفيدة لغيرك

[@ummiramli6554]

Aamiin3

[@MeOfficialJoy]

That is amazing. I love how the more we learn the history of early Muslims in America, the more we find out more!

[@sswwaaf]

Roots in the sand is a great documentary about sikh and one muslim pioneer in el centro california one was my great grand father and grand father

[@kausamsalam8543]

Fascinating. Alhumdullilah 💜🌴🌴🌴 Quranic Wisdom: “We created you from Nations and Tribes so that you could get to know one another, not despise each other. The best of you (humans) are the most Pious of you (humans). Alhumdullilah 🌻

[@porothashawarma2339]

If you really only wanted to get to know each other , then you would stop converting others to your so called truth lol

[@francisd3740]

Stop asking for shariah

[@Mohmee88]

@@porothashawarma2339 it's never forced. just beacuse people choose to REvert doesn't mean it's a bad thing. shame on you.

[@t4nveer]

​@@francisd3740how does shariah affect you? You're only focused on the a part of shariah. There is so much more. It's not about chopping off hands (which has strict conditions btw). It's more of a guidance for how to live your life as a Muslim. Most people are already living their lives according to shariah without any impact to the laws of the land and to those around them...ie pray, don't steal, don't harm neighbours, give to charity, provide for your family. Please read up before making ill informed statements.

[@pulsefirefitness]

​@@francisd3740Sharia means law. You are against laws?

[@ramirami5466]

A Wonderful Story Of Mr. MIR DAD

[@RurallSoull]

It's not Borham, it's Burhan, a town near District Attock, western Punjab. I knew He'll be Punjabi because of His peculiar name. Punjab never had been religiously polarised as it's now. Though there weren't interreligious marriages but it was very open. After Partition and post Zia era is a nightmare that won't be forgotten.

[@KHAN.S_Ali_Khan]

That's what I thought aswell, it's Burhan, a town in Attock(old name Campbellpur) District of Punjab, Pakistan, the name Mir Dad is kind of a clue of someone belonging to this region!. There were lots of young men from this region working on Ships who jumped their ships in different parts of the world and later married local women either to get the citizenship or to start the family. You find people in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and UK who are descendants of the people who went there on ships and then left the ship to work on ports or find other jobs in the country. There is a video on KZbin regarding another person, Zarif Khan, from this region from village Barra, Hazro region of Attock, came here at very young age and then in Sherridan Wyoming.

[@RurallSoull]

@KHAN.S_Ali_Khan Yes. There was meager migration from subcontinent during colonial era. However it boomed after Partition.

[@hamna5485]

Wow I had no idea of this story. Thank you

[@motube5]

You’re right! Neither did I! But I’m glade to know this life changing information.

[@fantasme26]

Alot of Pashtuns settled in East Africa and married the local women there as there were no Pashtun women in Africa.

[@AtlAmy]

Thanks for sharing this history! 😊

[@lorascelsi8102]

Little Syria was in Boston, Washington Street NYC, Brooklyn, Detroit, El Paso, Iowa, all around the 1920s.

[@AbdiAneed]

The two do not have much in common however I am seeing a rise of British Pakistani boxers coming to train in LA gyms filled with Mexican boxers. Hamzah Sheeraz is being trained by Ricky.

[@midwestairway]

Stories like this is why we keep fighting for our country and why we love it.

[@AustrianPainter14]

What country?

[@malikahmad8170]

I believe I heard one Pakistani family now owns lots of hotel, restaurant in Wyoming.

[@razwana500]

Who would’ve known! Enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@maryamsukaynah559]

Amazing story❤

[@youtubeaccount5356]

Mexicans always help everyone.

[@AhJodie]

19:19 looks like a UFO! This is a wonderful story, thank you so much to the family for sharing this information, and to those who made this video!

[@PakGerman]

Mir Dad might belongs to "Burhan" District Attock of Punjab, Pakistan, and apparently while typing his details in 1920 it was wrongly entererd as "Borham" (at 3:52), as physical features and the name matches in accordance with the people of "District Attock".

[@angels_besties]

Wow, I enjoyed this soo much.

[@paulines581]

Thank you.Interesting. This makes perfect sense on so many levels 🤔

[@shwanpalani9673]

Great story

[@hamzahanifmsg]

Beautiful story

[@HudSan-i5e]

Wow what a story of life of an immigrant ❤

[@IvanIvanoIvanovich]

Punjabi people of all faiths have been farming in California longer than my family has. Kind and generous people who value education, hard work, family and community. Our country is richer because of them.

[@julesotis13]

thanks for this attempt in spite of threats against y'all to combat the glowing ignorance of our current society...ain't nobody coming for my PBS unless they wanna big battle...loud mouths... anyway great piece PBS

[@khaledahmed2847]

Once again, excellent work!

