I am happy to introduce the first post in our newest series, “Southern Voices.” In this section, we present reflections from people who live or lived in the South who have unique insight or revealing experiences that help achieve the main goal of this site: offering an accurate view of what it means to be the South.

Without further ado, “Southern Voices” presents Kiran Patel, from Live Oak, Florida and now residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Southern Hospitality…Desi Style.

Growing up as an Asian-American in the South was interesting, to say the least.  I think my family was like the second Indian family in my hometown when we moved there in the late 1980s.  I distinctly remember secretly wanting a southern accent, and sometimes I threw one in, just for kicks. Stop, visualize, and listen: petite, soft spoken, pink-wearing, 90-ish pound Indian saying “hey y’all!”  My sister and I came home to watch Country Music Television everyday – I was in love with Billy Ray Cyrus.  I also remember kind of shunning my own culture (Indian, Hindu) in my middle and high school years.  Why?  I am not sure anymore, but I definitely regret it.  I remember attending Fellowship of Christian Athletes , I remember allowing my friends to pronounce my name kuh-ron (instead of “kee-raan”), and I remember rarely talking about my ‘weird’ religion.  I am not sure why I wanted to fit in so much, but I did.  Maybe it’s because it’s hard to forget being called an ‘injun’ very early in life, maybe I just wanted to be like my friends.  It felt weird to be different, so I tried not to be.  It’s funny though because now culture is such a huge part of who I am.  What is it about that little town that made me stay quiet?  I don’t imagine my friends would have judged me, but, oh well.  So you learn.  I hope new minorities in my hometown are less timid about their culture.  I haven’t been to my hometown for an extended period of time in ages.  But I have to admit, sometimes I miss its small town appeal…who knows. Click to read more…