Racism in China
Does racism exist in China?
If you are reading this, you probably care about this question. This is a complicated issue, so please read carefully and leave your thoughts below or respond with your own post – but keep the language clean, otherwise your comments won’t show up.
This post is not meant to say that racism is worse in China than elsewhere – it is merely an attempt to describe the racism that does exist in China.
Racism Against Black People in China
Racism against black people may be the strongest form of racism in China.
Many families in China would be horrified if their son or daughter married a black person. Some would even disown them outright.
It can be difficult getting a job teaching English in China if you are black. This is because of the perception of many people in China that only white people are ‘true Americans’ or ‘true English’ people.
Sadly, it’s often easier to get a job teaching English in China as a white person from a country where English is not a native language than as a black person from a country where English is the only native language.
Many people in China think most black people play basketball and are violent. If you are black, many people from China will perceive you as African. If you are not, you will have to repeatedly explain that you are from another country.
The most common slur against black people in Chinese seems worse than that used for white people – “black ghost” vs. “old ghost”. Many people in China also assume that if you are black, you have very little money.
Racism against blacks in China is also strongly linked to the class divisions and racism that exists within Chinese society. This is not a justification for racism against blacks in China, but for thousands of years Chinese people of lighter skin looked down upon those of darker skin, who often could not afford to be anything other than a peasant farmer.
Racism Against Other Races in China
Though racism in China is strongest against black people, there is a general relationship that determines how foreigners are seen by many people in China: The darker your skin, the more racism you will experience.
No matter where you grew up, if you are not white it will be tougher to get a job teaching English in China.
Racism against Japanese People in China
Leading up to, during, and following World War II, Japan committed many atrocious acts in China and much of the Pacific Rim (with Korea also suffering greatly). This is something that should be redressed by Japan, and not ignored.
However, two wrongs do not make a right – and racism against Japanese people in China is wrong.
Some children in China are taught hate songs against Japanese people in elementary school – and history books in China that deal with Japan focus almost exclusively on the terrible things Japan did around World War II, ignoring much of Japan’s recent history.
The fact that Japan is now a mostly pacifist country is not part of the general awareness of a person who grows up in China. Instead, the popular conception of Japan in today’s China casts Japan as a huge and dangerous threat.
There also seems to be more slurs against Japanese people than against any other group of people.
Subtle Discrimination in China – Starring, Hello, Talking, and More
Subtle discrimination in China is prevalent. Whether it be the obnoxious ‘hello!’ that gets shouted at your back, the constant staring, or the tendency for many people in China to immediately begin talking about foreigners or stories having to do with foreigners upon seeing them, subtle discrimination or at least ignorance is widespread in China.
Racism Against Minorities Within China
Racism doesn’t only extend to foreigners within China – it also extends to its own people. People from Tibet and virtually all Chinese ‘minorities’ are seen as backwards and in need of a helping hand to enter the modern world.
Those from Xinjiang province are often looked down upon as thieves – children are especially vilified, since they are all looked at as thieves. And Xinjiang people are often harrassed by the cops.
‘Classism’ Against Chinese People
You don’t have to be of a different race to be discriminated against in China. People in China often treat those they perceive as belonging to a lower class quite poorly.
Racism Doesn’t Exist in China!
If you ask a person in China whether racism exists, you may well be told that it does not exist, and that they respect people of all countries and colors. But dig a little deeper, ask questions such as ‘what do you think of black people’ or ‘what do you think of Japanese people’, and the answers that come back are often racist.
How the average Person in China Perceives Racism
Chinese people who believe there is racism in China often see it as a racism-against-blacks-only kind of phenomenon. It is clear that racism in China is strongest toward black people, however to believe that this is the only form of racism in China is almost as silly as believing that there is no racism at all.
What do you think about Racism in China?
Help out in the discussion and leave your thoughts below.
(The first 200 comments have been archived to reduce loading time / server load. So have comments 201-300. And now comments 301-500.)
Japanese are beaut folks
china should have better exchange with japan
I agree that chinese tend to be racist towards blacks!!!! and they stare and try to look down on us. I even got a c hinese who told me that chinese dont find black people beautiful and I am not even deep dark skin because im mix with hispanic. Chinese are too one-mind set. HOPE THE EXPO CONVERT THEM TO HUMANITY AS AN IDENTITY!
We have explored the earth, discovered the cure for numerous diseases and even ventured into space. Despite all of our achievements, some of us are as yet to see each other as human beings.
Hey guys, Racism exists. Here. There. who knows. I say worry about yourself in whatever social situation you live in and always stand up against racism. Arguing about whether or not it exists and where seems a bit tiring and endless. here’s a rhyme to describe how I feel…
Forget the racists..they left a taste thit’s..so bitter..look nearer.. past the tone in the mirror.. no one’s supposed to be a mirror of you..judge a person by the things that they do..we’re equal, face it people.. through and through..this evil needs to be shunned..forever buried never seeing the sun..we all live on the same sphere, underneath of the same one..I strive to see people, the way that God does..peace
Hi,
I don’t think every Chinese person are racist against African or Black person. As I know there are lots of Chinese people who live in Jamaica and who are mixed race.
chinnese need to stop printing racism against japan and encourage more exchange.
They should change thier perception of africans and have exchange with them too.
the people of Xinjiang
need more face
I am a foreigner who has lived in China for 7 years and I just want to say that I believe racism exists in China although no one can ever claim that all people are good or all people are bad. I have black friends and my wife is Chinese so I have seen all aspects. Generally speaking, I have noticed that the “racist” people that I have come into contact with are usually not exposed to outside influences and therefore a little ignorant when it comes to the comments they make or actions they take. China’s recent past was severed from the rest of the world and now it’s citizens are just getting used to foreigners. Racism exists but generally in a mild none violent form. In general, Chinese are peace loving people
hi, is there racism in chine against people of mixed blood?Im half chinese and half dutch.
I look a bit chinese and my skin is just white.
I have a Chinese friend and we both want to live together in China when we are older and then travel to other places together. I am kina scared at how the people in China might react when they see me in their market with a Chinese.
