The Myth of South Asian Loudness
Why do others think it’s okay to tell us to be quiet?
In A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), a well-meaning nurse convinces the terminally ill Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) to venture beyond the hospice to New York City for a day trip. Little do they know what awaits them: meteor-like objects suddenly obscure the sky and plummet to Earth, bringing with them extraterrestrials on a killing spree.
The creatures are blind but possess heightened hearing. If you speak, you die. For many, the sci-fi film offers insight into the discomfort of having to watch every word for fear of reprisal. For South Asians and many others, it’s nothing new.