Hasan Minhaj slams Asian hypocrisy over black skin on Patriot Act

US comedian Hasan Minhaj tore into the ‘Asian hypocrisy’ over skin colour, besides calling out Bollywood stars promoting skin-whitening products, in a special episode of his Patriot Act on Netflix, on the recent police killing of George Floyd, a black man, and the subsequent protests.

In the latest 12-minute episode, titled ‘We Cannot Stay Silent About George Floyd’, the Indian-American host addresses the Asian community and other immigrants in the US, in an effort to draw their support for the protests. Floyd was killed last month in police custody, sparking countrywide protests.

“Why are we shocked that people are asking for revolutionary change? Dude, we support revolutions oversees – the Antifara, Hong Kong, Arab Spring, Myanmar, CAA NRC protests, Tiananmen Square,” says Minhaj in the new episode which was launched on Thursday (June 4), and is available on YouTube.

Besides calling for reforms in law enforcement, Hasan also highlights how the Asian people are obsessed with white skin colour. He also calls out those who think it’s only an American issue and not their own battle. Referring to the loots and on why some immigrants are not endorsing the protests, he says:

“Depending on when you immigrated, you came to this country (US) for order and stability. We don’t want it to be as f****d up as back home… But imagine if you lived in a country where the colour of your skin got you killed you for driving, jogging… you would say that is a lawless country.”

Related news: A virus deadlier than COVID-19: Racism and police brutality

“Asians, we love seeing black excellence: Barack (Obama), Michelle (Obama), Jay Z, Beyonce… how could we be afraid? We love black America. Yeah, on screen, in our living rooms. But when a black man walks into your living room, and wants to date; god forbid, marry your daughter, you call the cops,” he says.

“Do you know what we call black people? We call them ‘kaala’, which means black; not in a good way. If someone in your family is dark-skinned, we clown them. We call them ‘kallu’; looking ‘kallu’. Our Bollywood film stars do skin whitening commercials so we don’t look black. It is bad to be black in desi culture even though we all wish we were black,” he goes on.

Minhan also praises Rahul Dubey, an Indian-American man who had opened his doors for protesters to hide from police.