Reflecting on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, noted non-profit leader, health activist, and public servant Sarah Batchu shared a personal essay in the Indian American Impact PAC’s forum detailing the complex realities of growing up of mixed heritage—with an Indian father and a Jewish mother—in the United States.
The Shifting Landscape of Childhood and Belonging
Impact of 9/11: Twenty-five years ago, the tragedy of September 11th brought shared national grief, followed by an immediate fallout where being Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, or South Asian often marked individuals as suspects in their own country.
Childhood Realization: Growing up in a white, Christian suburb, Batchu assumed her family was just like everyone else until the day of the attacks, when a schoolmate mocked her about planes hitting buildings and introduced her to the climate of blame at seven years old.
Encounters with Profiling: During a family trip to India that December through the Frankfurt airport, Batchu experienced firsthand what it felt like to be viewed as a threat when her stepmom and father were surrounded by plastic-gloved security personnel and her pink backpack was searched.
Social Stigmatization: Later, at a family wedding, a hurtful remark from a peer comparing her father to a terrorist left a lasting mark, prompting her to wonder why “God Bless America” signs everywhere did not seem to include her.
Embracing Difference and Public Service
Desire for Assimilation: In the years following 9/11, Batchu tried to blend in by straightening her hair, avoiding being picked up from school by her father, and asking for laser hair removal in an attempt to make herself feel safe by being less different.
Finding Community in New York: Moving to New York for college and discovering the Lower East Side allowed her to find a neighborhood of diverse backgrounds sharing space, where difference felt like a strength rather than something to hide.
A Journey to Leadership: Finding acceptance in her unique identity ultimately led her to run for public office with the support of Indian American Impact, arriving at a perspective where, twenty-five years later, she recognizes her difference and likes it.
