Sikhism in the United States explained

Group:Sikhism in the United States
Pop:~280,000–500,000
of the total American population (2020 est.)
Langs:American EnglishPunjabi
Flag Size:50px

American Sikhs form the country's sixth-largest religious group.[1] While the U.S. Census does not ask about religion,[2] 70,697 Americans (or of the total population) declared Sikh as their ethnicity in the 2020 census.[3] The U.S. Census Bureau cites the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey's estimate of the adult Sikh American population at 78,000.[4] The Pew Research Center estimated the Sikh American adult population to be 140,000 and the total population at 200,000 in 2012 while the World Religion Database at Boston University estimated the American Sikh population to be at 280,000 in 2012.[4] [5] Sikh organizations like the Sikh Coalition and American Sikh Congressional Caucus estimate the Sikh American population to be as high as 1,000,000, but do not provide any sources for these figures;[6] [7] [5] 500,000 nevertheless remains the most cited Sikh American population size.[8] With 1% of Asian Americans being Sikh, and 90.7% of Sikh Americans being Asian American, the American Sikh population can be estimated at around 200,000–300,000 in 2021.[9] [10] [11] The largest Sikh populations in the U.S. are found in California (52%), New York (11%), and Washington (6%).[12]

Sikhism is a religion, originating from medieval India (predominantly from the Punjab region of modern-day India and Pakistan) which was introduced into the United States during the 19th century. While most American Sikhs are Punjabi, the United States also has a number of non-Punjabi converts to Sikhism.[13] Sikh men are typically identifiable by their unshorn beards and turbans (head coverings), articles of their faith. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and subsequent other terrorism related activities by Islamic groups, Sikhs have often been mistaken as Muslims or Arabs, and have been subject to several hate crimes, including murders.[14] [15] Sikh temples have also been targets of violence due to being mistaken for mosques. A 2012 shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin garnered national and international attention, with then President Obama ordering flags to be half-staffed at all federal buildings.

History

First immigrants

Sikhs have lived in the United States for more than 130 years. The first Sikh immigrants to the United States started to arrive in the second half of the 19th century, when poor economic conditions in British India drove many Indians to emigrate elsewhere. Most Sikh immigrants to the United States came from the province of Punjab and came to the U.S. to work on agricultural farms in California, travelling via Hong Kong to Angel Island.[16]

In the years just after 1900, hundreds of Sikhs had arrived to work in the lumber mills of Bellingham, Washington. In 1907, 400–500 white men, predominantly members of the Asiatic Exclusion League, attacked the Sikhs' homes in what is now known as the Bellingham riots. This quickly drove the East Indian immigrants out of the town.[17] [18] [19]

Some Sikhs worked in lumber mills of Oregon or in railroad construction and for some Sikhs it was on a railway line, which allowed other Sikhs who were working as migrant laborers to come into the town on festival days.[20]

A big effect on Sikh migration to the western states occurred during World War I and World War II, where Sikhs were recruited by the British Indian Army to serve for them. Sikhs fought bravely during these wars and began to live in England after their serving period. Among the Sikhs who already lived in America prior to the wars, many Sikhs joined them, mainly during World Wars I and II. Among those who served in the US military include Bhagat Singh Thind in World War I.

The first Sikh gurdwara established in the U.S. was the Gurdwara Sahib Stockton, in Stockton, California, which was established in 1912 by Wasakha Singh Dadehar and Jawala Singh.[21]

Discrimination after the September 11 attacks

As a result of the September 11 attacks, some Sikh Americans have become subject to discrimination, often from individuals who mistakenly believe that they are Arab or Muslim.

Balbir Singh Sodhi, a gas station owner, was killed on September 15, 2001, due to being mistaken for a Muslim. In a 2011 report to the United States Senate, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported several assaults and incidents of arson at Sikh temples after September 11. All were labeled as hate crimes that resulted from the perpetrators' misconceptions that their targets were Muslim.[22] In August 2012, a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, was the site of a shooting, leading to six Sikh individuals being killed.[23] On May 7, 2013, an elderly Sikh man was attacked with an iron bar in Fresno, California, in a possible hate crime.[24] On September 21, 2013, Prabhjot Singh, a Sikh professor was attacked in Harlem, New York, by a group of 20-30 men who branded him as "Osama bin Laden" and Terrorist".[25]

A 2007 survey of Sikh students by the Sikh Coalition found that three out of four male students interviewed "had been teased or harassed on account of their religious identity."[26] In 2014, the Sikh Coalition released a national report on the bullying of Sikh children in American schools. The report found that 55.8% of Sikh students surveyed in Indianapolis reported being bullied, while 54.5% of Sikh students surveyed in Fresno, California, reported being bullied.[27] According to the surveys, Sikh students wearing turbans are twice as likely to be bullied as the average American child.

