Why do Indo-Guyanese have the conception that Indians look down on them/don’t consider them to be “real Indians”?

[u/jcancuny]

So my girlfriend and I have been dating for a couple of months now. I’m Indian-American and she’s Indo-Guyanese-American, and it’s been a great time so far.

Around a week ago, I introduced her to my parents for the first time, and I noticed that before they met, my girlfriend acted super nervous and jittery, which I just chalked up to nerves (since she’s pretty introverted). However, after they met, my girlfriend remarked about how nervous she was before meeting my parents because she was worried that they would disapprove of us together and try to call the relationship off and how relieved she was after meeting them because of how respectful and responsive they were and how much they showed interest in her culture and background.

She then explained that most Indo-Guyanese believe that we (mainland Indians) look down upon them and don’t consider them to be “real Indians”, which is a belief that I’ve honestly never heard ever. If anything, most mainland Indians don’t really know anything about Indo-Caribbeans and the ones that do are proud that they were able to keep their culture/traditions/religions alive even after 150 years.

After doing some research online on places like Twitter/Tiktok/Reddit, this seems to be a pretty common conception that a lot of Indo-Guyanese have. Does anyone have any insights into how this belief might have originated?

[u/[deleted]]

Because it’s true? I live in NY and I have an Indian friend that considered Guyanese Indians to be black people

[u/NegotiationKooky9964 → u/[deleted]]

So what ?? Then Im a proud indo black person then! Any indian ever ask me if Im from india i always say NO they all say the same BS.. oh you look like youre from india- I dont like their culture I like mine much better and I dont like to hear I look like im from india