Good post.
I'm not patronizing any such places either (tho, from the looks
of those signs, not sure I would be even without the racist bs).

Thanks for highlighting an issue I've been debating with friends for close to 2 years now. My first encounter with the "American Owned" sign was on the roads of Kentucky, and I immediately prickled at what it was connotating. Kentucky has a large number of Indian-owned hotels and there was no doubt in my mind that the sign was speaking directly to those who know of that.

My most recent encounter happened in a rural town in South Carolina. I was with friends white water rafting and I went to a local Ingles (http://www.ingles-markets.com/)which had the word emblazoned as part of the building in huge block letters. I wrote to the company via their website to complain about the sign, but received no reply.

This is a great post...It seems in America you’re not allowed to be openly racist to anyone unless they are foreigners or resident aliens. If the signs had said “White Owned” I think more people would care. But Americans are taught to feel superior and “stick to our own” (buying American cars, keeping jobs in America). There is definitely a deeper racism involved in advertising “American Owned” but I’m sure some might disagree its racism because they have bought into “buy American”.

Good point, Natasha. I also refuse to buy American, but I didn't get into that in the post.

CLARIFICATION:
It's not that I refuse to buy American made goods, it's that I refuse to buy things just because they were made in America. That is, I refuse to "Buy American." I don't care where something is made per se (although I do care about working conditions), it has no moral weight to me that something is made in America versus Canada or wherever else.

the motel employee quoted in the last excerpt seems ``special'' -- i say this only in bemused earnest.

When they do well, they think it's because of talent, but when they do poorly, it's because the deck is stacked against them.

Doesn't everybody? Which is why one should always fear populism.

reminds me of the "buy american" campaigns of yore. it's unamerican. if you whine about not being able to compete with foreigners, get out of my country. america is about freedom. love it or leave it.

Sorry this may sound stupid, but its a honest question. I'm clueless about this stuff.

Do Indian and Indian-Americans (as well as other Asians) really get grants/"free money" from the government when trying to set up a bussiness? Is it a minority thing or an immigrant thing?

thanks

Its about as racist as the "Be Indian, Buy Indian" campaigns they run back in the desh.

Let's get out the Patel owned signs, I say!

reminds me of the "buy american" campaigns of yore. it's unamerican. if you whine about not being able to compete with foreigners, get out of my country. america is about freedom. love it or leave it.

This entire outsourcing and nativist paranoia seems very similar to the ruckus about how those tiny Japanese would dominate America in the late 80s and early 90s.

Where do you hear this shit from? Some racist radio dick?

Probably from Sen Obama's campaign staff.

ruckus about how those tiny Japanese would dominate America in the late 80s and early 90s.

yeah, i remember those days. lester thurow was pushing for more central economic plannig. buchanan was having a fit, and somebody (maybe fukiyama) said: "the cold war is over, and Japan won."

You should take a look at what Santosh had to say about it, too.

CMF on July 17, 2007 02:45 PM · Direct link

Its about as racist as the "Be Indian, Buy Indian" campaigns they run back in the desh.

- Or this one http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1440875145.cms where it gets to the specifics of what MNC products you need to avoid to prevent the downfall of a nation

I tend to stay in cheap motels (

Katie,

my guess is that this guy was confusing Indian-Americans with American-Indians. There may be programs in place to help the latter.

can't post nomore on SM. anonyproxy ate prev comment. why the ban ?

Its about as racist as the "Be Indian, Buy Indian" campaigns they run back in the desh.

No it isn't. "Be Indian, Buy Indian" didn't proscribe doing business with legal residents of other nationalities who lived amongst us and paid taxes just like us. It just meant buy what was locally produced.

# 7, 15:

It's a pain having to go down to the Indian-American Grants Office every month to pick
up my check (haven't these people heard of direct deposit?), but the $$ sure helps me
lord it over the rest of the Americans.

(snark off)

My boyfriends mother is from Hawaii and she got a grant from the government. Free money, shit...

If you are native Hawaiian and are living in Hawaii, then you probably do get benefits from the state govt. Not sure about the Feds.

I grew up in a VERY small town on Route 66. Most of the motels in town were Indian owned...but of the few remaining ones, one owner (an elderly Caucasian couple) decided to advertise that it was not owned by Indians. Until they passed away, they wanted to attract the "American" people. It was strange growing up in such a mixed town full of Native Americans, desis, Spanish, Mexicans, and first generation Europeans that there were people like them around still. Maybe they feared us?
My family experienced some customers who would come in and take one look at the brown skin and walk back out. My parents would shrug it off. Now that I think about it, where would these customers have gone? They would have to go through many of the motels to find that "white" owner they were looking for.

Sorry this may sound stupid, but its a honest question. I'm clueless about this stuff.

Do Indian and Indian-Americans (as well as other Asians) really get grants/"free money" from the government when trying to set up a bussiness? Is it a minority thing or an immigrant thing?

thanks

Katie, the answer is "No". Neither Asians or Indians (i.e. people from India) get government money to setup shop. Family and friends pool money to get started and go to commercial lending institutions for the remainder just like anyone else. They work their asses off, and in most cases the entire family is contributing labor to make things run.