Here is a recent little bit from Xinhua… Why does this even exist? Black is presented as the opposite of “hot”.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-07/28/c_13418537.htm
I moved to Beijing from Shanghai last week and I have been intensively searching for apartments. Two of the landlords after agreeing to sign a contract later denied after they came to know I am from India. I was informed that your price is okay but we only want to rent our apartment out to Europeans or Americans!
I am an African (negro) but spent most of my years living and visiting other countries in Africa, Europe and America (maybe 15 in all for school and business). What I have come to realize is that humans are the same everywhere, whether good or bad. We all have the same fundamental behavior and ways of responding to things outside our comfort zone. .. the same fears, insecurities and needs but at different levels. We all are simply humans.
One thing I have noticed undeniably throughout my travels, with few exceptions was that people I interacted with, who had at least travelled to other regions or had lived as foreigners in other countries had a somehow different perception of the world as a place of different people, different origins and cultures, rather than a world of just their own country/community or what the media make them think it is. Travelling give you a better outlook of the world.
Both prejudice and racism are painful, happens all over the world and go way back in time. I have gone through these experiences countless of times in different countries, but have come to realize that people who have done them and still do them indeed have their own personal problems including ignorance, fear, insecurity and lack of education. Generally a result of how they grew up. Again, this is the same behavior all over the world… people responding to their emotions. We naturally respond by defending ourselves, others shift blames, while others attack right back. Thankfully with the level of open-mindedness I have been blessed with over the years, I try to let it pass and sometimes create some positive outcome while gaining great respect and capturing curiosity of bystanders.
We must admit that we all have the tendency to prejudice on one way or the other. You might be surprised that Africans prejudice against other Africans and we see black Americans vs Africans, Asians vs black Americans, black Americans vs whites, whites vs red necks and the list goes on. This is not going to end anytime soon, so be willing to accept it, sometimes educate people on the topic.
Focus on whatever you want where ever you go, whether education, business or vacation, as sometimes, there is probably nothing much you can do about how people perceive your looks or accent. This is deeply rooted in our human nature. The sad thing is most people are not even aware of the effects prejudice and racism has on others. Some know but don’t care. Others are either just having fun or following their emotions. If you can, try to respect, understand and educate them. If you can’t, get out! Life’s too short to not be happy. But don’t be like them.
Cheers!
yeah, of course,there is rassism everywhere.
people from foreign parts of the world are still special in china, (like aliens)
and chinese do not know much about others “rasses”, thats the reason how chinese often judge foreigner from the history and your look.
I am from China and have to say, unfortunately there is racism against anyone who is not as “conformed” as mainstream chinese; if you happen to live in different places in China, say northern part and southern part, you will hear people talk shit about the other part’s different culture and habbits.
Unlike a lot of countries, China is over densely-populated in a lot of cities, you swing your arms and you are very likely to hit one or two people around — that’s how dense it is in population.
When you have so many people jammed in such a (relatively speaking) small space, the speech, comments and needs for conformity from people are way more powerful than anywhere else. The pressure resulted from the conformity is huge, for sure; it’s so for everyone who is living in those areas, espcially foreigners who are also at the same time struggling to survive.
But, just because people are so densely-populted, the speed of information/education spread is also incredible. I think there is reason to believe the racism will be or are being reduced at an optimistic rate while China is open its gate to everyone in the world.
Everyone in the world should embrace each other like an old from a far away place — like one of the quotes from Confucius.
Do u think only caucasian are racist? No bro. Racism against black people may be the strongest form of racism in Singapore also.
This is hilarious, an article about racism in China without a mention of the racism regarding whites – positive discrimination. Whites are treated preferentially before native local Chinese, they can run amok dating and fucking local women without resistance… positive racism is just as damaging to society, and is something that whites can’t see because they are used to it in their homelands… white privilege it’s called.
Well said Jeff. Although I never have anything against bi-racial couples (namely between Chinese and Caucasian)previously. The level of yellow fever nowadays in white males who whose sole goal is to **** as many Chinese woman as possible is enough to make me gag. SERIOUSLY.
the only true racism that exists in China is racism against Japanese.
Chinese culture promotes humbleness,people usually see the advantage and superiority of other countries/races, including blacks.
ppl who are prejudice toward black ppl are often poorly educated and backward minded (thinkin blacks r the slaves or the whites and all Africans r poor etc.)
Chinese ppl do hate japanese… killin a jap is not even considered as a sin in China, its rather a heroic thing to do!
if u understand the brutal things the japs done to China in the past,u’ll understand. today japs still havent improve much
Something that also needs to be said and is particularly strong amongs Chinese, I find is a inferiority complex. Not only are Chinese people racist or think black people are inferior or below them,but equally they think white people or westerners are superior to them. When you compare to say other asians like Arabs or Indians (who I find, not only have a greater clutural identity, but actually seem to feel equals with Europeans), Chinese actually feel inferior to white. This is quite prevalent when dig a little deeper into the chinese psyche.
I am a mixed induvidual, my mother is norwegian and my father is chinese. Because of an early divorce i have been constantly raised by my mother through the years, and have only considered myself norwegian as my father more and more became an uncle figure. however during the last 2 years i have realized that nowhere in the world am i perceived as norwegian. Because my fathers genes stand strong in me i look greatly like him and almost nothing like my mother. This has caused discrimination to me in china such as when i go to a foreign friends house and have to check in, while my *white* friends can just walk straight through the gate. So racism does exist in china.
If anyone didn’t know already, Bad bad wolf (Yan Yan’s enemy) is a racist dig at the Japanese.
In Vancouver, the racist tendencies inherent in the Chinese culture is apparent everyday, everywhere. There is an air in the Chinese community that is segregationist.
Chinatown itself it an example of this segregational tendency of the people immigrating from China. A vast number of Chinatown’s residents do not attempt to learn English, further segregating the new Canadian into their own culture. The vast majority of employees in Chinatown was born in China, the majority of businesses are owned by those born in China, speaking Chinese a requirement for employees. All others, either trying to work, live and sometimes even shop in Chinatown, are muscled out or are met with fierce resistance.
And the Chinese-born Canadians have used the race card till it is now in tatters. For example,
in UBC new China-born Canadians have invested in condos and now refuse to let Canadians, in their end days, live out their lives in peaceful surroundings due to discrimination of the Chinese culture. The Chinese condo owners have pulled out their ancient Race Card claiming that to build a hospice across the street from “their” building, is an attack on them, since the Chinese are highly superstitious of ghosts.
