‘You’re not like the other Indians’: NRI woman in Canada shares experience of subtle racism

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, June 30, 2025: An NRI woman living in a Canadian town near Toronto has opened up about the “subtle racism” she routinely encounters, sparking a wider conversation on social media about the everyday prejudice faced by Indians living abroad.

In a candid Reddit post, the woman shared several instances that made her feel unwelcome or out of place. “My ID always gets double-checked at concerts. At nail salons, they immediately say ‘It’s expensive’ before I even ask the price. We get looks when we go to nice restaurants, like we don’t belong there,” she wrote.

 

 

How do you deal with subtle racism?
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While such experiences had become familiar over time, a recent incident at a spa moved her to speak up. “I was at a spa, and this white lady asked where I was from. I said India. Then she said, ‘Did you learn English after coming here? Your English is exactly like mine.’ I told her I’ve spoken English all my life and she just stared at me until her pedicure was done and she left,” she recounted.

The interaction, though not overtly aggressive, left her feeling drained and unsure how to respond. “Stuff like this happens too often, and it’s exhausting,” she said, adding, “And then there’s the classic... ‘You’re not like the other Indians’ just because I’m fair-skinned. How is that even a compliment? How do you all deal with it? Do you speak up? Let it go? Educate them?”

Her post drew mixed reactions online. While some empathised, others attributed the behaviour to ignorance rather than racism. One commenter noted, “The average American knows nothing about India except for what is shown on TV.” Another advised, “Just ask them very politely… ‘I don’t understand, could you please elaborate?’”

The conversation continues, highlighting the thin line between ignorance and subtle racism.