Two observations:
I don’t think I had ever heard the term “American-Indian” before. I interpreted that as “Native American” (perhaps Cherokee? Wampanoag? Who knows?) But I now understand that he is an American with an ethnic heritage that goes back to India. I don’t really like tribalism and I don’t like the confusion of endless terminology to distinguish this group from that group. I think it damages societal cohesion to place importance on that. I don’t want to keep track of a million terms.
Secondly, I understand that his knowledge of Hindi was useful later in the story. Therefore, his ethnic background being somewhat similar to the other people’s background has relevance. Fine. But I would think the storytelling would work better to more closely combine these facts: “They didn’t realize that I am American-Indian and I speak Hindi and here’s what I said to them ...”. Instead, he throws out his ethnic bonafides right up front as if that makes him special and only later on does he reveal that this has relevance.
I am becoming old and grouchy, but really I see so much wrong with the world today and I don’t think anything will get better until more people say, “I see something wrong here”. When I see things which I consider badly written or badly told, I am now making an effort to say something.
In the same way, if you mention the virus, I’ll say it’s a scam. If you mention the election, I’ll say it’s fake. If you show me a crap story, I’ll say it’s a crap story.
If we say nothing, the crap will continue.
I got confused by that too (see my earlier).
BUT, to be correct, he should have stated INDIAN-AMERICAN.
That would not be shocking language. We have long referred to ethnicities, particularly immigrants, as German-American, Italian-American, etc.
He reversed that usage which has been used as “indigenous” phrase, but might be interpreted as an American immigrant to India!
Really? You must be a lot younger than I. Or perhaps from a different part of the country. “American Indian” was one of the terms used in everyday language when I was growing up that were fine, to everyone involved, but now with all the perpetually offended masses, we can’t say them any more. (The “n-word” was always offensive, in my family, so I’m not talking about that.)
My point is, I was grown before “Native American” took the place of “American Indian”.