[@katieydiddkatieydidd7269]

It is fascinating to learn this history that I never knew. Our schools don't teach this information.

[@gardenandhobbies1414]

What is South Asia? I am pretty sure in 1920 no one was called by this name.

[@rice4550]

It's a geographical term former British Raj territory is labelled south Asia because it's in South Asia same as why a Chinese person is labelled East Asian or a French person western European

[@gardenandhobbies1414]

Imagine making an example out of Chinese and French here. No one use those obscure words for them unless describing some genetic characteristics. British ruled Indian subcontinent , they literally portioned that country. All contemporary journals call it India. South Asia is new term for erasing that identity. Better call erstwhile India. Call him Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Indian for better identity. What does it even mean as South Asia where all those countries have different culture, religion and traditions now.

[@tylerphuoc2653]

@@gardenandhobbies1414 you cannot be saying that India has but one culture, are you? "South Asian" is one of the most logically delineated regional partitions of the Asian continent ever, with modern Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and even Myanmar having their lands once controlled by the British Raj.

[@gardenandhobbies1414]

@ go back to the term Indica on which European based India during Ancient Greece rule. What Alexander touched was also India which is currently Pakistan and parts of Afganistan. We all know about Bangladesh which was again part of India as East Bengal and was divided by British. Hence South Asia is new geopolitical term coined for western academics denies the historical basis of Indian subcontinent, a completely meaning less term.

[@tylerphuoc2653]

@@gardenandhobbies1414 literally didn't mention Myanmar despite it also being colonized by the British in a similar power structure to the Raj

[@pinkworld9384]

Yuba City California the birthplace of Punjabi-Mexican culture! The first marriage was recorded in 1916.

[@patiyer4134]

Wonderful story.

[@medusagorgon9]

Thank you for covering this subject. This is wonderful. I truly believe there is only one race and it is human. But unfortunately, I can already see how the next few years will play out.💔 People will be blocked from immigrating to America, have their citizenship revoked and/or deported. I pray that I am wrong! As there is a place here for all people.

[@mscommerce]

They were called Mexican-Hindus, at time ("Hindu" being the generic term for South Asians, a century ago.) Most were actually Sikh, not Muslims, though all religions from South Asia were represented. In that, the title is misleading. One of my close friends in graduate school was a grandson of a "Mexican-Hindu" though his grandfather was actually Sikh, and his dad was raised Catholic by his Mexican mother.

[@spacer567]

fantastic documentarry my father left pakistan to come to the uk like many generations before them

[@ZeeshanAli-zy6fq]

I am also live in burhan Punjab and he is my grand parents 💕💕

[@Manas-zg4fe]

Very informative

[@mangoesyum]

this is fascinating, this could be how the bandana became such a staple of Mexican fashion

[@azborderlands]

No. We got it from our indigenous ancestors.

[@mangoesyum]

@ bandana means “to tie” in pakistani and north indian languages, that’s where the scarf originated from

[@MeOfficialJoy]

@@azborderlands I think they mean the word.

[@mansooraqureshi2696]

May be lack of money pushed these People to migrate to this part of the World. India was ruled by British, so the conditions of general people must have been dire.....So started the economic migrations.....

[@stevedavis3775]

Great information

[@ginaj5427]

This is cool my husband is South Indian and I’m Mexican

[@BillMice]

Is he Muslim

[@AliKhan-rk3ce]

These men were from modern day Pakistan. Punjabis and Pashtuns mostly. In Australia the camaliers were from Pashtun, Punjabi and Baloch. Mir Ali was from burhan which is in Pakistan today.

[@Guest-c8e]

It was just pakistani not jeets

[@AbdiAneed]

Not even that

[@MuhammadAbdullah-LGK]

Mir dad hail from the area burhan part of district attock punjab.they are very brave and hard working plateaue people who are regarded as best soldiers among punjabis of british raj and very adventrous and go gettter type of people .if i would had got a chance in that times i would have done the same.😊

[@zak46]

Yuba City, CA is full of South Asian Muslims.

[@abelardochavez3426]

Immigration from Mexico to the United States???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 no way! Immigration from Europe to Mexico , we have always been here

[@diazda05]

As a latino i almost died of laughter when i heard the guys name!!

[@isabel11ize]

You don´t remember that Arizona´s land was part of Mexico, Then who emigrated first...

[@moenierahs6886]

Lopez is a surname and family that stemmed from Andalusia Spain. Theyr origin was Muslim, Arab and Spanish.

[@sdgdasgupta8858]

Excellent documentary! Pre war immigration around the world is fascinating indeed.