Converts

In the 1960s, due to increased Indian immigration and rising interest in Indian spirituality in the American counterculture, a number of non-Punjabi Americans began to enter 3HO. Prominent in this trend was Yogi Bhajan, leader of the Sikh-related movement 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization), whose Los Angeles temple was the first to introduce non-Punjabi Americans to Sikhism.[13]

Demography

Generation status

Most American Sikhs are immigrants.

Sikh American generation status (2020)
Generation status2020[28]
First generation163,992
Second generation100,638
Third generation or more15,979
Total280,329

Occupations

Bhagat Singh Thind v. United States

See main article: Sikhism in the United States military. Sikhs have served in the United States military at least as far back as the early 20th century, when one Bhagat Singh Thind, who though not a citizen joined the United States Army and served in World War I. Thind requested citizenship at the end of the war, being granted and revoked twice, before finally being naturalized in 1936.[29] Far larger numbers of Sikhs served in World War II, and all American wars following.

The ability of observant Sikhs to serve in the American military has, since 1985, been compromised by a discontinuation of exemptions to uniform standards which previously allowed Sikhs to maintain their religiously mandated beards and turbans while in uniform.[30] As of 2010, a Sikh doctor, Kamaljeet S. Kalsi, and dentist, Tejdeep Singh Rattan, are the only Sikh officers to be permitted to serve in uniform with beard and turban.[31] In addition, Simranpreet Lamba was permitted to enlist, with exemption to wear his turban and beard, in 2010 due to his knowledge of Punjabi and Hindi.[32]

Military

In the federal appeals court in Washington, a preliminary injunction allowed two Sikh men to enter the military recruit training wearing a turban as it was considered an article of religion. The military recruits Milaap Singh Chahal and Jaskirat Singh sued the Marine Corps in April 2022 due to violation of the first amendment which allows the freedom of religion. The branch that they were a part of declined full religious exemption.[33]

Policing

In 2016, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) began to allow turbans, subject to standards compatible with unimpeded performance of duty.[34] In 2015, Sandeep Dhaliwal became the first Deputy Sheriff in Texas to wear a turban on duty (Harris County Sherriff's Office). He was shot and killed from behind in 2019 while conducting a routine traffic stop on the Copperbrook subdivision in Houston Texas.[35]

In 2019, the Houston Police Department changed their rules to allow beards and turbans, joining 25 other law enforcement agencies.[36]

Professionals

Many Sikhs started life in America working in lumber mills, mines, and as farm laborers, with many eventually becoming landowners. Many early Sikh immigrants were restaurant owners. In 1956, Dalip Singh Saund became the first Asian Indian-born person to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Today, many Sikhs are well represented in white-collar positions such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, and businesspeople. They are considered to be a successful ethnic group in line with most of the Indian community. The community has a higher level of education, as over 53% have received a bachelor's degree compared to 40% of the general population. This is also reflected in terms of income as over 75% of the community earns over $50,000 and over two-thirds of the population have incomes over $100,000.[37]

Elected officials

Geographical distribution

Over half of American Sikhs live in California. Most of California's Sikh population live in NorCal, especially in the Central Valley and the Bay Area. The nation's largest Sikh population is in California's Central Valley, where Punjabi is the third most spoken language after only English and Spanish.[45] Sikhs can found across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, but the largest concentrations can be found in the valley's largest cities (Sacramento in the Sacramento Valley and Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley), and in smaller communities associated with the farming of almonds, peaches, walnuts, and plums. There are also significant concentrations of Sikh Americans in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and in the Bay Area near San Jose, California and Fremont, California.

