An Indian-American cowboy has captured the internet's attention after sharing a video of his ranch life in New Mexico, challenging common stereotypes about Indians. Tesh Jennings, who identifies as a 'desi cowboy,' emphasizes that not all Indians are coders; some, like him, wear boots, work cattle, and grow food.
Viral Video and Backlash
The video, which offers a glimpse into his daily life with cattle and ranch work, quickly went viral. However, the comment section was flooded with hateful posts. Many users expressed indifference or told Jennings to 'go back.' Some were confused about whether he meant Native American or Indian from India. Upon clarification, racist comments targeting Indians poured in, though positive remarks outweighed the negative.
Many appreciated his assimilation, calling it the kind of immigration they welcome. Some even dubbed him an 'honorary Mexican' or 'more American than Americans.'
Jennings' Response
In response to the hate, Jennings wrote: 'Folks have thrown a lot of hate my way for being an Indian American cowboy and rancher. Truth is, I never set out to fit anyone’s idea of what a cowboy should look like — I just went to work, raised cattle, and chased a dream. Hate won’t build fences, feed cows, or stop me from putting in the miles. If anything, it’s made me work harder.'
He added: 'My dream has always been bigger than the hate. I want to buy this piece of land, expand my ranch, raise more cattle, and keep building something that stands for hard work, grit, and determination. That’s what ranching has always meant to me.' He has also launched a fundraising campaign to support his dream.
Background and Online Presence
Jennings' public profile lists him as an engineer and rancher from Eastern New Mexico. His Instagram is filled with ranch videos where he proudly calls himself a 'desi cowboy.' In previous posts, he has addressed questions about his accent, clarifying that he is from India and therefore speaks with a distinct accent.
