When considering that most communities view interracial relationships different from those that are not within their own, it can be found that the view on interracial relationships in the communities within the South Asian diaspora is shaped around the specific values and morals put upon the women. These specific morals and values were placed upon women overtime by the kinship and communities within the South Asian diaspora. Considering the movie, Mississippi Masala, features a relationship between Demetrius, an African American, and Mina, a Ugandan Indian, it can be used to explore the South Asian diaspora view on interracial relationship. The movie includes a very close South Asian diaspora community. The community looked down upon Mina
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Considering the women are the “upholders of tradition”, it would make sense that Mina’s mother would disapprove of her interracial relationship considering it would be breaking tradition. Additionally, the quote states the women’s job is to maintain her home, and allowing Mina to date interracially would not be maintaining her home. Allowing Mina to date interracially would be breaking the tradition of dating within the community, and she would not be upholding the specific morals and values women are held to. This can also be seen towards the beginning of the movie. In the beginning, an important statement was made towards Mina. Mina acted in a way that was disappointing to the elders within her community initiating the proclamation of the statement, “she’s a women they do not know how to act”. With this, the idea that women were less than men developed. When considering that women are less than men, the formation of specific values and morals put upon them is to be expected. Another idea viewpoint of interracial dating was also developed in Mississippi Masala due to these specific values and morals. Once the community found out about the relationship between Mina and Demetrius, they began to gossip about Mina and her relationship with a “black” as they called him. This negative connotation of the word “black” reveals that the community saw this race as much different than them. With this, interracial relationship can be viewed as a rebellious. This view on interracial relationships was further supported once Mina ran away with Demetrius at the end of the move ultimately turning into a
Considering the women are the “upholders of tradition”, it would make sense that Mina’s mother would disapprove of her interracial relationship considering it would be breaking tradition. Additionally, the quote states the women’s job is to maintain her home, and allowing Mina to date interracially would not be maintaining her home. Allowing Mina to date interracially would be breaking the tradition of dating within the community, and she would not be upholding the specific morals and values women are held to. This can also be seen towards the beginning of the movie. In the beginning, an important statement was made towards Mina. Mina acted in a way that was disappointing to the elders within her community initiating the proclamation of the statement, “she’s a women they do not know how to act”. With this, the idea that women were less than men developed. When considering that women are less than men, the formation of specific values and morals put upon them is to be expected. Another idea viewpoint of interracial dating was also developed in Mississippi Masala due to these specific values and morals. Once the community found out about the relationship between Mina and Demetrius, they began to gossip about Mina and her relationship with a “black” as they called him. This negative connotation of the word “black” reveals that the community saw this race as much different than them. With this, interracial relationship can be viewed as a rebellious. This view on interracial relationships was further supported once Mina ran away with Demetrius at the end of the move ultimately turning into a