If you are native Hawaiian and are living in Hawaii, then you probably do get benefits from the state govt. Not sure about the Feds.

i forget the details, but there's a humongous hawaiian trust set up many decades ago to benefit indigenous hawaiians. something to do with some monarchy, i think. but i know the trust is loaded. sorry for the generalizations but i'm sure you can google the details

louiecypther:

Thanks for answering. I didn't think Indians got grants because I never heard any Indian people talking about them, but I wasn't sure. But then who are these grants reserved for? Native Americans and Black Americans, I'm guessing?

I know this is horrible stereotyping and elitism, but I'll make an unvarnished comment: I am always amazed at the fortitude of these motel owners who probably came to this country well into their 20s or whatever, are doing quite a thankless and tiresome job, but both because of geography and economics probably attract a clientele that exhibits a disproportionate amount of racism and various strains of bigotry. Even a few days' worth of interaction with people who have such views is often excruciating for me, and I can't even conceive what it must mean to deal with this day in and day out, for years on end.

Who's this coach guy?

Who's this coach guy?

See the first quote.

louiecypther:

Thanks for answering. I didn't think Indians got grants because I never heard any Indian people talking about them, but I wasn't sure. But then who are these grants reserved for? Native Americans and Black Americans, I'm guessing?

Katie, I'm not sure what you are referring to without a link to the program. I'm not sure what's out there in terms of programs for African-Americans or Native-Americans/Hawaiins, but even as someone who is somewhat conservative I am not opposed to special consideration for encouraging business growth in those communities. Before we get sidetracked, what's your opinion on subject matter of this post regarding hotel owners coding for their race in signs?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/gettingfinancing/article52012.html
http://www.medweek.gov/

The Minority Business Development Agency (*MBDA) is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. MBDA is the only Federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. Under MBDA's new leadership, the Agency will become more entrepreneurial and have a new focus on innovative solutions to enhance minority business development.

MBDA provides assistance to socially or economically disadvantaged groups who own or wish to start or expand their own businesses, including African Americans, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanish-speaking Americans, Eskimos, Aleuts, Asian Indians, Asian Pacific Americans and Hasidic Jews.

Doesn't everybody? Which is why one should always fear populism.

Don't you mean racism/nativism/nationalism? You should meet some cosmopolitan populists, you'll like them.

Three posts from Ennis! I'm in heaven.

I don't think we should fault the desi motel owners for putting "American Owned" on their signs, especially if they're losing business to a competitor. What are they expected to do? Just hope that everyone boycotts the "American owned" places?

yeah, i remember those days. lester thurow was pushing for more central economic plannig. buchanan was having a fit, and somebody (maybe fukiyama) said: "the cold war is over, and Japan won."

Buchanan is always having a fit, and Fukuyama is an idiot. Thurow was the surprise, although it led to some memorable fights with Paul Krugman. Krugman wades into some of this in his book, "Pop Internationalism". Great read.

#30-Md
What do you think would happen when potential customers (seeing "american owned") walked in and saw brown people running the desks? I highly doubt they would think "oh, what the heck-I'm here anyway" and put down money for a room. Point being- desis will lose money either way if they are not wanted in a particular area.

On another note-has anyone noticed the wacko comments under the first picture (Dogwood Motel) in Flickr?

Thanks Blah. I'm not sure how people conflate loans for small businesses with "free money". I've never had to apply for a small business loan in less forward thinking parts of the US, but I have heard there are race related asymmetries in loan decisions.

MD wrote:

I don't think we should fault the desi motel owners for putting "American Owned" on their signs, especially if they're losing business to a competitor. What are they expected to do? Just hope that everyone boycotts the "American owned" places?

It's not the Desi motel owners that Ennis is faulting

his post says otherwise

If they’re non-desis, then I don’t think they really want my business - I wouldn’t expect them to treat me well. And if they’re desis, then they might not want me around lest I scare off the @$$holes they’ve attracted as clients. Either way, I imagine I would be treated poorly. Why not take my money somewhere else?

The Minority Business Development Agency (*MBDA) is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. MBDA is the only Federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. Under MBDA's new leadership, the Agency will become more entrepreneurial and have a new focus on innovative solutions to enhance minority business development.

MBDA provides assistance to socially or economically disadvantaged groups who own or wish to start or expand their own businesses, including African Americans, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanish-speaking Americans, Eskimos, Aleuts, Asian Indians, Asian Pacific Americans and Hasidic Jews.

Don't they have to be citizens?

We had the exact same discussion over at UD a few months ago.

Another case of being wrongfully stereotyped? I for one think so.

It's not the Desi motel owners that Ennis is faulting--those who put up those signs are white caucasians using a form of "subtle racism" to lure business their way.

his post says otherwise

Let me clarify. For the same reasons as raised by others, I think it is highly unlikely that these signs are put up by desis. "American owned and operated" is a way of saying "we're not brown". If people who respond to that sign walk into a motel and see a brown face, they're not likely to be persuaded by discussions of naturalization and citizenship. For that reason, the only people who are likely to put the sign up are non-browns, most likely white, motel owners.