I cannot imagine anything more insensitive and ignorant, not to mention racist against the Canadian culture than these superstitious racists. Who do they think allowed them to come to the country anyway? The older Canadians whom they disdain. It makes me think Canada needs to drastically lower its quota of Chinese born immigrants.
To which nationality would we like to introduce our aging parents? Not ones that would push them to their graves without dignity.
If this is a place that help people let out their frustrations and stress related to racism, I guess these comments are serving that purpose very well. But without any rational reasoning or empathy, some of the comments are written with a lot of disappointment or rage specifically towards chinese/asian/chinese culture, not the ignorant/poorly educated part of the population, but all the people. To be perfectly honest, these comments don’t help with the situation a single bit. It took america *some time* to turn the whole country’s attitude over; with about 1.3 billion, china needs some time. I am not saying the pace towards elimination of racism is already fast enough, it is probably too slow for people who are experiencing unfair treatments. But what can you do about it at this moment, except for being a little bit optimistic and calm down and try not to stereotype every single chinese you meet?
Well this is what I got from the article and comments.
ALL Chinese are racist.
ALL Chinese are ignorant.
That is generalizing, my fellow readers. WHERE’S the evidence proving this thesis.
I’m Chinese 1st gen Canadian(I’m very close to my culture, thanks to my VERY Chinese parents)
My cousin got maried to a Japanese woman, my grandparents live in gongzhou and are fine with Africans.
ALSO when reading some of these comments, it makes me quite angry on how some of you (some) live under a rock.
What’s next? You think communist refers to the people of a country and not the government?? Pfft… Reply please! I want to know what you think with more of an open mind.
To WN, it seems that you don’t understand China as an overseas Chinese. Don’t forget how a dictatorship regime could drmatically influence the whole nation. In a country where internet is censored and news is blocked, how do you imagine the John Public could get any well sounded information about the world without bias? Activist being jailed, dissident being vapoured, people being brainwashed, bribery and nepotism flourish everywhere.
Maybe racism itself exaggerates the problem and thus not suitable to describe the common sentiments among Chinese people. Institutional discrimination is a more suitable word and people get accustomed to it and it becomes part of life. This is implemented by law and also by propaganda. People discriminate not only some foreingers but also themselves upon ridiculous reasons like where were your born and what is the social status of your parents. Hundreds of millions migrant workers from hinterland provinces come to coastal metropolis to seek seasonal jobs often find out that they are not entitled to basic health insurance and social welfare that their city dweller counterparts could have. Offspring of party officials often find they are in a well off position because the post of their parents and hence enjoy a lot of privilege in everyday life, including defying the law with impunity. The government, or more specifically the ruling party, makes discimination against each other partly justified so that people won’t unite to be a threat.
In my humble opinion very few foreigners understand the real China under its veil as they do not speak Chinese and do not mingle with Chinese speaking people except sleep with a bunch of Chinese women whom we see as sluts, and probably traitors because it is not uncommon for those women feel supremacy against Chinese men as they have been able to sleep with foreign male (predominantly white). Sorry if you find that offensive but it’s the truth. What I mean is what foreigners perceive as racism is merely a facade of a more profound problem. Lots of people in China don’t know how to treat foreingers equally simply because they themselves are not treated equally in China by their countryman or government.
If you give up your Canadian citizenship which you got for granted after birth and reclaim to be a PRC national, from day one you will understand what I am talking about. Patriotism doesn’t necessarily mean you have to defend everything of your origins and keep the status quo. Admit weakness is also a merit and needs more bravery. At least if all of you overseas Chinese think youselves as the hen, I am the pig.
By the way, if I dare to post this comment through a Chinese ISP, I am pretty sure police will be my pain. In scrutiny I am using a proxy, so no one can trace where I am really coming from.
I dont want to sound mean but I also think that the chinese are kinda racist. its anoying cauz i feel that its the amaricans that most people think are racist but in reality amarica’s actualy a good place. its only the south thats kinda bad. not just amarica but I think that a lot of people think that white people in geniral are racist. but for the most part its not true. I think that the biggest thing is just that westerners and aisans(chinese) have diffrent cultures and what one person considers rude or racist the other person might not. it happend to me so many times that an aisan was walking on front of me and opened a door and did not hold it for me. its happend to my friends too(i dont know if its in chinese culture its not nessisary to hold doors for others). although that was probably not racism, it shows that we have diffrent cultures that might see things from a diffrent prospective.
Hello all,
I have been given the opportunity to travel to Beijing to teach in English by my university. I though it might be best to do some research into how I might be treated there and to be honest the article and the replies have scared me. I love to travel and am incredibly open minded and though I know life will be difficult for me in some places I hoped China would not be one of them because I have always wanted to go. It has been very disappointing to read….I won’t be applying to go their any more. For those who are not usually affected by this worry surrounding where in the world you can and cannot go, I envy you sooo much you cannot imagine how much.
not all chinese people are racist however,MOST are doesn’t matter if its the lack of ‘exposure’or whatever its still racism at the end of the day.
Racism exist everywhere. A friend, chinese (by ethnicity) said her mother would allow her to marry out of the race if he was white. The ones excluded were people of darker skin blacks and indians inclusive not forgetting muslims.
She was far from being a racist though since she thinks naomi campbell is hot.
I think it depends on the generation you are from. The closer you are towards the World War 2 era, the more hate towards the Japanese there would be. However, this is caused more by war than racism. When your country is attacked, people would be blinded and all people from the attacking country seem to be the same. Silimar to when Canada forced all the Japanese out their homes during World War 2 even though they lived for decades.
I think it is easiest to explain this way:
Grandparents = hate;
Parents = accept;
Children = forgive
It is easy for the children to forgive because their Japanese peers have not done any major wrongs to them.
While I say this, changing your history books is wrong (a lie) that cannot be forgiven. People need to remember what they have done wrong so it will have less chance of repeating itself.
Do not commit a sin so you will be exposed for all eternal to see and a burden for your future generations.
