Ethnic Identity and the Power of Being Undefined | Anish Shroff | TEDxFargo

little Fargo it is good to be back this

little Fargo it is good to be back this is my eighth trip to Fargo North Dakota

is my eighth trip to Fargo North Dakota

is my eighth trip to Fargo North Dakota the first one taking place in a month

the first one taking place in a month

the first one taking place in a month not named December and it feels like a

not named December and it feels like a

not named December and it feels like a foreign country to me you know what’s

foreign country to me you know what’s

foreign country to me you know what’s fascinating is the first time I came to

fascinating is the first time I came to

fascinating is the first time I came to Fargo my perception of this city this

Fargo my perception of this city this

Fargo my perception of this city this area was shaped by popular culture and

area was shaped by popular culture and

area was shaped by popular culture and Hollywood and comedy and I remember one

Hollywood and comedy and I remember one

Hollywood and comedy and I remember one of the first things I did I went to your

of the first things I did I went to your

of the first things I did I went to your tourism center and I got a picture by

tourism center and I got a picture by

tourism center and I got a picture by the wood chipper because that’s what I

the wood chipper because that’s what I

the wood chipper because that’s what I thought Fargo was about then I learned

thought Fargo was about then I learned

thought Fargo was about then I learned pretty quickly that was a stereotype you

pretty quickly that was a stereotype you

pretty quickly that was a stereotype you guys didn’t like and the more I

guys didn’t like and the more I

guys didn’t like and the more I frequented Fargo it was incredible how

frequented Fargo it was incredible how

frequented Fargo it was incredible how quickly not just stereotypes shattered

quickly not just stereotypes shattered

quickly not just stereotypes shattered but perceptions also crumbled and the

but perceptions also crumbled and the

but perceptions also crumbled and the way I started to view not just this area

way I started to view not just this area

way I started to view not just this area but the people here changed you start

but the people here changed you start

but the people here changed you start from seeing maybe a group of people at

from seeing maybe a group of people at

from seeing maybe a group of people at the outset the more you come and the

the outset the more you come and the

the outset the more you come and the more you get to know them and talk to

more you get to know them and talk to

more you get to know them and talk to them you find out through these complex

them you find out through these complex

them you find out through these complex characters they’re not caricatures

characters they’re not caricatures

characters they’re not caricatures they’re well rounded and a group of

they’re well rounded and a group of

they’re well rounded and a group of people quickly turns into a collection

people quickly turns into a collection

people quickly turns into a collection of individuals the reason I bring that

of individuals the reason I bring that

of individuals the reason I bring that up because I’m first-generation my

up because I’m first-generation my

up because I’m first-generation my parents came here from India we know

parents came here from India we know

parents came here from India we know what stereotypes are like I was born in

what stereotypes are like I was born in

what stereotypes are like I was born in New Jersey grew up playing sports going

New Jersey grew up playing sports going

New Jersey grew up playing sports going to school doing things American kids do

to school doing things American kids do

to school doing things American kids do but now stereotypes were unavoidable and

but now stereotypes were unavoidable and

but now stereotypes were unavoidable and I remember the one stereotype that I

I remember the one stereotype that I

I remember the one stereotype that I hated growing up and that my community

hated growing up and that my community

hated growing up and that my community as an Indian American that we hated

as an Indian American that we hated

as an Indian American that we hated growing up was that of a poo from The

growing up was that of a poo from The

growing up was that of a poo from The Simpsons

Simpsons

Simpsons I love the Simpsons but that was such a

I love the Simpsons but that was such a

I love the Simpsons but that was such a caricature that was our version of Marge

caricature that was our version of Marge

caricature that was our version of Marge Gunderson and you rebel against that and