That said, EVEN IF the sign was put up by a brown motel owner, I would still refuse to give it my business.

p.s. Rani who does the use of "if" in my post indicate that I think these signs are put up by brown moteliers?

What if we did up all the Patel owned motels as Kwik-e-marts?

This may be the origin of the Hawaiian money comment:

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, also popularly known by its acronym OHA, is a semiautonomous entity of the State of Hawaii charged with the administration of 1.8 million acres (7,300 km²) of royal land held in trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians. Created by the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention (popularly known as "ConCon"), Native Hawaiians were given the right for the first time through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to make their own decisions as to the investment of ceded lands and collect revenue generated by those lands to fund programs for the people. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is considered the most influential arm of the broader Hawaiian Sovereignty movement that inspired its creation. [Link]

As an aside, everybody who lives in Alaska gets money too - it's oil money that goes into a trust:

There is a trust fund that is similar to Social Security called the Permanent Fund that holds all the revenue that Alaska makes through oil drilling, and a portion of this money is given to Alaskan citizens every year. As of June 2003, the Permanent Fund was valued at $24.2 billion. It was the voters' decision to create this fund and its purpose is to conserve the revenue from oil drilling to make oil drilling revenues last (Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, www.aptc.org). [Link]

However, there is no money that goes to Indians (those from India, not Native Americans) from the US Government. That person was just ignorant, that's why I included her remarks.

Its about as racist as the "Be Indian, Buy Indian" campaigns they run back in the desh.

CMF - are you defending the "American Owned and Operated" signs by making reference to the Swadesi movement? I hope not.

For one thing, people generally acknowledge a difference between immigrants to ones country and people outside. For example, it's not legal to discriminate based on national origin, but we impose trade tariffs and restrictions all the time (it may not be smart, but nobody says it's completely immoral). I happen to dislike nativist campaigns of most forms, but I don't think they're the same as racial discrimination in America.

Second, and more importantly, the swadesi campaign happened in a context of occupation, where Indian industry was destroyed by a colonial power in order to force Indians to buy cloth from UK producers. It wasn't simple nativism, it was a refusal to be coerced, much like the Montgomery Bus Boycotts. Very different from "American owned" or even from "Buy American."

"I also refuse to buy American, but I didn't get into that in the post."

I almost blew my cappucino through my nose on that one. shoot--my Saturn saved my life on the beltway recently. i also found some nice madeinamerica underwear that got me downright nostalgic.

For a fleeting second, I thought...glass houses and all that jazz,...but then I tried to understand, because isn't that what life is all about?
yours truly "American" will choose an Indian-people-run motel over an "American" if it appears to promise better accommodations, service, amenities, convenience, etc., but then we are talking capitalism perhaps more than racism, because, of course, nobody on this blog would choose a motel based on the race of the owner/manager.
I do get it about the "American Owned" signs, because so many Indians own/manage motels/hotels and it is a personal affront to you. Still, most whites--oh, 70-80% maybe, especially if they are employed--do realize that skin color is not a criteria for citizenship and there are all kinds of Americans. If the standards are good, people of all hues will come, as they do to Jewish doctors and Chinese acupunturists. These things run on reputation.
As for luring business their way--this is capitalism. In time, you will lure the people you want doing it your way. I've seen all ethnic groups try to lure customers their way by manipulating loyalities, expectations, comfort-level, insecurities. You think whites don't like desis? Confession: a lot of whites think Indians don't like them. View them negatively. Misunderstand them. Don't trust them. Don't care about them. Sad, i know, but there it is.

ennis, natasha, would you buy American if it were made by desi immigrants working their fingers to the bone in factories in small New Jersey towns? Does the thought of working class black people in Detroit's auto factories soften your adamancy against made-in-America? working class whites making things in little Pennsylvania towns? Chinese in California sweat shops? No? Hong Kong sweatshops? Does made in Japan have more appeal for you? Because last I heard, Japan does not hire anybody except Japanese to work in its factories and yet we all buy their cars. The Chinese are not too keen on foreign workers either.
So dear friends, carry on with your boycott of American-made, if you want. That's capitalism and it's a free country. But I fear those rather silly motel America signs will not come down anytime soon. They are signs of the times. Sad.

"I also refuse to buy American, but I didn't get into that in the post."

I almost blew my cappucino through my nose on that one. shoot--my Saturn saved my life on the beltway recently. i also found some nice madeinamerica underwear that got me downright nostalgic.

WOAH - let me clarify - I should go back and edit. It's not that I refuse to buy American made goods, it's that I refuse to "Buy American", i.e. buy things because they are made here and not somewhere else. For one thing, the campaign is stupid - production is too globalized for the label "Made in America" to make much sense. Secondly, it has no moral weight to me that something is made here and not there. Sure, working conditions are important to me, as are environmental conditions, but that's very different from narrow nativism.

Ruhul #24 -

I know this is horrible stereotyping and elitism, but I'll make an unvarnished comment: I am always amazed at the fortitude of these motel owners who probably came to this country well into their 20s or whatever, are doing quite a thankless and tiresome job, but both because of geography and economics probably attract a clientele that exhibits a disproportionate amount of racism and various strains of bigotry. Even a few days' worth of interaction with people who have such views is often excruciating for me, and I can't even conceive what it must mean to deal with this day in and day out, for years on end.