As an African racisim against blacks is the strongest in China. I lived here for 9 years. My assumption was that it will improve through time but it is getting stronger, worst and official. It is almost impossible to extend visa if you are black. It is getting hard to secure visa if you are black. You are treated like useless creature at immigration offices. It doesn’t matter whether you have good personality or money, what matter here is your colour. For most Chinese only Americans are human beings. The descrimination increases if you are from middle east, India, Afgahan, Pakistan, Japan, Africa who ever you are.
You come to China to buy their goods, that doesn’t count. A high school graduate white American have better chance than a Nigerian with masters degree in English languge to take be English teacher. A white South African has better chance than a black south African.
The sad thing is government emplyees also have this black-phobya.
God help them. Millions of Chinese are working freely in Africa while few thousend Africans are being harassed by the society and the police in China.
Chinese-black racism is on the rise.
Here is one experiance. There was this Chnese women who sold some goods to an African and he doesn’t pay her the money. I managed to have her money paid and she turn to another Chines and say “hey ren duo shi pianre” means all black people are liars. I’m black too she doesn’t care about me while I helped here. They are so ignorant when tey make remarks about non-chinese people.
I agree they have inferiority complex. They believe they are more human than blacks and whites are more human than Chinese. Reason? MONEY!!!
I, too, think that’s wrong for Chinese today to hate all Japanese for WWII. Likewise, since we are talking about blacks being treated bad in China, don’t you think it’s equally wrong for blacks to hate all whites today and demand ‘revenge’?
i am a black american, from atlanta Georgia, i married a chinese woman from chongqing china, she used me to get her and her daughter over here and get their green cards, well i got over that, i have learned quite a lot from her as we have been together for almost 4 years(we are seperated now) i know she likes and respects white men a lot more than me. i went to china with her and of cours when i arrived in beijing airport, i got the stares and all of them seemed to look down on me, her family acted like they accepted me with opened arms, but i saw through that. as we went on a tour thru beijing, i had some younger people ask me if i was wesley snipes and wanted to take pictures with me, that was funny and i enjoyed the attention in that way, but in the racist way, it was similar to being in alabama or mississippi. as long as they thought i was famous, they treated me well and seemed to respect me. other than that, i was looked down on. there are only 2 things that makes my wife give me some forms of respect and that is the fact that most of the white guys her friends married, make about $100,000 less than i do and i make her feel really good when she gets that x-rated desire. chinese have seen many american movies and the ones they keep in mind are the ones that african americans are portrayed as servants and criminals, so they think white people are all innocent and rich, HMMM
There’s millions of Chinese living in Africa:Do the Mainland Chinese look down upon them?There’s plenty of African resources going to China:Does that bother any Chinese national?The head of the African Union is Half-Chinese:are any Chinese troubled by that fact?
The MOST racist AND ignorant Chinese people I have EVER had the displeasure of knowing are those who actually have high educations (compliments of the U.S.) and who claim “class differences.” Neither do these “high-class”, “educated” Chinese people believe in any sort of interracial marriage or even hiring anyone who is not their race and background (and of course light-skinned enough, as already mentioned)…
I am Indian and have lived in several European countries. The only racism I have faced is from immigrants, and especially the Chinese. Go into a Chinese one euro shop, and they will keep following you around. Europeans treat you normally. With a few exceptions, most Chinese I have encountered are racist.
Racism is natural to human beings. period. If Chinese started to immigrate in massive numbers to Nigeria [a black country], and Nigeria ended up as 20% Chinese…You can bet your behind that the black nigerians would be racist toward Chinese. Uganda had alot of Asian indians there and they were expelled for just that reason actually.
China’s issue, is it is becoming wealthy, so there are alot of Africans trying to move there now. And truth be told, crime among Africans in China IS high. There IS alot of rape of chinese women by African males, and drugs being sold by them. Its wrong for chinese to be racist…yet Africans, unlike Whites/Europeans do tend to be dirt poor and more prone to violence. That explains why whites are treated better – they do have money in China.
As a Chinese, I personally respect any being that has the intelligent of a human, but at the same time I am against marriage between Chinese and Others(whether they are white, black, yellow that is not Chinese, whatever), am I classified as a RACIST?
And for Xizang(I prefer this term for the territory you call Tibet) and Xinjiang, I believe the Hanish people are experiencing reverse discrimination, and are constantly abused by criminals of Uyghur background, ever heard of “Two-Restraints-and-One-Leniency”(liang shao yi kuan)? This is what gives them the “right” to steal, physically abuse people and NOT get charged or anything.
I tried to explain to one of my Chinese students that every time someone shouts “Hello!” at my back and then breaks into laughter, it’s an act of racism. He reacted as if I had just punched him. Putting the shoe on the other foot, so to speak, didn’t wodk either: suppose you are walking doen the street in Los Angeles and a white person shouts NIHAO at your back, simply because you LOOK Chinese, and then starts giggling. To me it seemed like the same situation, but in the end the student sidestepped the question with the usual “Westerners can never understand Chinese culture” refrain. That seemed to be it in a nutshell: us against them, any outsider being labeled “Westerner.” I agree that the racism is subtle, but just try being a white American AND a gay man in China. I’m obviously (visually) and outsider while being completely invisible (as in nonexistent) as a gay man.
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Well it’s good the chinese lose there pathetic racism when they come to america, because they can’t wait to invade the black communities and set up nail shops and chinese restaurants with poor quality food and I don’t consider most chinese people attractive either they have big heads and strange shaped bodies. but I think the reason all races target black people as being at the bottom of the totem pole is to keep from ending up on it themselves!
Racism is natural to human beings. period. If Chinese started to immigrate in massive numbers to Nigeria [a black country], and Nigeria ended up as 20% Chinese…You can bet your behind that the black nigerians would be racist toward Chinese. Uganda had alot of Asian indians there and they were expelled for just that reason actually.