Gunderson and you rebel against that and

Gunderson and you rebel against that and your community doesn’t like it you try

your community doesn’t like it you try

your community doesn’t like it you try your best to change it and then I

your best to change it and then I

your best to change it and then I discovered as I got older there is

discovered as I got older there is

discovered as I got older there is a little bit of hypocrisy that exists

a little bit of hypocrisy that exists

a little bit of hypocrisy that exists and as minority subcultures is an

and as minority subcultures is an

and as minority subcultures is an indian-american part of that community

indian-american part of that community

indian-american part of that community one of the things that I found out was

one of the things that I found out was

one of the things that I found out was that you know we kind of have our own

that you know we kind of have our own

that you know we kind of have our own stereotypes our community and maybe we

stereotypes our community and maybe we

stereotypes our community and maybe we don’t like the app who stereotype but we

don’t like the app who stereotype but we

don’t like the app who stereotype but we put stereotypes on our own people my own

put stereotypes on our own people my own

put stereotypes on our own people my own community telling us what we can and

community telling us what we can and

community telling us what we can and can’t do who we can be and can’t be and

can’t do who we can be and can’t be and

can’t do who we can be and can’t be and great example that is you know as an

great example that is you know as an

great example that is you know as an Indian American growing up one of the

Indian American growing up one of the

Indian American growing up one of the things that you’re expected to do the

things that you’re expected to do the

things that you’re expected to do the expectation the cultural expectation is

expectation the cultural expectation is

expectation the cultural expectation is you go into a profession that’s gonna

you go into a profession that’s gonna

you go into a profession that’s gonna make you money and you’re gonna be

make you money and you’re gonna be

make you money and you’re gonna be successful and your parents can brag

successful and your parents can brag

successful and your parents can brag about you know the number one profession

about you know the number one profession

about you know the number one profession on that list is is doctor now I know

on that list is is doctor now I know

on that list is is doctor now I know you’re thinking it’s a hell of a

you’re thinking it’s a hell of a

you’re thinking it’s a hell of a stereotype to have it’s pretty good

stereotype to have it’s pretty good

stereotype to have it’s pretty good stereotype people have asked me are you

stereotype people have asked me are you

stereotype people have asked me are you a doctor

a doctor

a doctor if I’m feeling like it’s sometimes a lie

if I’m feeling like it’s sometimes a lie

if I’m feeling like it’s sometimes a lie and I’ll say yes because shoot it’s not

and I’ll say yes because shoot it’s not

and I’ll say yes because shoot it’s not the worst thing but if you’re not a

the worst thing but if you’re not a

the worst thing but if you’re not a doctor and you’re not a lawyer or an

doctor and you’re not a lawyer or an

doctor and you’re not a lawyer or an engineer an IT guy or in software then

engineer an IT guy or in software then

engineer an IT guy or in software then sometimes you’re a disappointment and

sometimes you’re a disappointment and

sometimes you’re a disappointment and that’s not a label put on us by society

that’s not a label put on us by society

that’s not a label put on us by society at large that’s a label that we put on

at large that’s a label that we put on

at large that’s a label that we put on ourselves and so if you have somebody

ourselves and so if you have somebody

ourselves and so if you have somebody from your community somebody from my

from your community somebody from my

from your community somebody from my community who wants to be a painter a

community who wants to be a painter a

community who wants to be a painter a writer a musician a sportscaster your

writer a musician a sportscaster your

writer a musician a sportscaster your first line of resistance is met by the

first line of resistance is met by the

first line of resistance is met by the people who look like you and I remember

people who look like you and I remember

people who look like you and I remember this from growing up I was very

this from growing up I was very

this from growing up I was very fortunate in that my parents were

fortunate in that my parents were

fortunate in that my parents were incredibly supportive of what I wanted

incredibly supportive of what I wanted

incredibly supportive of what I wanted to do my dad has a degree in accounting

to do my dad has a degree in accounting

to do my dad has a degree in accounting and he’s been a professional

and he’s been a professional

and he’s been a professional photographers whole life so he can’t

photographers whole life so he can’t

photographers whole life so he can’t tell me not to pursue my dream but the

