What is it like being black in India? BBC News

What is it like being black in India?
That's what BBC Pop Up wanted to find out after Benjamin Pratt, a student from Sierra Leone now living in India, told us that many African immigrants are victims of racism and prejudice.

BBC journalists Christian Parkinson and Vikas Pandey joined Benjamin on the streets of Delhi to find out more but ended up in a small village in the western state of Gujarat. There they discovered a surprising and little-known culture alive and well.

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♪ (Traditional music) ♪

(People singing)

So one of the stories BBC Pop Up
was asked to do,

was to tell the story
of Africans living in India

and some of the tough
experiences they have.

We thought this would be a really
interesting story,

and instead of just filming it,
we went one better

and the man who suggested it
is gonna help us to make it.

(Benjamin) India is very exciting.

Every day I go out,
I see something new.

There are lots of Africans now in India
doing their studies,

and they're facing a lot of racism.

Recently, there have been a lot of news
talking about Africans being attacked,

molested, beaten up.

So when I hear the stories,
it makes me feel so bad about it.

Hey, how are you doing, guys?
How are you?

How are you?

What are your experiences with Indians?

Indians? Actually, it's not that much.

There's not good chemistry between real
Africans and Indians, you know, we

We don't normally associate with Indians, you know,

because, normally, Indians, they don't trust us.

Some of them, they don't trust us.

Yeah, so it is very common in India.

Indians think that all black women
are prostitutes.

When they-
So they ask you, "How much?" like

"How much do you want me...?"
To stay with him.

They ask this kind of question.

We all have similar experiences, you know, as this-

because of the people, you know,
the local people towards us.

Not all, some are very good. Very, very,
very, very open-minded, you know

Benjamin, some of the stories
your friends told us

were quite disturbing.

And that largely happens because
Indians don't know their own history

that Africans played such a big role
in India between 14th and 17th century.

Even today, a big African community lives
in the state of Gujarat.

I think it would be really good for you
to come along and meet them.

What do you think?

Yes. It would be great.

Okay, let's go and meet them then.
- Yeah, let's do it.

♪ (music) ♪

So after a long drive
through the state of Gujarat

we're about to meet the Sidi community
near the town of Sasan.

I'm so excited, you know.

I'm really surprised to see
some Africans here in India.

This part of India really...
I really want to meet with them

and interact with them more.

- Hello, namaste.
- Namaste.

- How are you?
- Fine.

- That's great.
- Yeah.

(in Gujarati) We've been
living here for 400 years.

The local ruler
brought us here from Africa

and we just settled in India
and never went back to Africa.

♪ (music) ♪

(children laughing and singing)

I just feel like I'm in Africa.

They are sitting in school
like Africans are sitting.

Basically, as some are saying, if they go
beyond the vicinity of this city

and village, in other parts of India,

they are told to stop
and frequently asked:

"Are you from the Sidi?
Are you from Africa?"

Exactly the same kind of
questions you face in Delhi.

These kinds of things, how do you
solve them? We also face them,

but how do you tackle them?

(in Gujarati)

Do you ever have the feeling like
you want to go back to Africa?

To resettle in Africa,

or do you still want to be in India?

(speaking in Gujarati)

[V] - He's saying he's like any Indian.
Why would he want to leave this place?

(Speaking in Gujarati)

(Traditional music playing)

(Speaking in Gujarati)

When I came it was like
I was emotionally charged.

I almost wanted to cry when I saw
all the black Africans coming out

to greet me this afternoon.

Coming here today really has changed
my perception of India.

It has created a bond, it has created
a mindset in me now

that there are people who are ready
to receive Africans

whenever they see Africans in India.

Seeing this society today has given me
hope that in the near future

India will be a less racist society,

because this community is a symbol
that Africans are also Indians.