China’s issue, is it is becoming wealthy, so there are alot of Africans trying to move there now. And truth be told, crime among Africans in China IS high. There IS alot of rape of chinese women by African males, and drugs being sold by them. Its wrong for chinese to be racist…yet Africans, unlike Whites/Europeans do tend to be dirt poor and more prone to violence. That explains why whites are treated better – they do have money in China.
your comment sounds very racist against africans I guess your white and a loser like any other racist!
i am a black american, from atlanta Georgia, i married a chinese woman from chongqing china, she used me to get her and her daughter over here and get their green cards, well i got over that, i have learned quite a lot from her as we have been together for almost 4 years(we are seperated now) i know she likes and respects white men a lot more than me. i went to china with her and of cours when i arrived in beijing airport, i got the stares and all of them seemed to look down on me, her family acted like they accepted me with opened arms, but i saw through that. as we went on a tour thru beijing, i had some younger people ask me if i was wesley snipes and wanted to take pictures with me, that was funny and i enjoyed the attention in that way, but in the racist way, it was similar to being in alabama or mississippi. as long as they thought i was famous, they treated me well and seemed to respect me. other than that, i was looked down on. there are only 2 things that makes my wife give me some forms of respect and that is the fact that most of the white guys her friends married, make about $100,000 less than i do and i make her feel really good when she gets that x-rated desire. chinese have seen many american movies and the ones they keep in mind are the ones that african americans are portrayed as servants and criminals, so they think white people are all innocent and rich, HMMM
(so you dated outside your race that’s your business but I guess you should have known the feeling’s wasn’t strong enough for marriage yeah I guess you did learn alot!)
As an African racisim against blacks is the strongest in China. I lived here for 9 years. My assumption was that it will improve through time but it is getting stronger, worst and official. It is almost impossible to extend visa if you are black. It is getting hard to secure visa if you are black. You are treated like useless creature at immigration offices. It doesn’t matter whether you have good personality or money, what matter here is your colour. For most Chinese only Americans are human beings. The descrimination increases if you are from middle east, India, Afgahan, Pakistan, Japan, Africa who ever you are.
You come to China to buy their goods, that doesn’t count. A high school graduate white American have better chance than a Nigerian with masters degree in English languge to take be English teacher. A white South African has better chance than a black south African.
The sad thing is government emplyees also have this black-phobya.
God help them. Millions of Chinese are working freely in Africa while few thousend Africans are being harassed by the society and the police in China.
Chinese-black racism is on the rise.
(Well why are you there being mistreated? I couldn’t allow myself to be mistreated by a chinese I will let them have it! and any other race for that matter)
32|Afroman says:
Here is one experiance. There was this Chnese women who sold some goods to an African and he doesn’t pay her the money. I managed to have her money paid and she turn to another Chines and say “hey ren duo shi pianre” means all black people are liars. I’m black too she doesn’t care about me while I helped here. They are so ignorant when tey make remarks about non-chinese people.
I agree they have inferiority complex. They believe they are more human than blacks and whites are more human than Chinese. Reason? MONEY!!!
( one thing you have to remember is that chinese people have inferior sex organs the men have extremely small penisis and the women have extremely flat butts and no breast that would explain there anger and jealousy against blacks just like american racism that’s why so much plastic surgery resembles the blk anatomy)
I dont want to sound mean but I also think that the chinese are kinda racist. its anoying cauz i feel that its the amaricans that most people think are racist but in reality amarica’s actualy a good place. its only the south thats kinda bad. not just amarica but I think that a lot of people think that white people in geniral are racist. but for the most part its not true. I think that the biggest thing is just that westerners and aisans(chinese) have diffrent cultures and what one person considers rude or racist the other person might not. it happend to me so many times that an aisan was walking on front of me and opened a door and did not hold it for me. its happend to my friends too(i dont know if its in chinese culture its not nessisary to hold doors for others). although that was probably not racism, it shows that we have diffrent cultures that might see things from a diffrent prospective.
( your not that pathetic are you I guess you must be from Africa because you can’t even spell America! racism exist in so many facets! But if that’s what gets you threw your day…)
It is quite unfortunate with the great deal of racism in the world today, particularly with Chinese discriminating against the
Japanese, Blacks, etc.
Ironically in only a few hundred years we in Canada has advanced farther and developed socially with different racial and religious groups (yes if you read over Canadian history we actually have been jerks in the past, our people actually supported Hitler for quite some time) as well as different living classes than China has in over 2000 years. Methinks China should actually be much more advanced than the rest of us due to its age and supposed superiority. Then when you look at Japan it has drastically changed from what China remembers from WWII.
its too bad that chinese were brainwashed by white s about black people look up you roots and history YOU CAME FROM AFRICA JUST LIKE US
I am Chinese college student and now live in Beijing. There are many foreigners in our campus, inclding the black and white.I have to confess that we like the white people more compared to the black.But I don’t think it is a kind of racism.Everyone love the beauty and it is unlucky that the black people don’t meet our definition of beauty.Most of Chinese like the people who have a whiter skin color.And that is the problem.
TO RIGEL
wowwww….how on earth can you come onto this thread and post such ridiculous drivel?
Show me some facts which back up what you are saying, as far as I can research there are NO statistics which even elude to what you are claiming about blacks being responsible for a disproportionate level of crime, rape or drugs in the country. In fact the chinese triads are incredibly ruthless and with the level of drugs, crime and violant murder they commit, It would be very hard for a black population of under 10,000 to challenge thier stronghold on crime in china.
Also you should do your homework, there are millions of chinese people in africa at the moment literally tens of millions, and they are not faced with racsism they are welcomed. In fact it is well documented that the black people IN Africa face racism FROM the chinese immigrants!
The racsism towards blacks in china has nothing to do with human nature, it is due to the portrayal of black people in he western media they have seen, this has then been mirrored in thier own media.
However I am not writing this to challenge you who clearly are incredibly racist and prejudice yourself, hence the line ‘Africans, unlike Whites/Europeans do tend to be dirt poor and more prone to violence.’Which quite frankly absolutely disgusts me. I am writing this comment so that any person who reads this thread is not left with ur disgusting views in thier heads, and they hopefully will have a more balanced opion.
PS. I am a half chinese, half white american and lived in china till the age of 19.