tell me not to pursue my dream but the

tell me not to pursue my dream but the reaction that I got from my community

reaction that I got from my community

reaction that I got from my community growing up and I knew what I wanted to

growing up and I knew what I wanted to

growing up and I knew what I wanted to do when I was 14 15 years old was you

do when I was 14 15 years old was you

do when I was 14 15 years old was you can’t do this you can’t be a

can’t do this you can’t be a

can’t do this you can’t be a sportscaster well why not it’s what I

sportscaster well why not it’s what I

sportscaster well why not it’s what I love I love sports I grew up watching it

love I love sports I grew up watching it

love I love sports I grew up watching it I loved studying it I liked the numbers

I loved studying it I liked the numbers

I loved studying it I liked the numbers I liked the nuance why can’t I do this

I liked the nuance why can’t I do this

I liked the nuance why can’t I do this I’ll work really hard that’s not what we

I’ll work really hard that’s not what we

I’ll work really hard that’s not what we do

do

do if you do that you’re not Indian enough

if you do that you’re not Indian enough

if you do that you’re not Indian enough you’re too white and Here I am thinking

you’re too white and Here I am thinking

you’re too white and Here I am thinking to myself well nobody else has told me

to myself well nobody else has told me

to myself well nobody else has told me this why is my community not even giving

this why is my community not even giving

this why is my community not even giving me the chance to get to that threshold

me the chance to get to that threshold

me the chance to get to that threshold where I could fail or succeed it’s funny

where I could fail or succeed it’s funny

where I could fail or succeed it’s funny how it works and I started questioning

how it works and I started questioning

how it works and I started questioning you know why can’t they just be

you know why can’t they just be

you know why can’t they just be supportive am i stepping out of bounds

supportive am i stepping out of bounds

supportive am i stepping out of bounds is there some arbitrary nth degree of

is there some arbitrary nth degree of

is there some arbitrary nth degree of ethnic authenticity I need to be meat to

ethnic authenticity I need to be meat to

ethnic authenticity I need to be meat to be considered a member of a group and

be considered a member of a group and

be considered a member of a group and not just a group my group and so I got

not just a group my group and so I got

not just a group my group and so I got frustrated and then I decided to do it

frustrated and then I decided to do it

frustrated and then I decided to do it anyway and one day I ended up at ESPN

anyway and one day I ended up at ESPN

anyway and one day I ended up at ESPN and I got that job and you know it’s

and I got that job and you know it’s

and I got that job and you know it’s funny all of a sudden I represented and

funny all of a sudden I represented and

funny all of a sudden I represented and I struggled with that for some time

I struggled with that for some time

I struggled with that for some time because I said hey I’m the same guy that

because I said hey I’m the same guy that

because I said hey I’m the same guy that you said couldn’t do it because of what

you said couldn’t do it because of what

you said couldn’t do it because of what I look like and where I was from and

I look like and where I was from and

I look like and where I was from and where my parents were from and because

where my parents were from and because

where my parents were from and because they have accents but I I got to the

they have accents but I I got to the

they have accents but I I got to the finish line and and now I I represent

finish line and and now I I represent

finish line and and now I I represent and the message that I want to put

and the message that I want to put

and the message that I want to put forward is that’s not where we need you

forward is that’s not where we need you

forward is that’s not where we need you you know we as minority sometimes like

you know we as minority sometimes like

you know we as minority sometimes like to put these labels on ourselves not

to put these labels on ourselves not

to put these labels on ourselves not black enough not Asian enough not

black enough not Asian enough not

black enough not Asian enough not Hispanic enough not brown enough not

Hispanic enough not brown enough not

Hispanic enough not brown enough not Indian enough what does that mean this

Indian enough what does that mean this

Indian enough what does that mean this is America we came here because we

is America we came here because we

is America we came here because we didn’t want to be defined by lines we

didn’t want to be defined by lines we

didn’t want to be defined by lines we didn’t want to be constricted by

didn’t want to be constricted by

didn’t want to be constricted by boundaries and instead that’s what we’re

boundaries and instead that’s what we’re

boundaries and instead that’s what we’re doing and we’re not having somebody else

