Primary Source South Asian American Experiences

This resource explores the South Asian American experience through primary sources, offering a glimpse into the history, struggles, and contributions of South Asian communities in the United States.

PRIMARY SOURCES
South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA): Documents and Photos

ACTIVITY IDEAS
Exploring Primary Sources
Objective: Understand how photographs, documents, and letters from the past give insight into life during a specific time.
Activity: Students explore a selection of primary sources from the SAADA website. They choose one document or photograph, discuss what it shows about South Asian American life at the time, and share their observations about the values and experiences reflected in the source. Students will then write a short reflection on what they learned from this historical artifact.

Class Timeline Activity
Objective: Learn how to place events and experiences in chronological order and understand their historical context.
Activity: Using primary sources from SAADA, students collaborate to create a class timeline highlighting key events in South Asian American history. Students will research and contribute significant historical moments (e.g., immigration waves, activism, legal battles) and place them on the timeline to understand how these events shaped the community.

Comparing Perspectives
Objective: Analyze different viewpoints and the impact of historical events on South Asian American communities.
Activity: Students compare a selection of primary sources (e.g., letters, news reports, advertisements) from different periods to see how the portrayal of South Asian Americans has evolved over time. They will focus on how these sources reveal changes in societal attitudes, laws, and identity, then discuss the challenges and triumphs depicted in the documents.