My parents have invested in some motels and one of them is a very crap motel. They want to hold onto it b/c the land is worth a lot. I understand where you are coming from Rahul, but I actually don't know if anyone is more racist than anyone else. Having worked in the motel as a maid, b/c my parents were punishing me, as a teenager, I have spent some time in that motel. I worked at the desk and worked with other maids, cleaning rooms.

I'll say this about the clientele or the workers at the motels - like I said, I don't know if anyone is more racist than a rich racist in the metro city I now live in, but the thing that bothered me was that motel clientele and workers' education was not good, so I would get flustered with some questions.

The other thing is, from my experience, many of the desis who run such motels don't have professional degrees and not much education themselves. But what I think must be difficult or interesting is that both cultures - rural white or black Americans most with just high school education meeting rural desis - are generally ignorant of each others' cultures.

In the motel we own it's just amazing to see these cultures interacting - the handy-man (a white rural man who gets drunk practically every night) arguing with Amit, the motel manager b/c he wants to get off work so he can start his drinking, in the motel lobby which has an odd combination of deerheads, and various Hindu gods, a pooja side room where you can smell the burning incense....it's amazing that these two, one with a strong Southern rural accent, and the other with a strong rural Gujarti accent, arguing it out.

But for the motel owner/manager - they can make a lot of money...Amit, who has a hs education from india, makes a ton of more money than me, with my masters. So I guess they feel it is worth the sacrafice....at least they don't have to work under the horrible labor conditions like in Saudi.

mia said:

You think whites don't like desis?

I think there is racism and it is used commercially in the motel business by some motel owners, yes. I've linked to a discussion of it.

As for luring business their way--this is capitalism. In time, you will lure the people you want doing it your way.

It's also racist and unamerican. I wont respond to people who say "Spend your money here, we're white"

I'm sure you've seen Ashley Judd play a maid in a desi owned motel with raags and everything going on in the background.

As for luring business their way--this is capitalism. In time, you will lure the people you want doing it your way.

It's also racist and unamerican. I wont respond to people who say "Spend your money here, we're white"

Thanks, PS. I was admittedly painting with a Texas-sized brush there.

This isn't just exclusive to motels. I've also seen these signs on gas stations and convenience stores all over the place in Florida.

"American Owned"??

Argh.

Suggestions for alternate signs:

"Bigot Owned"
"Inbred Banjo-Player Owned"
"Customers With Purty Mouths Welcome"
"We Don't Want Your Filthy Foreign Money"
"Positively NO Swedish Owners"
"Git Off Mah Property!"
;-P

I don't see what could be considered "racist" about American owned. Anyone who is an American citizen, no matter what race, color, shade, tone, tint, or ethnic background, is an American. You seem to be assuming the people will be white.

i forget the details, but there's a humongous hawaiian trust set up many decades ago to benefit indigenous hawaiians. something to do with some monarchy, i think. but i know the trust is loaded. sorry for the generalizations but i'm sure you can google the details

Are you thinking of Kamehameha Schools? It has a ginormous endowment that was started by a descendant of Hawaiian monarchy to benefit Native Hawaiians.

Distinction: Largest endowment of all independent schools in the United States. At the end of the 2006 fiscal year, the endowment was valued at more than $7.7 billion.[1]

Are you thinking of Kamehameha Schools?

i think it was the trust that ennis linked to.

Distinction: Largest endowment of all independent schools in the United States. At the end of the 2006 fiscal year, the endowment was valued at more than $7.7 billion.[

pretty sure harvard and yale are above that. but that's a good chunk of change.

I don't see what could be considered "racist" about American owned. Anyone who is an American citizen, no matter what race, color, shade, tone, tint, or ethnic background, is an American. You seem to be assuming the people will be white.

???
The comment below is from a white American who owns a website that lists motels. He clearly thinks it has a racist connotation. It is not designed to designate American citizens from non-citizens, but instead is clearly meant to say "We are white", i.e. this is not a Gujarati owned motel:

The phrase "American owned" has a racist connotation. Forty percent of the motels in the United States are owned by people of Asian descent. Unfortunately, a lot of negative -- and inaccurate -- stereotypes have sprung up about these property owners. Some people think a motel owned by someone from India or Pakistan will be dirty or poorly maintained. A few people even say mean things like, "If you smell curry, leave in a hurry," as if a person who knows how to make a good batch of tandoori chicken is somehow less qualified to run a motel than a person who fixes hamburgers or lasagna for dinner. When a motel owner puts up a sign that says "American owned," he is pandering to this unfair stereotype. There is no legitimate reason to advertise one's pedigree on a billboard or in front of a business. [Link]

"Customers With Purty Mouths Welcome"

only if they squeal like a pig

American Stoned-#51

If you don't see how advertising that a business is "American Owned" is a jab at the percieved other-the "other", being brown hoteliers and gas station owners, you need to lay off the smoke for a while. The perception by those putting up these signs is that these desis are not citizens, which they most likely are, but as percieved "non-citizens/non-Americans" should not be patronized. What happened to the coming to this country, working hard and starting over philosophy? Instead, the theme has become-don't come here AT ALL, we don't want to compete with you.