doing and we’re not having somebody else

doing and we’re not having somebody else do it for us you know I’m totally aware

do it for us you know I’m totally aware

do it for us you know I’m totally aware yes there are some societal factors that

yes there are some societal factors that

yes there are some societal factors that maybe can impact what you can do but

maybe can impact what you can do but

maybe can impact what you can do but maybe let’s allow us to get to that

maybe let’s allow us to get to that

maybe let’s allow us to get to that threshold because we’re really good at

threshold because we’re really good at

threshold because we’re really good at fighting against that when it happens

fighting against that when it happens

fighting against that when it happens but coming from our own we don’t need

but coming from our own we don’t need

but coming from our own we don’t need that let’s encourage our people let’s

that let’s encourage our people let’s

that let’s encourage our people let’s encourage them at the starting line

encourage them at the starting line

encourage them at the starting line let’s encourage

let’s encourage

let’s encourage when they get to mile marker 13 and

when they get to mile marker 13 and

when they get to mile marker 13 and they’re thinking man I got some doubt I

they’re thinking man I got some doubt I

they’re thinking man I got some doubt I need a cup of water

need a cup of water

need a cup of water I need a pat on the back go finish the

I need a pat on the back go finish the

I need a pat on the back go finish the marathon but sometimes we discouraged

marathon but sometimes we discouraged

marathon but sometimes we discouraged them to run the race entirely and that’s

them to run the race entirely and that’s

them to run the race entirely and that’s always that’s always troubled me and I

always that’s always troubled me and I

always that’s always troubled me and I want to tell you a story here today to

want to tell you a story here today to

want to tell you a story here today to kind of wrap things up about this

kind of wrap things up about this

kind of wrap things up about this experience and where we can where we can

experience and where we can where we can

experience and where we can where we can go from it my first job in television

go from it my first job in television

go from it my first job in television was in a small city in Central

was in a small city in Central

was in a small city in Central Washington Yakima and wasn’t making a

Washington Yakima and wasn’t making a

Washington Yakima and wasn’t making a lot of money was living in a small

lot of money was living in a small

lot of money was living in a small apartment and across the street we used

apartment and across the street we used

apartment and across the street we used to have all these drive-through baristas

to have all these drive-through baristas

to have all these drive-through baristas it was it’s big in the state of

it was it’s big in the state of

it was it’s big in the state of Washington and you know a couple times a

Washington and you know a couple times a

Washington and you know a couple times a week I could maybe afford a cup of

week I could maybe afford a cup of

week I could maybe afford a cup of coffee from there so I pull up into one

coffee from there so I pull up into one

coffee from there so I pull up into one of these drive-through baristas in my

of these drive-through baristas in my

of these drive-through baristas in my first couple of weeks and I remembered

first couple of weeks and I remembered

first couple of weeks and I remembered the woman at the drive-thru liked the

the woman at the drive-thru liked the

the woman at the drive-thru liked the way I presented my order I’m thinking

way I presented my order I’m thinking

way I presented my order I’m thinking all right yeah I’m on TV my bass and

all right yeah I’m on TV my bass and

all right yeah I’m on TV my bass and treble hitting all the notes she likes

treble hitting all the notes she likes

treble hitting all the notes she likes the way I sound I mean you know my ego

the way I sound I mean you know my ego

the way I sound I mean you know my ego is kind of propped up a little bit I was

is kind of propped up a little bit I was

is kind of propped up a little bit I was like okay and then she asked a follow-up

like okay and then she asked a follow-up

like okay and then she asked a follow-up question she said what’s your

question she said what’s your

question she said what’s your nationality if you don’t mind me asking

nationality if you don’t mind me asking

nationality if you don’t mind me asking and to make things perfectly clear there

and to make things perfectly clear there

and to make things perfectly clear there was no malice I think it was kind of

was no malice I think it was kind of

was no malice I think it was kind of genuine curiosity like maybe I don’t see

genuine curiosity like maybe I don’t see

genuine curiosity like maybe I don’t see a ton of people look like you and didn’t