In the Sacramento Valley, Yuba City and Live Oak have prominent Sikh populations, with the first Sikh arriving in Yuba City in 1906.[46] In 2020, Yuba City was home to around 10,000 Sikhs (~15% of the city's population), while Live Oak was home to around 700 Sikhs (~8% of the city's population), with most of these being Sikhs. Sutter County, California as a whole is home to around 11,000 Sikhs (~11% of the county population); this makes Sutter County the most proportionally Sikh county in America. Down south in the San Joaquin Valley, Livingston is home to around 2,500 Sikhs (~17% of the city's population); Livingston is the most proportionally Sikh municipality in America.

The New York metropolitan area also has a significant Sikh American presence. Around 19,000 Sikhs live in New York City, with around 18,000 in Queens. The Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens is often referred to as "Little Punjab" due to its large Punjabi population. In 2020, the stretch of 101st Avenue between 111th and 123rd streets in Richmond Hill was renamed Punjab Avenue (ਪੰਜਾਬ ਐਵੇਨਿਊ) and the stretch of 97th Avenue between Lefferts Boulevard and 117th Street was renamed Gurdwara Street.[47] [48] Outside of the city, the suburbs of Hicksville in Long Island and Carteret in Central Jersey have significant Punjabi populations. In 2020, Carteret was home to around 3,000 Sikhs (~12% of the borough's population) while Hicksville was home to around 2,000 (~5% of the hamlet's population).

Outside of California and the New York metropolitan area, there are significant populations of Punjabi Sikhs in Washington, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina. There is also a concentration of non-Punjabi converts to Sikhism in Española, New Mexico.[49]

States and territories

Sikh Americans by state or territory (2020)
State or territorySikh aloneSikh alone or in any combinationTotal Sikh population (DERIVED ESTIMATE)
Alabama2941163
Alaska3416
Arizona4035492,177
Arkansas2246182
California25,03736,975146,614
Colorado2233341,324
Connecticut2603591,424
Delaware6988349
District of Columbia71975
Florida4215952,359
Georgia3905482,173
HawaiiN/AN/A00
Idaho81144
Illinois8401,2835,087
Indiana1,2831,7186,812
Iowa3361242
Kansas99174690
Kentucky2546182
Louisiana5686341
MaineN/AN/A2391
Maryland7341,0124,013
Massachusetts4526002,379
Michigan9811,4655,809
Minnesota74115456
Mississippi77116460
Missouri75131519
Montana0416
Nebraska4728
Nevada1472821,118
New Hampshire1436143
New Jersey2,7153,88815,417
New Mexico1837147
New York5,5877,94331,496
North Carolina2063611,431
North DakotaN/AN/A00
Ohio5698873,517
Oklahoma4248190
Oregon2042851,130
Pennsylvania7591,0984,354
Puerto RicoN/AN/A00
Rhode IslandN/AN/A312
South Carolina4297385
South Dakota014
Tennessee4873289
Texas1,9182,71810,777
Utah6292365
Vermont3312
Virginia1,1571,7136,792
Washington3,0024,36717,316
West Virginia6728
Wisconsin1853561,412
WyomingN/AN/A312
United States48,32170,697280,329

Counties

Sikh Americans by county (2020)
Sikh aloneSikh alone or in any combinationTotal Sikh population (DERIVED ESTIMATE)
Fresno California3,6035,29721,004
Queens New York3,1104,45617,669
San Joaquin California2,7584,02615,964
Sacramento California2,5954,01515,920
Alameda California2,5823,68914,628
Santa Clara California2,2003,07812,205
King Washington2,0032,90011,499
Sutter California1,9902,81211,150
Kern California1,3952,2078,751
Nassau New York1,4322,1378,474
Los Angeles California1,1171,7106,781
Stanislaus California1,0581,5956,325
Middlesex New Jersey1,1221,5536,158
Contra Costa California8391,3045,171
Merced California6991,0274,072
Placer California5368593,406
Harris Texas6068363,315
Orange California5557813,097
Riverside California4336712,661
San Bernardino California4096302,498
Collin Texas4276182,451
Solano California4526142,435
Fairfax Virginia4365712,264
Wayne Michigan3595582,213
Bergen New Jersey4175532,193
Maricopa Arizona3935432,153
Johnson Indiana4035342,117
Loudoun Virginia3435242,078
Cook Illinois3285202,062
Snohomish Washington3134921,951
Total United States48,32170,697280,329