英语不好，勉强能看懂，拿中文回复你好了。博主的观察能力很强，写的很细致！
1、关于对黑人和白人，中国人的传统审美里以白为美，或许这是第一映像上不容易接受黑人而亲近白人的原因之一。至于工作，这个各地有别吧，我们学校的黑人外教就很多。
2、关于日本，台湾，历史问题，不解释。
3、关于国内少数民族，大部分还是和睦相处的，跟新疆、西藏的冲突不知是否与信仰有关。
It seems that the author of the article is trying to find some country in which the racism is worse than that in his country. It’s like a little bad boy is trying to find somebody else who he thinks is worse than him and trying to distrack people’s attention on him and provoke people’s anger to someone else to cover his badness so that it makes him look better. But, who are you kidding?
PS: about the racism against Japanese and minorities that appears in the article, man, I think you need to read more books, to know more and to open your eyes. Please dont use your ignorance as something that you are proud of and show it to the whole world. Why dont you mention the racism against chinese people in japan? Please please try to find something in youtube about UNIT 731 and watch them closely. I thank you very very much.
I live in China right at the moment, and I do not see a lot of racism around here, even to the blacks and Japanese. There are plenty of Japanese and Koreans here, and we all get along pretty well, without any sort of conflict occuring. Not all the Chinese are strictly against Japanese and blacks..
To the Chinese “Black is Ugly”, it has nothing to do the race. A lot of Chinese people see nothing wrong with pointing out “perceived” flaws of others – being overweight, short, from the countryside…they will critize everything. Social pressure to conform to a standard is much stronger here, probably due to the homogeneity of the population/limited interaction with the outside world in addition to physical homogenity – black hair, black eyes etc…Anything else is strange. If you are White person on the other hand – embodies a lot of characteristics that the Chinese envy, so they are treated very well…the Chinese are probably one of the most superficial and fake people ever, looks over substance is what it is all about here at the end of the day no matter what other BS they will try to sell you.
I am a afro American from Colombia. Used to be a soccer player in china for 2 years.
Let me write some of the thinks that I used to pass in china, a lot of good thinks and the racism that never stop on any place in the world. let’s star from the moment when you get in the Country, emigration: the security for black people is taking longer than the other rices, leaving the airport the taxi don’t want to stop to a black person, look like the money from black people do not
count, Hotels the service is lower than other rices, in the street people look at you like you are from other planet….etc,
Ok, so many things that I can say about racism in china and other countries.
My point is: Why we stop and give our mind on those people?
instead of that why we do some thing to improve our life, who care what they said or thing, do we really care?
I used to be mad every time, now I use it for improve every moment and opportunities that I have.
I don’t care what they thing or do. I care what I have to do and keep going forward to my vision.
Like I said before I used to pass a lot of bad moment in this world for those behavior, and my life didn’t stop.
get better and feel better, you will see how the world will changing the mentality about Us. They always notice but so little ones will let it know. about what wrong they was,
do you work that is a lot of Us trying to improve and give the true to this world.
Black. African… Loving China…! Ofcoz rascism exists, ts normal…! pple here actualy admire me, my hair, skin and the like…!
I grew up in a northeastern city in China, and I was born in 1990, and don’t know if it’s just my generation or not, but among my friends, there’s no discrimination against any other race of people. I should admit that sometimes we do throw a few jokes to black people, yet in terms of equity, I never find a black people being treated differently than any Chinese or white people. Maybe this issue is more obvious among elderly people since their lack of good education.
This article is hilarious! Reminds me of another great country (the USA). Racism will never leave us, difference between China and the US is that they (the Chinese) say how/what they feel, and not mask it like many white americans do. I’m an afro Caribbean man living in the United States of America. I worked with a Korean fella for two years and he was amazed that as a black man, I possessed strong work ethics, moral wealth and had never cheated on my wife (oh and I suck at basketball). It was funny to me that his problem was that he just did not have the exposure. I don’t mind at all if some/most Chinese think black is ugly…I just want them too to understand that…We (blacks) think they’re ugly too!
@Kat #54
Envy your foot I say.
I am very happy about how I look, and will give everything to keep look like this if anything should happen.
the boss is the boss, lol.
I’ve read numerous articles about Chinese hiring black workers within China as-well Africa and the common denominator seems to be laziness.
Racism is everywhere, especially in white countries. Asians get severely discriminated against in America, Europe, ect, so why shouldn’t white people and black people get discriminated in China? It’s only fair that they get a piece of the action. And at least China doen’t have racist organizations like the KKK; they don’t kill or physically threaten others. We don’t throw bananas at black people in football games like the white europeans. You see, China is infinitively less racist than than europe, but I only hope for more racism in China. I wish they’d have racist organizations that attack whites and blacks. If I go to China in a vacation I will participate in such racial acts mentioned in this article.
Uhm.The way your describing this topic sounds horrible. ..But I’m Black.I taught English in China.When I was in China I never experienced any type of racism there,people were actually very nice.When I went out to eat I got extra food for free,people came up to me and tried to dance like me in clubs,and people even complemented me on my hair.The only bad thing I experienced was the constant staring.But I can’t even get mad,they’ve probably never even seen a black person in person before.And my students first asked me why my skin was so tan.They really don’t understand. ..Other then the staring and questions…I NEVER experienced racism in China.I love it there.And I really wouldn’t mind going back.
@33|Quitblamingwhites
What the hell are you talking about?Black people don’t hate white people.Black people do usually claim a white person as racist,yes.You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.White people tell racist jokes,talk about black people,and say n***** amongst eachother. ..So what isn’t racist? ..That shouldn’t be called out? ..Fine then.
Very insightful article, thanks. I feel almost blessed to be an English teacher in Japan, where people have the free resources to travel to other countries and see that black people are not one generalized group as we seem to be seen as in China.
I’m black British with an Asian mother myself and have traveled to several countries in East and Southeast Asia. Yet, I’ve never experienced anything as negative as what I’ve read other black people have had in China. Being a black traveller or job-seeker there will seemingly open the door to a world of depressing negative experiences.
After reading this and the opinions of other readers, I’m now decided against ever visiting the country. That brings the total of no-go zones to 3 places: China, Argentina and Russia.
I will not give my money to people who will use it to sustain a society in which racial-hierarchy is accepted as the norm!
Chinese people are racist! they are even prejudice against other chinese! the “new china” as propogated by the communist is making the communist chinese think they are superior to all races including their own. what the communist chinese do not realize is that what china has is still inferior to the west. as a chinese american, i am embarrased by my own people. sham on you!