a ton of people look like you and didn’t

a ton of people look like you and didn’t expect you to sound the way you sound

expect you to sound the way you sound

expect you to sound the way you sound and so you know me being me and trying

and so you know me being me and trying

and so you know me being me and trying to have some fun with it I’ve kind of

to have some fun with it I’ve kind of

to have some fun with it I’ve kind of deadpanned and I said my nationality

deadpanned and I said my nationality

deadpanned and I said my nationality American so then she goes no no no I

American so then she goes no no no I

American so then she goes no no no I mean were you from to which I replied

mean were you from to which I replied

mean were you from to which I replied New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey clearly not the answer she was looking

clearly not the answer she was looking

clearly not the answer she was looking for then things got a little bit awkward

for then things got a little bit awkward

for then things got a little bit awkward and she kind of started to stammer no no

and she kind of started to stammer no no

and she kind of started to stammer no no you know what it’s okay I’m I’m just

you know what it’s okay I’m I’m just

you know what it’s okay I’m I’m just gonna make your coffee it’s gonna be on

gonna make your coffee it’s gonna be on

gonna make your coffee it’s gonna be on me and and get out of here because this

me and and get out of here because this

me and and get out of here because this conversation needs to end but I tried to

conversation needs to end but I tried to

conversation needs to end but I tried to explain and I said I think what you

explain and I said I think what you

explain and I said I think what you meant to ask me is what’s my ethnicity

meant to ask me is what’s my ethnicity

meant to ask me is what’s my ethnicity and my ethnicity is Indian my parents

and my ethnicity is Indian my parents

and my ethnicity is Indian my parents came here from India but at this point

came here from India but at this point

came here from India but at this point she just kind of said I there’s five

she just kind of said I there’s five

she just kind of said I there’s five cars behind you other coffees on me

cars behind you other coffees on me

cars behind you other coffees on me don’t worry about pain don’t worry about

don’t worry about pain don’t worry about

don’t worry about pain don’t worry about tip just go so I Drive off but I’m

tip just go so I Drive off but I’m

tip just go so I Drive off but I’m thinking this whole time I’m like all

thinking this whole time I’m like all

thinking this whole time I’m like all right you know I grew up and people from

right you know I grew up and people from

right you know I grew up and people from my own community told me I wasn’t Indian

