Saint Louis Platform - Channel 9 documentary explores terror and hate

Channel 9 documentary explores terror and hate

By Mary Delach Leonard, Platform staff

Gas station owner Balbir Singh Sodhi was living the American Dream in Mesa, Ariz., when he was shot to death on Sept. 15, 2001 – the nation's first victim of a hate crime following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"After 9/11 everyone was scared. First, it was terrorists against Americans. Then it was Americans against Americans,'' says Sodhi's brother, Rana, in the documentary "A Dream in Doubt" by Tami Yeager that will air on KETC, Channel 9 in May.

The Missouri History Museum recently screened this movie and hosted a panel discussion on hate crimes with St. Louis community leaders as part of the monthly Community Cinema Series featuring films broadcast on the PBS series "Independent Lens." The program is sponsored locally by KETC and the Missouri Historical Society.

Reena Hajat, executive director of the St. Louis Diversity Awareness Partnership, said she welcomes the opportunity to continue a community dialogue on racism and hate crimes.

"So often, when we have these traumatic events, we talk about it right afterward but then not again," Hajat said.

The documentary paints a compelling portrait of the Sodhi family -- five Sikh-American brothers who had emigrated from India in the mid-1980s to avoid ethnic violence. A second brother was mysteriously murdered in August 2002 while driving a cab in San Francisco.

about sikhism

Sikhs worldwide number about 23 million, with approximately 250,000 living in the United States.
The Sikh religion was founded by Guru Nanak about 500 years ago in the Punjab region of India. Nanak rejected the caste system and emphasized the importance of good actions rather than carrying out rituals.
The Sikh religion requires men to wear turbans; women may choose to wear them.
Sikhs are not Muslims. Nanak's early followers included both Hindus and Muslims who came to be called "Sikhs," which translates to "learners" or "disciples."
Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that stresses prayer, honest work and service to humanity.

Sources: sikhnet.com and bbc.co.uk

More information:

SikhNet — nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people about the Sikh religion

The BBC — general information and links to news stories

Harvard University's Pluralism Project

Yeager was driven to make the film when she witnessed her Sikh-American friends facing the backlash of misdirected anger after Sept. 11. She interviewed law enforcement officials and co-workers of the assassin. The film includes a positive message, documenting the efforts of the Phoenix community to rally around the Sodhi family in the aftermath of the shooting.

St. Louis is one of 35 markets participating in the cinema series, said Sydney Meyer, coordinator of the project for KETC.

"The Community Cinema Series supports KETC's mission of bringing St. Louis together as we connect our region to the world – and the world to St. Louis,'' Meyer said.

Air date: 11 p.m., Sunday, May 25, Channel 9.

To view clips or learn more visit:

www.adreamindoubt.org

www.pbs.org/independentlens

The Sikh community in St. Louis:

Between 300 and 400 Sikh families worship in the St. Louis area. Local temples (called Gurdwaras) include:

The Sikh Study Circle

116 Willis Drive

St. Peters

Sikh Dharma Brotherhood

6036 Marmaduke

St. Louis

Last Updated ( Friday, 11 April 2008 )

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