I'm not telling these people to take down their signs-I'm saying their sign has the opposite intended effect on me and I WON'T give them business because their sign tells me that they're dicks. Why are they dicks? Because they're trying to cash in on the racism/anti-immigrant bias in the US. In doing so, they inflate that racism and bias.

My conversation with the desk clerk clearly was echoing a sentiment that "Indians" are exploiting hard working Americans through their status as a favored ethnic minority. Let's just, for a moment, put aside the fact that the owner of the motel was most likely an American citizen or on his way to becoming one. There is a perception that Indians have an unfair advantage over other Americans, white or not.

If people would read the entire post, both Ennis's and mine, they would see that Big D and I had a conversation about the exact thing you are positing:

Anyone who is an American citizen, no matter what race, color, shade, tone, tint, or ethnic background, is an American. You seem to be assuming the people will be white.

Here is what I said on my blog, quoted by Ennis:

I had adamently refused to stay anywhere that had on it’s sign “American Owned”.

Big D argued well,”What if it turns out they’re not some local dicks trying to cash in on being white in the post 9-11 south? What if they’re naturalized citizens from someplace else and they’re taking advantage of the whole ‘American owned’ movement by putting that on their sign? They are AMERICAN, right?”

“But then they’re feeding that whole line of racist thought, they’re promoting the xenophobic tourist and racist/anti-immigrant mindset. Fuck that shit. I ain’t giving them my money if they put that shit on their sign.” [Link]

As far as the Hawaii comments, here is the direct quote from my blog about it...

"Five months. These Indians, man. They got everything they want from us. You know the govenment gives them free money and grants and shit so they can buy businesses?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Naw, it's true. My boyfriends mother is from Hawaii and she got a grant from the government. Free money, shit. It's not fair."

"Hawaii is a state, not a country. And Hawaiians aren't from India, you got your issues mixed up. Maybe she got some grant for indigineous peoples. There are lots of grants out there if you look. I got Pell Grants in college, among others."

"Yeah, and look at you." She looks down at her feet when she says this.

This girl is under the misapprehension that Indians get the same grants that Native Hawaiians may be getting, simply because they are brown, or maybe she doesn't know India is a country, different than American-Indians... or maybe she thinks that any loans minorites get must be "free money". What's important is I don't think she came up with this shit by herself-it's out there and obviously is part of why we're seeing these "American Owned" signs being put up. She's also under the impression that because I'm latina, THAT is why I got a Pell Grant. But that's another story...

The link Ennis posted to Route66.com is great and Emily does a good job with her site.It's helping me plan my next trip already. Thnaks, Ennis!

Suggestions for alternate signs:

"Bigot Owned"
"Inbred Banjo-Player Owned"
"Customers With Purty Mouths Welcome"
"We Don't Want Your Filthy Foreign Money"
"Positively NO Swedish Owners"
"Git Off Mah Property!"
;-P

Thanks for the linkage, Ennis. I had the pleasure (or rather, displeasure) of witnessing one such sign during my recent visit to St. Augustine, FL. For those interested here's the high-res version of the pic of Florida Motel.

Speaking of which comment #50 is totally over the line. Basically you're doing the same thing some ignorant bozo is, by responding in kind.

p.s. Rani who does the use of "if" in my post indicate that I think these signs are put up by brown moteliers?

i read your post as saying that you don't know for a fact who puts up the signs :

If they’re non-desis, ____

And if they’re desis, ____

and you don't care:

Either way, I imagine I would be treated poorly. Why not take my money somewhere else?

did i misunderstand?

What part of
" ;-P "
didn't Camille get...?
:-S

The phrase "American owned" has a racist connotation. Forty percent of the motels in the United States are owned by people of Asian descent. Unfortunately, a lot of negative -- and inaccurate -- stereotypes have sprung up about these property owners. Some people think a motel owned by someone from India or Pakistan will be dirty or poorly maintained. A few people even say mean things like, "If you smell curry, leave in a hurry," as if a person who knows how to make a good batch of tandoori chicken is somehow less qualified to run a motel than a person who fixes hamburgers or lasagna for dinner. When a motel owner puts up a sign that says "American owned," he is pandering to this unfair stereotype. There is no legitimate reason to advertise one's pedigree on a billboard or in front of a business.

If that is indeed the conotation, then it is indeed racist. However, there is nothing inherently racist about the term "American owned". The connotation will have to exist in the minds of owners advertising like that, or customers booking into the hotel because they think the owners will be white. When I buy a T-shirt or any product stating "American owned", I never assumed or pictured the manufacturers to be white. I just assumed it's made within the borders of USA. Since Americans comprise almost every color, creed and ethnic background, well it could've been made by anybody.

In all honesty, I think any of us who have frequented small motels owned by desis or desi-Americans (Patel Motels), have had the "curry aroma" experience. If one's nose is accustomed to that you may not even notice. If it is not, you will and it can be quite strong. I guess the same would be if someone was cooking alot of Italian lasagna there with lots of garlic. The reason for this is many desis also live in their motels, in rooms that are offshoots of the front office. Therefore the kitchen smells waft into the office. I've stayed at a lot of small mom and pop motels owned and operated by desi moms, pops and families. You get these alot in beach towns and to enjoy the beach at budget prices, mom and pop motels are the way to go.

