Racism in China

This is the story of Lou Jing, a 20-year old contestant on Go! Oriental Angel (wtf?), the Shanghai version of American Idol. The reason for all of the buzz last year is because she is Black and Chinese. Her mother is from China and her dad, who she never met, is African American.

I felt like I was in a hot seat during my Comparative Race Analysis class today even though the conversation was not directed at me. I think for my Chinese (American) friends, we are aware of how racist Chinese people are towards Black people (tell your family that you want to marry a Black person) but it was still a shock to hear some of the explicit comments that Chinese people made towards Lou Jing. Actually, I take that back, the comments are worst for Lou Jing’s mother. The idea of intercourse with a person of a darker skin is almost unthinkable and “unclean.” I think on the show, they actually called Lou Jing “the black pearl” and “chocolate angel.” China is perhaps so homogenous that they don’t realize that these comments are discriminatory. The communist government has banned racial discrimination but ironically declares that racism is a “Western indulgence” and sees China as “the leader for victimized colored people.” (Dikotter, 1990)

There is an article from the Washington Post (pay to post) that also brings attention to the increasing racial tensions in China. China is investing  hundreds of billions of dollars in Africa, resulting in a new migration pattern where African men moving to cities like Guangzhou. There is an area in Guangzhou called “Chocolate City.” (Try saying that in Chinese in your head)

During class, I really wanted to alienate from the Chinese part of myself but at the same time, I wanted to marry a Black guy and go to China (or my family) and be like “now what!”  I married what you call a “black ghost!” (And that doesn’t even make sense because ghosts are transparent)