Sunday, December 21, 2025
    ADVT 
    International

    ‘First Turbaned Sikh-American Basketball Player’ Goes From Racist Meme To Internet Hero

    Darpan News Desk IANS, 12 Dec, 2015 02:42 PM

      Last week a humor page on Facebook posted a racist meme about a turbaned sikh ignorantly calling “Muhammad” and “explosive”. The meme read “Nobody at school wants to guard Muhammad, he’s too explosive,” captured when he was playing basketball.

      The player in question is, however, Darsh Singh, an American born and bred Punjabi living in Dallas, and, in fact, has created history by becoming the first turbaned sikh to play NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball.

       
      The meme was not only a personal attack but also reflects how deeply the stereotype of associating bearded men with Islam and linking the religion to terrorism is ingrained in the psyche of a few.
       
      But Singh’s friend Greg Worthington didn’t brush the joke aside, he spoke out against what he thought was hateful and wrong. He took to Facebook to share his strongly-worded opinion against the hateful meme about his friend.
       
      He wrote: “I know this guy and his name’s not ‘Muhammad’. He’s not Arab, he’s Punjabi. He’s not even Muslim, he’s a Sikh. His name is Darsh Singh and he’s a US citizen, born and bred. That jersey he’s wearing in this pic, it currently sits in a Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC because he made US history as the NCAA’s first turbaned Sikh-American basketball player for Trinity University in my hometown of San Antonio.”
       
       

      Let me tell you why this shit isn't funny. I know this guy and his name's not 'Muhammad.' He's not Arab, he's Punjabi....

      Posted by Greg Worthington on Saturday, 5 December 2015
      "Knowing one or two - or even 15 people different than you - is not enough. You need to be networked with groups of people who are not like you to begin to truly understand just how much this stuff hurts people like Darsh.”
       
      Even better? The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Centre, this week, went on to launch a rather successful social media campaign called ‘I Want to #BeLikeDarsh’ in which people are being encouraged to aim high in life, no matter what their background.
       
      Darsh Singh’s response to the situation couldn’t have been more dignified as he simply thanked people for their love and support, adding: “Sikhs believe everyone and everything has the potential to embody divine love.”
       
       

      Thank you again to all of those who expressed support. Many folks have asked how they can help more than just sharing a...

      Posted by Darsh Preet Singh on Monday, 7 December 2015
      Singh is now a portfolio manager at Satori Capital and a Truman National Security Fellow.
       

      Let's build a better society by understanding our own values and then seeking out opportunities to live in congruence. I...

      Posted by Darsh Preet Singh on Friday, 11 December 2015
      Prev Next

      MORE International ARTICLES

      Fijians Of Indian Descent Top Suicide Statistics

      According to the report, Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy has expressed concern over the increasing cases of suicide by children.

      Fijians Of Indian Descent Top Suicide Statistics

      Indian Hotelier In US Indicted For Bribery, Fraud

      Indian Hotelier In US Indicted For Bribery, Fraud
      A prominent Indian-American hotelier has been indicted on several criminal charges, including bribing a former government official and committing a disaster relief fraud, authorities said.

      Indian Hotelier In US Indicted For Bribery, Fraud

      Let's Talk About Future: India To Pakistan At Border Force Talks

      Let's Talk About Future: India To Pakistan At Border Force Talks
      India on Thursday asked Pakistan to "talk about the future" as border security forces of both countries sat across the table here for a meeting.

      Let's Talk About Future: India To Pakistan At Border Force Talks

      Anirudh Kathirvel, Indian-Origin Boy Wins 'the Great Australian Spelling Bee'

      Anirudh Kathirvel, Indian-Origin Boy Wins 'the Great Australian Spelling Bee'
      Kathirvel beat his five opponents Harpita, Harrison, Marko, Mica and Grace for the title and 50,000 Australian dollars ($35,000) education scholarship

      Anirudh Kathirvel, Indian-Origin Boy Wins 'the Great Australian Spelling Bee'

      Europe Migrant Crisis: Pakistanis, Others Dumping Ids To Become 'Syrian'

      Europe Migrant Crisis: Pakistanis, Others Dumping Ids To Become 'Syrian'
      A Pakistani identity card in the bushes, a Bangladeshi one in a cornfield. A torn Iraqi driver's licence  bearing the photo of a man with a Saddam-style moustache, another one with a scarfed woman displaying a shy smile.

      Europe Migrant Crisis: Pakistanis, Others Dumping Ids To Become 'Syrian'

      Indian Takeaway Owner To Face Trial For Manslaughter Over Man's Peanut Death In Britain

      Indian Takeaway Owner To Face Trial For Manslaughter Over Man's Peanut Death In Britain
      Mohammed Zaman is accused of manslaughter for the death of Paul Wilson at his "Indian Garden" restaurant in Easingwold, North Yorkshire, in January 2014

      Indian Takeaway Owner To Face Trial For Manslaughter Over Man's Peanut Death In Britain

      PrevNext