Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
When I first met Dr. Aditi Bussells during my internship at Columbia City Council, I saw a leader who embodied confidence without apology. As an Indian woman born and raised in South Carolina, I rarely saw people who looked like me in positions of public leadership, especially in the South. Watching Dr. Bussells made me believe that my identity was not something to hide, but something to celebrate.
38 years of Indian American stories depend on what you do next. Stand with us today.
Dr. Bussells made history as the first South Asian woman ever elected to municipal office in South Carolina. In just one term, she’s done far more than break barriers – she’s built bridges. From co-hosting Diwali celebrations at the Governor’s Mansion to amplifying AAPI voices statewide, she has transformed representation into meaningful inclusion.
Now, in her runoff election, she’s facing xenophobic attacks meant to question her belonging. Her opponent’s campaign has circulated messages claiming she is “not one of us”, language that doesn’t just target her, but every immigrant, every first-generation American, and every young person who has ever been made to feel like they don’t belong in their own community.
What’s at stake is bigger than one election. It’s about the future of belonging in the South.
As South Asian Americans, we cannot afford to look away. The South has long been left out of conversations about our political influence, but that is changing because of leaders like Dr. Bussells – a reminder that representation matters not only in Washington or on the coasts, but in every city, town, and statehouse across America.
Civic service can reflect the diversity of the people it serves, and that young South Asians can – and should – take up space in public life.