my own community told me I wasn’t Indian

my own community told me I wasn’t Indian enough and based on the way I look

enough and based on the way I look

enough and based on the way I look there’s probably a segment of people who

there’s probably a segment of people who

there’s probably a segment of people who will never look at me and say hey there

will never look at me and say hey there

will never look at me and say hey there goes an American and it’s something that

goes an American and it’s something that

goes an American and it’s something that I’ve always thought about you know you

I’ve always thought about you know you

I’ve always thought about you know you kind of get trapped in this vortex of of

kind of get trapped in this vortex of of

kind of get trapped in this vortex of of who are you you know what’s your

who are you you know what’s your

who are you you know what’s your cultural identity and I started to think

cultural identity and I started to think

cultural identity and I started to think I go you know this idea of what an

I go you know this idea of what an

I go you know this idea of what an American is what is an American what is

American is what is an American what is

American is what is an American what is the American Way you know because we’re

the American Way you know because we’re

the American Way you know because we’re always trying to define that as a

always trying to define that as a

always trying to define that as a country we always talk about you know

country we always talk about you know

country we always talk about you know this is the American Way the American

this is the American Way the American

this is the American Way the American that well what is that and I’ve lived in

that well what is that and I’ve lived in

that well what is that and I’ve lived in New Jersey I live in North Carolina

New Jersey I live in North Carolina

New Jersey I live in North Carolina right now I have lived in upstate New

right now I have lived in upstate New

right now I have lived in upstate New York in Connecticut I’ve traveled the

York in Connecticut I’ve traveled the

York in Connecticut I’ve traveled the entire country covering various sports

entire country covering various sports

entire country covering various sports for ESPN I lived in Central Washington

for ESPN I lived in Central Washington

for ESPN I lived in Central Washington and everywhere I go this definition of

and everywhere I go this definition of

and everywhere I go this definition of what an American is is different what

what an American is is different what

what an American is is different what you guys may think an American is in

you guys may think an American is in

you guys may think an American is in North Dakota is different than what

North Dakota is different than what

North Dakota is different than what people in North Carolina may think it’s

people in North Carolina may think it’s

people in North Carolina may think it’s different what people in New Jersey may

different what people in New Jersey may

different what people in New Jersey may think what people in Connecticut may

think what people in Connecticut may

think what people in Connecticut may think what people in Texas may think so

think what people in Texas may think so

think what people in Texas may think so thought about it and I thought about it

thought about it and I thought about it

thought about it and I thought about it and I said you know what I don’t have an

and I said you know what I don’t have an

and I said you know what I don’t have an answer but that’s that’s our strength as

answer but that’s that’s our strength as

answer but that’s that’s our strength as a country we are division by 0 and we

a country we are division by 0 and we

a country we are division by 0 and we are infinity and we continue to try to

are infinity and we continue to try to

are infinity and we continue to try to define who we are we do it in these

define who we are we do it in these

define who we are we do it in these little subgroups we do it on a macro

little subgroups we do it on a macro

little subgroups we do it on a macro level and when we do it we close

level and when we do it we close

level and when we do it we close yourself off the possibility if an

yourself off the possibility if an

yourself off the possibility if an Indian American can be a musician or an

Indian American can be a musician or an

Indian American can be a musician or an artist or a writer or a painter or a

artist or a writer or a painter or a

artist or a writer or a painter or a sportscaster let’s take those cultural

sportscaster let’s take those cultural

sportscaster let’s take those cultural shackles off because that could

shackles off because that could

shackles off because that could potentially open the door for so many

potentially open the door for so many

potentially open the door for so many others from the community

others from the community

others from the community here in Fargo you guys don’t like your

here in Fargo you guys don’t like your

here in Fargo you guys don’t like your stereotypes that you have and I’ve seen

stereotypes that you have and I’ve seen

stereotypes that you have and I’ve seen the way that you’ve broken them in many

the way that you’ve broken them in many

the way that you’ve broken them in many ways with what you have in your football

ways with what you have in your football

ways with what you have in your football team here

team here

team here North Dakota State becoming this

North Dakota State becoming this

North Dakota State becoming this national brand but it comes back to this

national brand but it comes back to this

national brand but it comes back to this idea that you know we’re so into

idea that you know we’re so into

idea that you know we’re so into defining ourselves let’s move away from

defining ourselves let’s move away from

defining ourselves let’s move away from that we don’t need a rigid definition of

that we don’t need a rigid definition of

that we don’t need a rigid definition of who we are because what’s beautiful

who we are because what’s beautiful

who we are because what’s beautiful about our country and I say this through

about our country and I say this through

about our country and I say this through the prism of a first generation son of

the prism of a first generation son of

the prism of a first generation son of immigrants what’s beautiful about our

immigrants what’s beautiful about our

immigrants what’s beautiful about our country is that our nationalism isn’t is

country is that our nationalism isn’t is

country is that our nationalism isn’t is defined as it is in other homogeneous

defined as it is in other homogeneous

defined as it is in other homogeneous cultures in Asia and Europe and Africa

cultures in Asia and Europe and Africa

cultures in Asia and Europe and Africa you go all over you see all sorts of

you go all over you see all sorts of

you go all over you see all sorts of different people and we are undefined

different people and we are undefined

different people and we are undefined and we are all possibilities

and we are all possibilities

and we are all possibilities so why Limit who we can be where we can

so why Limit who we can be where we can

so why Limit who we can be where we can go and what we can do that’s what I’m

go and what we can do that’s what I’m

go and what we can do that’s what I’m fourth thank you

fourth thank you

fourth thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]