I’m a black american with native ancestry. I wonder do chinese people even know their own history, with all this talk of racism against blacks. Furthermore I wonder do you even know chinese history? Check it out it may blow your mind. Unfortunately blacks are the victims of their own greatness. I would credit those who were the last to recieve enlightenment for their campaign of lies and corrupting the world.
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVE MY BLACK SKIN AND FOR A MOMENT IN CHINA I REGRETED EVER BEING BLACK. I WILL NEVER STEP CHINA AGIN THIS IS MY LAST TIME IN WHATEVER COUNTRY THAT DOES SPEAK ENGLISH
Honestly, when I was living in Shanghai about a year go, I was called a heigui when I was walking along a street right next to the school I was staying in. It was a little girl walking with her mom and I heard her say ‘something-gui’ as she pointed at me and the next thing I saw was her mom pulling her close to her. When I got back to campus, I asked my Chinese roommate what I thought the little girl shouted at me. My roommate told me she said ‘heigui’ and when I asked her what it meant she giggled and said, ‘it doesn’t matter’ litterally translating ‘Forget about it’ it was ONLY until after I got back to the States did I looked up that it meant black ghost (I’m half Filipino, half African-American. People in the states mistaken me for Mexican for crying out loud!). I felt so offended when I found this out; I was in shock. But before this, I saw that alot of chinese stopped and stared at me when I was out and about, and that didn’t offend me. It was only the time when the little girl called me a ‘black ghost’ on the streets that have shocked me and what I’ll remember as racism in China because of my non-white skin.
As an asian from Taiwan who studies English, I can’t excactly speak for all chinese people. It is definetly possible that they find themselves surperior and look down at any other races( whites even sometimes). I would generally say that Taiwan doesn’t really have that issue. We accept people of all races: Indies, americans…etc.
In America, Blacks are extremely racist against Chinese people.
Why do Chinese people have to bend over Blacks in China?
i used to love china soooooooooooooooooooooo much am sooooooooooo choked of how much racist there is to even white people not just black ( like me) am so sad there is nothing we can do to stop racism at least japan tries not to act like china for that i envy them so is Korea i have much to say to china but don’t know where to begin am black and proud of my skin you might have never seen a black person it dosent mean you have to treat them differently from any one else that we goes fro white people to we all are humans we all a have feelings and we shouldn’t act this way am 14 and i think this is a problem in society china watch my back i will chow you that black people are not all the same
good day
i cant give up even if all we do is watch this happen and do nothing about it. i will stand on my own feet and chow them am not giving up on this matter of black racism no matter what.:(
i read most of ur comments, i disagree most of urs.Im chines gal
1.To japanese, yes. Most Chinese were educated that Japanese are evil, they killed many chinese by book and tv, in tv, japanese are clown and ugly with short body and bowlegs, but most chinese who traveld to japan will change their ideas towards japan, they will say: Japan is clean, Japan has high-tech,japan are good at bringing in chinese culture and make them into their own special culture even better than chinese original, just hypocritical and mean.( In this point, Chinese are better than Korean, bcz no matter how japanese are better than Korean, korean alwa ys think japan is their enemy in No.1 , Korean did crime in japan mostly are rape, and korean would say: i revenged !)
2.To Black, no. Well, to me, i think black penis is strong,i wanna have a black bf, im virgin right now. If u r Kobe, i wanna marry u. So i think chinese dont mind whether u are white or black, i would marry a rich black rather than a poor white. RIght? If u are rich and handsome, everybody chase after u!
3.Chinese say ‘hi’ at ur back, its a friendly greeting, maybe I wannna show my hospitability or wanna practise my english, its never disrespecting u !
“LaoWai’ is not a bad word in chinese! ‘HeiGui’ translated into a black ghost isnt a bad word!!
4.Yes, China thinks if ur skin is whiter ,its better. In china, every chinese gal wanna have white skin, that is the reason why china has many skin product to make their skin white , even Japanese gal and korean gal wanna have white skin! THe old chinese are not open-minded, but the younger ppl are more open-minded than the old
5.In china, not that many foreingers live in china, so if we see other race live around us, of course we r curious, and curious and stare at u, but in china, stare at a stranger isnt disrespecting, it just bcz there are something special different from us, we do not show disrepect
6.I watched tv before, and a black boy learned kungfu in china and his teacher is chinese gal, they fall in love and got married, their parents agreed and the gal is very happy.
7.Even among the chinese, there are racism, the south and the north, shanghai and beijing, (Well, i wanna say i love Tibetan ppl and Uygur, some of them are handsome and friendly, in china, there are also tibetan marry other races in china , etc.It’s not like what western media say we disrespect them. on the contrary, we Han are the most lowest ppl in china, we have nothing good treatment,bcz many good treatment are given to ethnic..) Racism is everywhere, In Japan, the Tokyo dislike osaka and okinawa..) French dislike Gypsy…English dislike Indian, Mongolian dislike chinese…
8.About gals. There r more male in china, so the fewer, the more precious. Only in chinese urban and farmers’ , there exists boys are the best, bcz boys can do more jobs.
9.If u behave well and friendly and kina and nice, u’r welcome in every corner in china, no matter u’r black or white or brown, chinese are not that rude and racism to u.
10. And yes, some black ppl in GuangZhou did bad things , it would cause chinese are against black. Some black wont buy ticket to take move tickets and train tickets. And some white ppl think they r the best and insult chinese and even beat chinese women , it would cause chinese against white. I wanna say china has a large population, not every chinese will please u, u should not use insulting words and use ur fist do deal with anything.
11.I had english teachers, one is black american, anohter is white man from Queensland, Australia. The american is nice, he got married with Fiji gal in china, even his and her families came to my city,we students went to his marriage . But that australian teacher liked to talk political issuses, including chinese(in fact, chinese dislike foreigners talking their own business, its none of other country’s business) We kept silent, but what we can stand is he thought his ideas are right and he thought he knew everything. Keeping silent does not mean we agree with what he said. Finally, he was fired. His behavior and words maked us unhappy.(Chinese are different from western , so dont judge everything in western way)
12.chinese gals love white skin, and they wanna have mixed-race babies, bcz mixed-race baby is more nice and cute. Chinese maybe dont love u, just wanna have a mixed-race baby
13.china in chinese is ‘中国’, 中 is central ,国 is country, maybe that is the reasom china thinks he is the best bcz of 中
14.In Europe and USA, some white men even didnt speak one word to their neighbour who are black, some white servant in restaurant gate would say: I dont know, maybe a white. when he is asked ; what is the color of the guest’s skin. In japan, guys would rather marry european gals who have white skin ,hot body ,and high-nose. The Japanese even think they blong to Europea, they
are the white,Japanese admire the white and feel inferior compared with the wthie.