[@ummiramli6554]

Thank you for sharing Muslim community from different eras, countries in USA. I am very interested to know more and intrigued. I am a Muslim in Singapore. My parents emigrated here from Indonesia. Met in Singapore and got married. I hope to visit USA and a few masjids in USA. The only oldest masjid I knew that was over 100 years old is in Iowa and was turned jnto a Museum with history of anything Islam during that period I think. Malays from Asia who were seafarers came to America before WW2. I read in our local newspaper in 1980s, about 1 of them who married a Peruvian lady but didn't withhold the Islam religion. He was young then and didn't practice Islam. He only started practicing in his old age (60s/70s I think). He said it was too late to pull his wife, children and grandchildren to Islam. I felt sad when I read this. May Allah SWT have mercy on him. InSyaa'Allah.

[@softlyspiritual]

Allahumma sali ala Sayydina Mohammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma3in

[@ilhambakhti1345]

Amazing

[@o_nazim]

Such a beautiful and important story to tell in a time when history is trying to be white-washed. Keep on telling these rich stories!

[@tripledair]

2:03 the way she pronounced Bismillah.

[@FlyTrue]

Is there a problem

[@tripledair]

@FlyTrue no. It's just clear that she's not a practicing Muslim.

[@enacausmembrane]

@@FlyTrue No Normal muslim says Bismillah like that.

[@Mindfulconsience]

@@tripledair Have you watched the beautiful story and came away with just that judgment? Please let’s be compassionate towards each other, as that is the Islamic thing to do.

[@FlyTrue]

@@Mindfulconsiencerepent & return to your Father ✝️✝️✝️

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Wow this is truly interesting.

[@The1ByTheSea]

Sikhs,Mexican,Portugueses ,including Azoreans and Madeirans,Capo Verdeans,Greeks,Italians and Okies were working the California agriculture .

[@IvanIvanoIvanovich]

Don't forget the Japanese, Volga Germans, Armenians and Filipinos. ✌️

[@onarmir5909]

Hello frome Milan. Mir

[@cruellaindrodeville2478]

He was Punjabi, and Punjabi were in America since late 1800s and early 1900 hundreds, but u want separate him by religion then don’t know. I have proof of my great grandfather who was Punjabi being in California in 1910 and he was here fews prior.

[@archiec8391]

So? It’s not a competition

[@cruellaindrodeville2478]

@ it about incorrect information about how long people been here

[@منیب_آرائیں]

When Mir Dad Migrated to USA back in 1917, Panjab was United. The Earliest Migration of Panjabis to USA either Muslims, Sikhs or Hindus occured back in 19th Century.

[@t.s.d.1376]

This looks like a not so subtle jab at Trump's deportation plans. And the "gross evils" of family separation.

[@syke9747]

Salam alaekum

[@jubileepup]

Alaekum asalam

[@Bela-g2z]

There was nothing called south Asia till 1980's, it was a new term by pax Pakistan to alienate from Indian root. It was call Indian subcontinent

[@cngreen2950]

Tesekkurler 🇹🇷🌷🌹❤️

[@Leeniebean]

VOCAL FRY!!! 😩 CAN'T LISTEN

[@helmgroup6535]

Possible WD Fard origin Story

[@JackFrost-u6f]

His would also be an interesting story. I find his mugshot for ‘assault’ amusing! He delivered a great message to the black community however it was eventually distorted (although Malcolm X brought the truth back later on shortly before he was killed).

[@HusseinAliRifath]

Yeah it’s pretty likely that WD Fard came to the US like that

[@1223steffen]

awesome

[@bork909]

9:00 how we havent changed since then.

[@kiingisking]

Punjabis and mexicans union make more sense as muslim is a religion not a ethnicity just like mexican is not a religion.

[@improveself3263]

U just said a whole bunch of nothing. Punjabis are Muslim also

[@slightlyopinionated8107]

yet if you ask the children they would identify more with being mexican and Muslim than being mexican and punjabi

[@subbejanat2194]

American muslim ❤

[@KryCaNe]

Human decency, human dignity and a human need for belonging.

[@Kellshamsaldiin]

I have watched every entry into this series thus far and while each video has provided insightful perspectives on the subjects they’ve presented, I do find the overall focus of this series much too focused on race. Thematically, this series is basically just reiterating current ideological identity politics ad nauseum. I have no qualms with Critical Race Theory as a pedagogical approach whatsoever, however not all history has to be told through a lense of race. Especially religious history. Religious peoples, across history, most often posit themselves as transcending ethnic and racial boundaries in pursuit of the Divine and to diminish that aspect of religious peoples’ history is an immense disrespect and disservice. Let us not forget what the final sermon of the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, addressed.

[@susmitbhai]

May Allah grant him Jannah 🤲🏽

[@GillianWitherow]

Having been raised in Apartheid South Africa, I am shocked to hear such disdain by the American people toward people of color back in those days. It is quite literally disheartening and disturbing that those "whites" thought that way, and likely still do, some of them.