‘Will fight for immigrant narrative’
New York, May 11: Popular Indian-American stand-up comedian Hasan Minhaj has vowed to fight for the “immigrant narrative” amid a rise in hateful rhetoric in the US as he was honoured by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Minhaj, who became the first Indian-American to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner this year, was honoured by Blasio and New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray at their residence on Wednesday during the Asian-Pacific American Heritage reception.
Blasio presented Minhaj with a proclamation that declared May 10 in the city as ‘Hasan Minhaj Day’.
Minhaj, accompanied by his wife Beena, described the honour as “unbelievable.” “In our country we are dealing with two different narratives — the nativist and the immigrant. I am fighting for the immigrant narrative where regardless of creed, colour, class, sexuality, gender, this (New York) is the meritocracy and the great place for ideas to rise to the top. If you have a great idea based on merit, this is the great market place for ideas and I am going to continue fighting for that,” Minhaj said to loud cheers and applause.
Minhaj 31, whose parents hail from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, delivered a memorable speech at the annual Correspondents’ Dinner which was not attended by President Donald Trump, the first time since 1981 that a US President skipped the event.
As he made fun of Trump, the IndianAmerican comedian said one has such freedom only in a country like the US because of its commitment to freedom of speech enshrined in its Constitution.