The only solution to the strong aromas wafting into the office would be to live separately from the motel. For some people this is not economically practical. Those who live in their motels are usually running the business on a tight budget and therefore that might also give the appearance of a not so highly kept up motel. This is not limited to desis though.

This is really unnecessary. I understand the first, fourth, and fifth alternatives, but the other "alternate signs" reinforce racist and classist ideas about poor white people in this country. Let's not make the mistake of repeating the same kind of vitriol in our criticisms.

camille, can i recruit you for my national "Anti-Sophomoric Trailer-Dweller Joke Campaign" ?

If that is indeed the conotation, then it is indeed racist. However, there is nothing inherently racist about the term "American owned". The connotation will have to exist in the minds of owners advertising like that, or customers booking into the hotel because they think the owners will be white.

If you saw a sign that said "Whites only" would you think it wasn't racist because only albinos are truly white and albinos come from all races?

Kind of reminds me of an add I saw on Zee tv last week boasting that the company was "asian-owned". But that would be okay, right because.... insert rationalization here.

Kind of reminds me of an add I saw on Zee tv last week boasting that the company was "asian-owned". But that would be okay, right because.... insert rationalization here.

Might be OK with you, but it's not OK with me at all. Let me know when it becomes a widespread and pernicious problem and I'll blog it. This "American owned and operated" signage seems to be widespread. I've never seen what you described, but then I don't watch Zee either.

Kind of reminds me of an add I saw on Zee tv last week boasting that the company was "asian-owned". But that would be okay, right because.... insert rationalization here

That would be ok, because it's idiotic business practice. Any business that put up a sign like that would last all of 2 seconds. How many people in this country have said "The Asians are losing this country, and to really be patriotic you have to go and patronize Asian establishments, and if you don't you're a traitor"

onnn a tangent, but:
so I'm the only one who thought the woman talking about Indians and Hawaii, was talking about Native Americans? and then got all confused, because I thought, being the 50th state and all, American kids learned in their middle school Social Studies classes that the dark-skinned peoples of the islands were also American? and so it kinda made my brain melt when I realised she thought Asians came from Hawaii?

right, I'm being condescending and snarky (and redundant), but seriously: what. the hell. is this a common misconception that people have, about the brown people in Hawaii and in India?

Ennis said:

"Might be OK with you, but it's not OK with me at all. Let me know when it becomes a widespread and pernicious problem and I'll blog it. This "American owned and operated" signage seems to be widespread. I've never seen what you described, but then I don't watch Zee either."

No, not okay with me. I was being facetious. I thought it was offensive. But, I thought someone would jump somehow to defend it anyway, which HMF promptly did.

On uberdesi a couple months ago ...

http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=646

You people have real problems. The ones who oppose buying American. You are in America. You obviously like it here, so support us as Americans owning businesses. Why can't I be openly proud to be an American and/or White? I will tell everybody about my heritage and will be proud to be an American and White and will always go to American owned places. I will also visit places owned by anybody. I will not boycott something in my own country just because it says it is owned by people from my own country. If you live in a particular country, why would you boycott a business owned by your fellow countrymen? We do have basically an open door policy and it works both ways. You can leave if you do not like it here. Our country is obviously better than from where you came or you would not be here. Why would you not support the way we do things? It's obviously working and better or you wouldn't be attracted to the U.S. I don't understand why any other race or nationality can speak of their country/heritage and how proud they are of it, but once an American or a white describes their heritage and are proud of it, we are hushed. My family has been here since the 2nd ship after the Mayflower and I am very proud of that. My Danish and Scottish ancestors helped build this country and if you are so opposed to it, then you can either keep your comments to yourself or f'ing leave. You know good and well that if a hotel said Indian owned you would go there in a second. Don't fault American born people for wanting to go to an American owned hotel. Better yet, put yourself in our shoes. In your country, if we were building hotels all over the place, you can't honestly, which I know is hard for Indians, but you can't tell me you wouldn't support your own. Also, why do Indians feel the need to take every penny from someone else to make their pockets fatter? Here in America we help each other and if a deal is good, we don't feel the need to make it better for ourselves. I guess that's why your countrymen would slit their parents throat if it would help them make an extra penny. We don't do that in America and bringing that mentality here is going to make our country as socially corrupt and as undesirable as yours. Let's make this easy. If you don't agree, just leave. Stop complaining about the way things are done here. Go home if it is so much better there. Think about that for a second. You can't belly ache back home like you do here, why do you think we want to hear your complaints? Our country was doing just fine the way we've always done it, why do you think we need your help now? We don't, I promise.

