The Racialization of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism in the United States

In this article I posit the "racialization" of religion, a process that begins when certain phenotypical features associated with a group and attached to race in popular discourse become associated with a particular religion or religions. By examining the experiences of Indian Americans-a group made up primarily of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs-I explore the racialization process and show how the racialization of religion exacerbates the "othering" of non-Christian religious groups. The article goes on to examine five major outcomes of the racialization of religion, as illustrated by the experiences of Indian Americans. In particular, I show how the racialization of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism renders those faiths theologically, socially, and morally illegitimate in the popular eye.