Pabitra Khati Benjamin Oral History Interview

DESCRIPTION
Pabitra Khati Benjamin speaks about her childhood, moving to the US as a child, going back to Nepal with more privilege, and her journey to become an organizer. She reflects on race, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and the relative privilege Asians have compared to Black, Native American, and Latinx communities.

In this slideshow, you will see:
A photo of one of Pabitra's longest term and closest friends, also an organizing comrade of the heart. These sweatshirts are from their organizing days as students at University of Wisconsin Madison with the MultiCultural Student Coalition (MCSC). The sweatshirts say their last names on them the same way athletes wear jerseys.

A pride button and Maxine Waters button. "The pride button I have had for decades, not sure how long. I take it into my work space as the pride flag always makes me smile. The Maxine Waters button I got last year in DC. I love this quote as it represents her fierceness in reclaiming her time from the Trump administration Secretary who was wasting her time at a hearing. For me this quote is so symbolic of the time many waste on random debates, going in circles, creating drama and so much more that could be going to help our world not harm it."

THEMES
Childhood, Immigration, Gender & Sexuality, Activism, Community Organizations & Organizing

AUDIO
Duration: 01:27:54

ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: April 11, 2022
Subject(s): Pabitra Khati Benjamin
Type: Oral History
Source: Archival Creators Fellowship Program
Creator: Luna Ranjit
Contributor: Pabitra Khati Benjamin
Location: Washington D.C.

PROVENANCE
Collection: Luna Ranjit Fellowship Project
Donor: Pabitra Khati Benjamin
Item History: 2022-07-01 (created); 2022-07-01 (modified)

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