Sikh Family Takes Precautions

Sikh Family Takes Precautions

From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter Rusty Dornin

September 26, 2001

Secret Japanese-American Mission

Background Note: Ninety-nine percent of people who wear turbans in the U.S. are Sikh Americans. But in the backlash following the terrorist attacks Sikhs have been targeted for hate crimes because of their turbans. After a Sikh man was killed in Arizona, Sikhs around the U.S. began taking precautions. One American Sikh family hasn't been targeted yet but fears the symbol of their religion may endanger the lives of their sons.

Born in the USA 8 year old Jajhaar Singh, like most American kids loves baseball. But since the attack the only place his parents will let him play is in his own backyard.

Jajhaar Singh says, "I can't play basketball; I can't play on the street; I have to be extra careful."

Extra careful because Jajhaar and his six year old brother are Sikhs. A religion formed 500 years ago in India. In public Sikh men and some women wear turbans. Turbans that often mean they are mistaken for Muslims.

Jajhaar says, "I usually say it's a turban, and we don't cut our hair because we're Sikhs, and we believe in one god."

Charon Kamel Singh says, "They look different with their little turbans and their dark skin. I just don't want anybody randomly coming by in a car either yelling out something or my big fear is shooting."

J.J. Singh says, "Right now they're not allowed out doors at all whether it be basketball or a walk in the park or going to a friend’s house."

Every day, their mother Charon meets them at school on foot and walks them to the car. Then it's off to karate or computer class. She used to run errands, now she parks herself right at the front door.

Jajhaar says, "Now she sometimes stays with us instead of going. (q) Do you know why? Yeah (why?) She's afraid somebody might shoot us or something."

At home a well-loved scooter stands idle. Bicycles hung up indefinitely. The reasons don't make sense to an 8-year-old.

Jajhaar says, "Just because they look different doesn't mean or they have a beard or something doesn't mean they're bad. Even if we were Muslim it doesn't matter if one person did it doesn't mean all Muslims are bad."

Inside four walls a family makes the best of it while sometimes imagining the worst.

Charon says, "It's claustrophobic to some extent; it's shocking; it's unnerving to imagine it's happening here with freedom of everything liberty it's scary."

For the Singhs it's the current cost of living the American dream in troubled times.

Related Websites (more information about the Sikh religion):