![Sample our Area Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5922/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Area-Studies.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This paper explores the contributions of Sikh American millennials in institution building, activism, and cultural expression in the post 9/11 period. The discussion is based on interviews and fieldwork conducted by the author. I describe the motivations and concerns of Sikh American millennial activists. I also discuss the digital fluencies they apply in their fight against discrimination and violence. They value innovative leadership, civil rights, gender equality, social justice, and youth programs. I conclude that millennial institution building is shaping the community by expanding civil society engagement, promoting youth leadership, and highlighting social problems within the community like sexism and classism.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. I would like to acknowledge Ms. Nanki Bhullar, a student researcher at Santa Clara University (2015–2016), for her contribution in compiling and formatting the tables in Appendix 1. The information collected from 2015 to 2016 is entirely from public websites of Sikh organizations. I would also like to acknowledge Santa Clara University for a grant through the Faculty Student Research Assistant Program 2015–2016.
2. A critique that I heard at Sikh Studies conferences and in informal discussions is that the new institutions are ‘elitist’ because they overwhelmingly represent the needs of turbaned and observant Sikhs. This critique is an important one that I am still researching.
3. For a more detailed discussion of the role of women in new Sikh institutions, see Luthra Citation2017.