You people have real problems. The ones who oppose buying American. You are in America. You obviously like it here, so support us as Americans owning businesses. Why can't I be openly proud to be an American and/or White? I will tell everybody about my heritage and will be proud to be an American and White and will always go to American owned places. I will also visit places owned by anybody. I will not boycott something in my own country just because it says it is owned by people from my own country. If you live in a particular country, why would you boycott a business owned by your fellow countrymen? We do have basically an open door policy and it works both ways. You can leave if you do not like it here. Our country is obviously better than from where you came or you would not be here. Why would you not support the way we do things? It's obviously working and better or you wouldn't be attracted to the U.S. I don't understand why any other race or nationality can speak of their country/heritage and how proud they are of it, but once an American or a white describes their heritage and are proud of it, we are hushed. My family has been here since the 2nd ship after the Mayflower and I am very proud of that. My Danish and Scottish ancestors helped build this country and if you are so opposed to it, then you can either keep your comments to yourself or f'ing leave. You know good and well that if a hotel said Indian owned you would go there in a second. Don't fault American born people for wanting to go to an American owned hotel. Better yet, put yourself in our shoes. In your country, if we were building hotels all over the place, you can't honestly, which I know is hard for Indians, but you can't tell me you wouldn't support your own. Also, why do Indians feel the need to take every penny from someone else to make their pockets fatter? Here in America we help each other and if a deal is good, we don't feel the need to make it better for ourselves. I guess that's why your countrymen would slit their parents throat if it would help them make an extra penny. We don't do that in America and bringing that mentality here is going to make our country as socially corrupt and as undesirable as yours. Let's make this easy. If you don't agree, just leave. Stop complaining about the way things are done here. Go home if it is so much better there. Think about that for a second. You can't belly ache back home like you do here, why do you think we want to hear your complaints? Our country was doing just fine the way we've always done it, why do you think we need your help now? We don't, I promise.

a lot of the people on this blog are "americans" and born in america. ots as much our country as yours. dont tell us to "go home". we are home.

Puliogre in da USA-

I was gonna say the same thing you did when I saw this but it's becoming so painfully obvious that too many people come here or to other sites, don't bother reading the whole post because they're perezosos, don't bother learning what the site is about or who writes for it, don't bother reading any of the comments...ah, screw it.

Don't fault American born people for wanting to go to an American owned hotel.

We are American - born and otherwise - and we love going to American owned hotels. We don't, however, like going to hotels that state that they're American so they can somehow assert that, because brown people may have come to this country later, these "Americans" are any less immigrants than their brown counterparts. If you don't like how so many brown people own businesses here, maybe you should go back to Europe.

Fuerza Dulce

You been to Europe lately? ;)

Espan was mixin' wit the brown in the 10th century baby! I know what you sayin' though.:)

Chula, I just figured since David's so proud of his Danish and Scottish roots, he'd be cool with going back there. But dammit, there are even brown's in Scotland now, too, huh? Curses!! We're everywhere!

You're a real piece of work, David. 100 years ago your wonderful Danish and Scottish ancestors might have been saying the same thing to the Italians, Irish and Jews... remember how they all got back on the boat and went home? Oh wait, no they didn't. And the brown folks aren't going to either, so you'd best put on your big boy shorts and deal with it. For someone so obsessed with history it's curious that you would pick the losing side.

Our country was doing just fine the way we've always done it

Sure has.

Manju you think maybe David is working for the Obama campaign? The American owned sign is despicable,and I'm sure Ennis got the connotation right. I suppose all hotel owners have their desired clientele. Two wrongs, don't make a right,So sad, too bad.

That is funny about Obama and the answer is a resounding he%$ no, I do not support him. Mary, you are a little behind, it's actually almost 400 years ago, but what happened was my ancestors left for either or both of these reasons: they didn't like the government or they wanted a fresh start. My most well known ancestor is John Alden. If you knew your history you would know that my ancestors built this country from the ground up. If it is so bad, then why do we have so many cultures here and a waiting list to come here? Hmmmm? Now pay attention here Mary, the difference is I don't go to another country and vocally complain about the way things are done. That's the arguement that I have. When in Rome! As I said before and as my ancestors did, if you don't like it or think you can do better somewhere else, by all means, get the courage up and leave, stop complaining. Our country does not have to do things the way you want, but it's obviously working for us. You want to strip people of their heritage and I don't understand or appreciate it. Everybody else can be proud of their heritage, but the white folk. My ancestors do not owe anybody a dime. For heaven's sake, they lived in Boston, north of the Mason Dixon Line. Btw, I read every post on this website. Someone said I can go back to Europe, why would I leave when I like the way things are done here? You guys are the ones complaining about the way we do things. My complaint is about people coming here and trying to change things. Like I said, if your way was right and you were doing fine elsewhere, then why did you come here?

Like I said, if your way was right and you were doing fine elsewhere, then why did you come here?

Now, now children...it's not nice to mock the mentally-challenged. Anyone who can't grasp the simple fact that what this post was railing against wasn't AMERICA, but one minor, regrettable action which occurred here, isn't capable of understanding all you are trying to explain.

Besides, if someone wants to play the "I got here first"-card, then I will gladly go back to MY PARENTS' country when this asshole leaves for his. THE NATIVE AMERICANS WERE HERE FIRST. Put that FACT on your claim to the Mayflower, sail it and STFU.

