Asia: Asians Can Be Just As Racist Too!
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By Rob
There seems to be a lot of discussion within the Asian American community about acts of racism against Asians, but very little about Asians acting racist themselves. It occurs frequently and seems to me to be a real problem. For example: the other day I was at a dinner party with a group of Asians, most of whom were in their 40s and 50s. At some point my friend’s parents began discussing her boyfriend with me (who wasn’t present). They weren’t enamored with him, and began listing out the reasons why. When they were done, one of the other guests asked, “So what is worse in your eyes? If your daughter continues dating her current boyfriend, or if she begins dating a black man?” They then had a long, serious conversation about this, and while not reaching a firm conclusion, also made it clear that the black man wasn’t winning any brownie points in their book.
The next day I was getting coffee with a friend of mine from Taiwan, and I mentioned this story to her. Her response: “Yeah! My parents do the same thing!” I got the same response from the next four Asian people I mentioned this to, so I don’t think this is uncommon. Also, all the people who were discussing this at the dinner party were intelligent, caring people, yet none of them seemed to think that there was anything wrong or even strange about disliking someone on the basis of race.
So, what’s the extent to which these problems exist? I’m reasonably convinced that amongst first generation Asian immigrants, racial stereotypes abound (especially against other non-Asian, non-white minorities), in large part because the homogeneity of most Asian countries doesn’t really prepare immigrants for the racial and cultural diversity that is America. Also, based on everything I’ve ever heard, non Asian non-white races are treated in Asian countries with at best, amused curiosity and at worst, outright disdain (as hard as it is for a Chinese person to deal with racial issues in America, imagine how much harder it is for a black man to deal with racial issues in China). But I’m curious what happens to immigrant children, people of my generation. Do they tend to adopt the attitudes of the society they grew up in, or does racism pass on through the family?
And what’s the impact of this to the Asian community? The most immediate impact is that it makes the Asian community a bit hypocritical - the same dinner guests who didn’t want their daughter dating a black man also complained about racial glass ceilings in the workplace, and while that point might still be valid, it’s harder to make persuasively when you are essentially guilty of the same behavior. It also has the effect of isolating the Asian American community. I don’t think my parents have any non Asian non white friends, and I don’t think any of their Asian friends do either. When others complain about Asians being insular, this strikes me as being one of the root causes.
What are your thoughts?
(8asians.com)
July 5th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Considering that this post has been written quite long time ago, considering that the traffic of blog-hopping is so vigorous these days, considering that your post is quite an interesting topic to read on, I was wondering why nobody would leave a comment here just to answer your questions or voice out their opinions on this issue?
Anyway, I’m here to do you a favor by replying your confusions. I grew up in a typical Chinese family in Malaysia and I’m very familiar with all the Chinese values, mindsets and principles. Furthermore, I have been discussing this issue with my family and friends since I have discovered the Chinese attitude towards Black people, exactly the same issues you have pointed out. Based on this, I think I’m in a good position to give my humble opinions.
First of all, Chinese don’t hate Blacks. I guess this is because we have no reason to hate them. And we don’t really mix with Blacks too. Based on the history, China and Africa countries didn’t really have such ‘connection’ back in those days like the Americans did. So, majority of the Chinese people, never live with Black community. As far as everyone knows, the Chinese has very strong community-based lifestyle. We stick together as a group within our Chinese community. So if I had never been to an international college, I wouldn’t have make friends with people from other nations. The first foreigner I met was my housemate from Philippines. That was before the Indonesian housemates became to take over. Anyway, i digress. Based on this, the only perceptions we know about the Blacks, we learn them from the media. YUPE. How the media portraits the Black, we take it all in, as we have not really met one ourselves. My parents do not encounter Blacks in their whole life and I do not have a Black friend who grew up with me. Okay, so what we have learned from the media about the Black? Well, correct me if I’m wrong but generally, the Blacks have always been the violent gangsters, if they are not wearing a sunglasses, they are fooling around doing ’stupid’ stuffs on the shows. Our parents just couldn’t take it, either their violence or their humor. So much of disrespecting, I rather say that most of the Chinese are intimidated by the Blacks, considering that most of them have huge muscles and fierce-looking faces. Everything else aside, the Chinese just could not compete with them, i mean physically.
Secondly, the Chinese do not really have a racial issue with the Blacks. We are discrimination towards the color ‘Black’. The Chinese believes that Black represents ‘bad luck’. Call us superstitious but we felt paranoid when we see black cats loitering around our garden, crows flying around our neighborhood or even receiving present that is wrapped with black papers. We don’t wear black on any festivals/ celebrations. Unlike the Western world that sees black and white as the colors of glamor and prestige, the Chinese choose to believe that it’s the color of Devil. Well, at least that’s what the older generation believes. Nowadays, youngsters don’t believe in all the superstitious shit, I don’t believe those things either, but to not offend our parents or grandparents for that matter, we’ll do what they said. And when they specifically told us not to date a Black man/ woman, we listen. Or rather, we had been brainwashed since young.
So, I don’t know whether this is racism or just lack of knowledge, understanding or misconceptions. Or just purely Chinese supremacy. As my mom once confess, they don’t want our next generation to be a mixed blood, be it white or black or brown, just pure Chinese will do. Since Chinese has this strong community mindset going on, don’t be surprise if they even request something more ridiculous. Don’t forget that we have a history of arranged marriage, when only the parents get to choose the bride/groom. Now it’s getting better that we get to choose our spouse BUT with certain ‘requirements’.
The rest of the analysis, I’ll leave it up to you. ^^