dusky peril: an introduction

welcome to my publication

to those of you who don’t know me, my name is khalid. I’m a queer trans bangladeshi muslim. I’m currently in medical school, but in a “humanities person in stem” way. many of you know me from my twitter, and I appreciate you following me across platforms.

the title of my publication “dusky peril” comes from a xenophobic headline from the early 1900s warning of the new wave of south asian immigration. the subheading of the original article reads that “the dusky Asiatics with their turbans will prove a worse menace to the working classes than the ‘Yellow Peril,’” referencing the initial immigration of east asians, particularly chinese migrant workers, to the united states.

I think and I write about these ideas because I feel emboldened speaking truth to power. I find strength in understanding the world around me, developing the framework to analyze how institutions operate and how we can change them for the better. that kind of radical change can cause apprehension, fear, because it threatens capital. my words, over 100 years after the headline was published, still serve as a “dusky peril,” the terror of (white people) losing their grasp on power.

this newsletter/publication will serve as an archive of my previous essays and reflections. my interests vary from culture, politics, theory, art, and history, and some unifying themes are my interest in gender and race theory. thanks for being a part of my journey, and I hope we can reflect on these nuanced topics together and grow in our politics.