Our country does not have to do things the way you want, but it's obviously working for us

I reserve the right to change MY country in a way that I see fit. some things work for me. others dont. bigotry doesnt. dont tell me what to do and what not to do in my homeland. if you dont like my behavior, go f*ck urself.

David,

My American culture respects free speech and I can complain about what goes on here in this country. You seem to be complaining about the use of free speech in this country...according to your logic, than you should pack up and go back to Scotland or perhaps Africa....after all most of OUR American forefathers who built this country, did a lot of exploitation back then and like most Americans who have been here for generations there was plenty of mixing going on between the exploited and exploiter.

One of the themes that stayed on the backburner as this thread developed - although Ennis did highlight it - is that some of the motel owners putting up the 'American-owned' signs may well be desis themselves. And yes, some of them may be doing it to 'shoo away' desis and other minorities, while others are trying desperately to 'blend in'.

In my experience, both the very best service and the very worst service I've ever received has been with desi motel owners. If some motel owners want their potential clients to discriminate against the supposed 'non-American' motel owners, there are also some desi motel owners, whether they call themselves 'American' or not, who will discriminate against other desis. This discrimination runs the gamut - from being denied a room when it exists; to being quoted a higher price; to being offered an inferior quality room relative to the price quoted; to segregating clients racially by floor, or wing; to steering clients of certain ethnicities to the 'colored motel' nearby, etc etc. This is endemic to the 'hospitality' industry, and more generically, the accomodation rental industry - and you can bet that some of the people doing it are desis, to other desis. The tighter a local market, the easier it is to discriminate - and my very worst experience has been in desi-owned motels in the 'cosmopolitan' Bay Area, while I've had very good experiences, for example, in white-ownde motels on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one of the last places I would have expected it.

At the other extreme, some desi motel owners clearly value other desi clients, and I have also been treated as if I were a guest in their home - though somewhat less often, I have to say.

You do not respect freedom of speech, because someone I know tried to post a comment on this site and you blocked it. Freedom of speech does not apply to people who don't agree with you obviously.

They might not get "free money" or there might not be an agreement between "their country and ours" but it is true that "minority" and women owned businesses do get benefits from government not available to anyone else.

Also, perhaps that the term "American Owned" is just their way of saying "You can understand us and we can understand you when you ask us a question". Sometimes with thick accents and poor understanding of English it becomes very tough even to ask for an extra towel or whatever.

Also, perhaps that the term "American Owned" is just their way of saying "You can understand us and we can understand you when you ask us a question". Sometimes with thick accents and poor understanding of English it becomes very tough even to ask for an extra towel or whatever.

This is so true and this is a gripe alot of senior citizens have with overseas call-center workers when they dial a 1-800 number. It's hard enough for some seniors to hear to begin with because their hearing abilities are often challenged at their age, add to that a thick accent and they can't understand a thing. Very valid point.

Also, perhaps that the term "American Owned" is just their way of saying "You can understand us and we can understand you when you ask us a question". Sometimes with thick accents and poor understanding of English it becomes very tough even to ask for an extra towel or whatever.

This is so true and this is a gripe alot of senior citizens have with overseas call-center workers when they dial a 1-800 number. It's hard enough for some seniors to hear to begin with because their hearing abilities are often challenged at their age, add to that a thick accent and they can't understand a thing. Very valid point.

I have a harder time understanding somebody with a thick regional American accent than call center employees in India who have been trained to neutralize their accents. It got easier for me when they moved call centers from the American South to the Indian South.

Also, why do Indians feel the need to take every penny from someone else to make their pockets fatter?

It is called running a business. Are you not familiar with the capitalist concept, dave?

Here in America we help each other and if a deal is good, we don't feel the need to make it better for ourselves.

No, dave. Allow me to be as patronizing as yourself. Here in America and elsewhere, businesses survive only on profit.

I guess that's why your countrymen would slit their parents throat if it would help them make an extra penny.

You must have lots of issues with your parents to bring up something so disgusting. Don't need to make us feel unconfortable with you, as you can be our token klansboy: kluxie.

I think the most salient issue involved here is the perception that South Asian immigrants and their (very) recent descendants are somehow threatening to subvert the established socioeconomic and cultural equilibrium in many communities. This is a misplaced fear. Except for some small domains, like the motel sector, South Asians do not form a substantial majority in any major profession, industry, major metropolitan area, or electoral jurisdiction. The likely fact is that South Asians and their identifiable descendants are likely to remain outside of the mainstream of U.S. society, especially in the light of the increasingly restrictionist immigration policies that are on the horizon. I don't think there is the remotest risk of a "Hinduization" of the U.S. on the lines of the mexicanization that is occurring across broad swaths of territory. Thus, outside of tightly circumscribed economic flashpoints - such as seen in the explosion of Gujurati motel owners in the rural U.S. - this type of anti-Indian xenophobia is unlikely to pop-up across the broader cultural spectrum.

I have a harder time understanding somebody with a thick regional American accent than call center employees in India who have been trained to neutralize their accents. It got easier for me when they moved call centers from the American South to the Indian South.

That's you. Ask your average senior citizen here who of the two they have a harder time understanding, and keeping in mind alot of seniors themselves have southern drawls.