A TRAUMA-INFORMED EXPLORATION of ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY
PAKISTAN
"When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful."
— Malala Yousafzai
When the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was passed, a wave of Pakistani immigrants soon followed—a wave that was overwhelmingly well-educated and included physicians, engineers, and other professionals. In 2017, 31,431 Pakistani Americans lived in New Jersey, making them the fifth largest group to hail from Asia. However, their community and forefathers have faced tremendous challenges before and after coming to the United States, from political and economic instability, to the threat of terrorism and discrimination, and a long history of gender-based violence.
A mother and her children enjoy a relaxed iftar at the Shalimar Cafe in Redmond, Washington, near Seattle. The informal cafe-style restaurant specializes in traditional Pakistani dishes, and is a popular destination for local residents, including many immigrants. Taken on August 11, 2011. (CC BY 2.0)
Murtaza Zaidi is a 54-year-old Pakistani immigrant who moved to the US in 1987. For the past five years he’s been managing a small Indian/Pakistani cuisine restaurant on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. (CC BY 2.0)
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
CLICK ON AN EVENT ABOVE TO LEARN MORE...
Bangladesh Liberation War
1971
In 1971, Bengali nationalists began a violent nine-month war for independence. Not only did it end twenty-three years of Pakistani rule in East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh, it also marked the finale of the Indo-Pakistan wars. Learn more about the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Post-9/11 Violence Against Punjabi and Muslim Americans
2001-22
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, in which 19 terrorists from al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger planes in a coordinated suicide attack, hate and discrimination against Muslims in the United States spiked like never before.Learn more about the post-9/11 violence against Punjabi and Muslim Americans.