Places

Sikh Americans by census-designated place (2020)
Sikh aloneTotal Sikh population (DERIVED ESTIMATE)
New York New York3,29319,104
Fresno California2,36913,743
Yuba City California1,75710,193
San Jose California1,4678,511
Bakersfield California1,3527,843
Sacramento California9665,604
Kent Washington9525,523
Union City California8034,659
Fremont California7994,635
Stockton California7944,606
Manteca California6813,951
Elk Grove California6023,492
Carteret New Jersey5303,075
Tracy California4792,779
Los Angeles California4442,576
Livingston California4172,419
Turlock California3792,199
Greenwood Indiana3702,147
Hicksville New York3632,106
Hayward California3431,990
Ceres California3211,862
Clovis California3101,798
Vineyard California2891,677
Antelope California2861,659
Lathrop California2831,642
Indianapolis (balance) Indiana2641,532
Fairfield California2511,456
Roseville California2331,352
Kerman California2291,329
Modesto California2061,195
Santa Clara California2051,189
Auburn Washington1981,149
Milpitas California167969
Mountain House California165957
Newark California155899
Fowler California152882
Phoenix Arizona149864
Dublin California148859
San Diego California144835
Fontana California143830
Renton Washington142824
Rocklin California136789
San Ramon California135783
Selma California131760
Folsom California126731
Live Oak California124719
Jersey City New Jersey119690
Hercules California115667
SeaTac Washington115667
Total United States48,321280,329

