While Apu is not the first ethnically stereotyped character on The Simpsons, he was arguably one of the main representations of South Asians on TV (...until social media became a thing). On the surface - there's a lot to love. Apu is a hardworking character who, arguably, plays an integral role in building the Springfield community on the show. On the surface, Apu is a good character, there is nothing explicitly wrong or offensive about him. And that is why we need to take a deeper look into how his character was built and what purpose he serves on the show.

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As Davé explains in Indian Accents: Brown Voice and Racial Performance in American Television and FIlm, Apu epitomizes 'othering humor' through his accent aka the 'brown voice'. In other words, Apu's 'appeal' lies in humor found in his difference, foreignness, and non-whiteness as denoted through his accent. This symbolism is evident even before we look at the nuances of his voice as his character was created and voiced by non-South Asian individuals and was, therefore, entirely fabricated based on what they assumed to be representative of South Asians and what they felt would make his character entertaining.

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Considering that language acts as a "cultural tool" (Fanon) through which we navigate and inhabit different worlds, English proficiency is constructed as the means through which non-white entities can potentially forgo the baggage of their foreignness. Fluency in the language essentially holds the promise of cultural assimilation which, in turn, holds that of social validation and acceptance. This promise for belonging, however, is nothing but an illusion for the acceptance of non-white entities would effectively dissemble the very systems and structures that maintain this power dynamic between white and non-white entities. 
 

Although I come from a culture that values the importance and role of mother tongues, I was raised in an atmosphere that forced me to prioritize a language that was not necessarily mine to own but was needed if I ever wanted to fit in within the world we’ve constructed – English. Coming to college as an international student, one of the first remarks I receive when I say "home for me is India" usually goes along the lines of "wow, you speak English so well!" or "I barely noticed your accent!" but every time I am praised for language fluency and/or the ambiguity in accent, I realize that it isn’t my English literacy that is being praised but rather, the cognitive distance from ‘third-world’ tendencies that a lack of a 'brown voice' denotes. My embodiment of English shows promise in the western world but my non-whiteness is inherently incapable of belonging, English can and never will be my path to finding a place here. 

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In this context, Apu's 'brown voice' that stands to be comedic relief holds so much more meaning as it represents the plight of seeking acceptance in a culture that fails to recognize you as a multi-dimensional being. Unpacking Apu's 'brown voice' also reveals the insidious nature of racism within the world of TV and shows the various ways in which pre-existing ideologies and hierarchies can be embedded in what we might otherwise take for granted - allowing us to "rethink how we see and hear racial identity beyond the visual and how we process the cultural meaning of accents" (Davé).

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If you want to read more about how things have transpired for Apu's character within our current sociopolitical climate, you can read more on Hank Azaria (the voice behind Apu) and his apology to Indians for voicing Apu here:

- https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/simpsons-hank-azaria-apologizes-apu-1234950377/

- https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/22/hank-azaria-apologized-playing-apu-i-accept-i-appreciate-it/

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