Localized History Workshop Series – The Missing Stories: South Asian American History from the 18th Century to Today

Monday, November 11, 2024 | 6:30pm to 7:30pm

South Asian Americans have been a presence in the United States for more than 250 years. Early immigrants from South Asia worked on farms and factories, helped build railroads, fought for India’s freedom from British rule, and struggled for equal rights in the United States. Today, more than 6.1 million individuals in the U.S. trace their heritage to South Asia, the fastest growing immigrant group in the country. South Asian American stories are an integral part of the American story, yet little information is available to the public about these stories.

In “The Missing Stories,” SAADA’s Executive Director Samip Mallick will cover how communities come to be excluded from the archival record and how we can address these absences. Samip will introduce South Asian American history (1800s to present) and will also discuss how community-based archives can become sites for liberatory memory work by introducing the audience to SAADA’s archival collections, programs, and participatory storytelling projects.

Author Bio

Samip Mallick is the co-founder and executive director of SAADA, leading the organization from its inception in 2008 to its position today as a nationally recognized leader in intergenerational connection and community-based storytelling. From its headquarters in Philadelphia, SAADA represents more than 6.1 million individuals across the U.S., ensuring that South Asian Americans are recognized as an essential part of the American story. SAADA's archive, storytelling projects, exhibits, artistic partnerships, walking tours, lesson plans, books, and films reflect more than 250 years of history and have received awards from both the American Historical Association and the Society of American Archivists. Mallick is a second generation South Asian American. He has previously worked for the University of Chicago and the Social Science Research Council, and he holds degrees in computer science and library and information sciences. He has also served as an advisor for the Ford Foundation and the Library of Congress.