Notable Sikh Americans

1900s

2000s

Academics

Activism

Business

Entertainment

Law Enforcement

Military

Politics

Religious Services

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Why Pew Research Center typically can’t report the views of smaller U.S. religious groups. 2022-11-23. www.pewresearch.org. en-US.
  2. Web site: Does the Census Bureau have data for religion?. United States Census Bureau. 18 March 2023.
  3. Web site: Asian Indian Was The Largest Asian Alone Population Group in 2020. United States Census Bureau. 23 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 - Section 1: Population - Table 75: Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990, 2001, and 2008 (page 61). United States Census Bureau. 14 April 2023.
  5. Web site: How Many U.S. Sikhs?. Pew Research Center. 18 March 2023.
  6. Web site: About Sikhs. Sikh Coalition. 14 April 2023.
  7. Web site: H. RES. 275 - 118th Congress (2023-2024). United States Congress. 14 April 2023.
  8. Web site: Sikhism Reporter's Guide. Sikh Coalition. 23 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths. Pew Research Center. 14 April 2023.
  10. Web site: 2020 National Sikh American Survey: Key Findings. Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. 8 November 2023.
  11. Web site: DP05ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES. United States Census Bureau. 14 April 2023.
  12. Web site: Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census. United States Census Bureau. 2023-09-23.
  13. Book: Ronald H. Bayor. Multicultural America: An Encyclopedia of the Newest Americans. 6 June 2013. 31 July 2011. ABC-CLIO. 978-0-313-35787-9. 985–.
  14. Web site: Crimes against Sikhs continue in US amidst spotlight on race relations. 2020-08-31. cnbctv18.com. 25 June 2020 . en-US.
  15. News: Gumbel. Andrew. 2018-09-19. 'The violence is always there': life as a Sikh in Trump's America. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-08-31. 0261-3077.
  16. Passage From India - Asian Indian Immigrants in North America", Joan M. Jensen, Yale University Press, 1988.
  17. Englesberg . Paul . The 1907 Bellingham Riot and Anti-Asian Hostilities in the Pacific Northwest . 2015 . The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership Publications . 2021-01-11.
  18. Web site: News Coverage: 1907-2007 - Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project . depts.washington.edu . 2021-01-11.
  19. News: Johnson . Tim . Dark Century: Observing the Anniversary of Anti-Sikh Riots . Cascadia Weekly . Bellingham, WA . Cascadia Newspaper Company . 2 . 35 . 2007-08-29 . 8, 10–11 . 1931-3292 . 711684947 . 2021-01-11 . 2021-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210301065840/http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/pdfs/issues/200735.pdf#page=8 . dead .
  20. Web site: Sikhism in North America . kabira.freeservers.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20130416045004/http://kabira.freeservers.com:80/sikhsinnorthamerica.html . 2013-04-16 . dead.
  21. http://www.stocktongurdwarasahib.com/ Stockton Gurdwara, America, "Stockton California"
  22. Web site: Anti-Muslim Incidents Since Sept. 11, 2001. Southern Poverty Law Center. January 12, 2012. March 29, 2011.
  23. News: Gunman's tattoos lead officials to deem Sikh shooting terrorism. Matt Pearce . Brian Bennett . . 5 August 2012 . 5 August 2012.
  24. News: Fresno police: Sikh beating a possible hate crime. SF Gate. . 7 May 2013 . 8 May 2013.
  25. Web site: Indian Professor attacked in Columbia after being called Osama. 23 September 2013.
  26. Book: Sidhu, Darwinder S. . Civil Rights in Wartime: The Post-9/11 Sikh Experience . Neha Singh Gohil . 2009 . Ashgate Publishing . 978-0-7546-7553-2 . 72.
  27. News: Report: Fresno County Sikh students say they're bullied at school. Fresno Bee. March 13, 2014. Juan Orozco. Carmen George.
  28. News: 2020 National Sikh American Survey: Key Findings. 23 October 2020 . 29 July 2024.
  29. Dawinder S. Sidhu, Neha Singh Gohil. Civil rights in wartime: the post-9/11 Sikh experience. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009., 9780754675532. Pg 137
  30. News: Beard Ban Deters Chabad Rabbis From Becoming Chaplains in Army . 27 August 2005 . 25 October 2009.
  31. Web site: 1st Sikh in Decades Graduates Army Officer School, Page 1. Michelle Roberts. 2010-03-22. ABC News.
  32. Web site: Keeping faith: Sikh Soldier graduates basic training . Susanne Kappler . 10 November 2010 . Fort Jackson Leader . United States Army . 26 December 2011.
  33. News: Molina . Alejandra . December 23, 2022 . In court ruling, Sikh recruits can attend USMC training while keeping beards and turbans . Religion News Service . December 26, 2022.
  34. Web site: NYPD changes policy, will allow officers to wear turbans. David Shortell. CNN. December 29, 2016. December 31, 2016.
  35. Web site: Deputy Who Gained National Attention as First Texas Cop to Wear Turban Shot & Killed on Duty. Yahoo. en-US. 2019-09-28.
  36. Web site: November 18, 2019 . HPD changes uniform policy to honor Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal . 2022-06-22 . khou.com . en-US.
  37. Web site: The First Demographic Profile on Sikh Americans . sikhnet.com . Sikh Net . 2023-11-07.
  38. Willon, Phil. "Meet the nation's first known Sikh woman to serve as a city mayor", Los Angeles Times, December 28, 2017. Accessed January 16, 2018.
  39. Hefler, Jan. "Race-baiting ads backfired, says Sikh who broke barriers in South Jersey freeholder race", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 8, 2017. Accessed December 2, 2017.
  40. Web site: Sikh city planner becomes Charlottesville mayor | Richmond Times-Dispatch . .timesdispatch.com . 2012-08-07.
  41. News: School Board Members Make It Official . November 23, 2011 . August 9, 2012 . Tanjua . Damon . Vernon Patch.
  42. Web site: High-stakes showdown in Washington State. Haniffa. Aziz. IndiaAbroad.com. en. 2018-12-05.
  43. Web site: Bains, Karm - Sutter County Board of Supervisors. en. 2023-02-28.
  44. Web site: Mani Grewal - District 4 Supervisor - Stanislaus County. en. 2023-02-28.
  45. News: Sewell . Summer . 2021-02-08 . 'This has to end peacefully': California's Punjabi farmers rally behind India protests . 2022-11-27 . . Community members have also raised funds to support billboards drawing attention to India’s protests throughout the Central Valley, where Punjabi is the third-most spoken language, after English and Spanish..
  46. Web site: Tuly Singh Johl- Pioneering Punjabis Digital Archive. 2023-03-22. ucdavis.edu. en-US.
  47. Web site: Richmond Hill Street Co-Named 'Punjab Avenue' To Honor Neighborhood's South Asian Culture. 2022-11-23. CBS News. en-US.
  48. Web site: ‘Punjab Way,’ ‘Gurdwara St.’ coming to Queens. 2022-11-23. New York Daily News. en-US.
  49. Web site: American Sikhs Run Billion-Dollar Security Firm. 2022-11-23. www.npr.org. en-US.