15.I knew a chinese woman married to Jamaican, and she thinks she isnt chinese any more, and what she has to do is to do contribution to jamaca.
16.Many ppl have been called chink, yankee, turk, spic, jap, gook, hun,etc. Why? they are all english words, racism is everywhere, To me, I think chinese are friendly, If u respect chinese , of course we respect u. If u are kind and gentle, we will be kind and gentle. Chinese ppl are justice and righteousness,when they send presents to foreigners they will give u tea or silk or chopsticks etc. They give u gifts and never think of repaying.
17.Mongolia has racism, and so does Russia. Both contries are close to China, So does Japan and Korea, and Vietnam.
That is my view as a chinese, maybe some are wrong :j
18. I wanna add: not every chinese love whites skin, some ethic ppl in china regard black skin as beauty, so chinese male think black skin means a man, white skin as a boy is a little Feminine
.
Your experiences mirror mine during my travels in China. There is a huge amount of discrimination in China, perfectly accepted, common and even institutionalized. I traveled with a Japanese friend, and even in the expensive new hotels in shanghai we had trouble with the ignorant behavior! Ending this type of racist behaviour/attitudes appears to be a hopeless cause. I dont believe things will change there, because the public consensus is that if other people are “inferior” to you- they have have less money, are darker skinned, or come from a different province- it is the right and acceptable thing to treat them like animals. With this kind of mindset, other people are above you and therefore must be flattered and fawned over, or beneath you and therefore must be constantly reminded of their lowly position.
As an African American woman who is making plans to travel to China to see my Chinese internet guy friend, after reading this, I will pass!! This is why I like Japanese people over all other Asians – they have been so much more exposed to the outside world! How dare the Chinese look down on ANYBODY when most blacks in the US have nicer homes and make more money than 99% of them!! How dare they discredit people like Martin Luther King, Oprah Winfrey, Alex Haley, Barack Obama,Condoleeza Rice and THOUSANDS other! WTF is so great about China? How can they talk about Africans committing crime when the Chinese themselves run more scams and commit more crimes than anybody because most are so poor and starving! A country that tried to solve the population problem by killing million of baby girls – STFU!! Most of the people are desperately poor to the point of eating dirt and they have the nerve to be racist? They are not the most attractive people in the world either with bad teeth, skin, skinny, flat asses, poor hygiene so who the hell are they?? Most don’t even bathe daily and my friend showed me pics of them bathing in a filthy river!! Japanese are MUCH more attractive! Chinese admire and want to be like whites? Do they realize whites oppressed them and came in trying to wipe out their culture? STUPID loving the oppressor! I always wanted to visit Shanghai where my friend is but I I have changed my mind. I can deal with the devil I know here in the States rather than travel 20 hours on a plane to a third world country like china! As far as some asshole saying that as a black person I should act a certain way to impress them, I do NOT have to prove my humanity to anyone! Stupid, ignorant, making minimum wage factory workers!
Well being a Chinese American myself, I don’t think Chinese are racist against Blacks. Most of Chinese are mild and non violent. However, black people keep harassing them and abuse them physically. Therefore the fears are instill in their mind. Can you honestly walking into the Hoods or Ghetto in America without fear of being shot? I seriously think HIP HOP culture has brought too much Hate and violence to the black community. It is sad. However, I do have many African American friends who are educated and cool to hang out with..So it is not about racism, it is about how you carry yourself in a professional manner.
It seems that in China there is an obsession with proving the inferiority of Black people. I frequent a blog related to China, and no matter what the topic pertains to, it always seems that at least one to two people will always bring people of African descent into the discussion, not to mention the neo-nazi types who are all too happy to try to export racism and racist ideas into China. Any reason why there seems to be an obesssion among many Chinese people an ongoing need to prove the inferiority of Blacks, or the need to constantly reference Black people as inferior, and attempt to prove it? Feedback on this issue will be much appreciated.
@78Patty: I dont understand why did u say this..ur words proved u r racist. I didnt speak ill of Black. I wanna tell u, if u hear chinese say heigui,it does not mean bad in Chinese meaning. Different colors in China will be special. Yeah, to u ,japanese are better. Yeah, most chinese are poor, but did u visit china? did u know what chinese really are? U are frightened by the words in Internet. They say Chinese are racist, then u belive, then u insulted chinese. My msg above didnt mean to hurt anybody, i just wanna write the truth in my life. Why dont u calm down? and show respect to each other? And I say here: CHINESE ARE NOT RACIST COMPARED WITH EUROPEANS, AND CHINESE ARE NOT RACIST. HeiGui is said by some chinese, and they never mean to insult u!! Its real! Believe me, and Stop say Chinese are racist please!
Chinese love white skin has no wrong, but we didnt say we dislike Black, just a word”heigui’ defeated u? u googled it , and then show u’ black ghost”， then u think are racist? Its not like that, Im Chinese, and i know what do chinese think about. Chinese welcome anyone in the world,and the poor ppl in china may did ill-bred behavior,but it does not mean Chinese dislike u. And i love Black ppl! omg, what did happen, why so many words‘chinese are racists’in Internet. I do believe its rumor!
I love Will Smith,Denzel Washinton,Kobe Bryant,Michael Jordan, Halle Berry,Michael Joseph Jackson etc. I respect the Black, i love Jazz,Hiphop. Let’s in peace. Chinese are not racists!
In atcors, Many chinese admire Will Smith, and if a film has will smith, they will watch it without thinking! T-T …what i wanna express is that many chinese are not that bad as u think
If u are angry with some chinese say: heigui(its not insulting) in the back of u,u say: “fuck u, chink”(cao ni ma,zhong guo ren)or “yellow moneky” (黄猴子） huang hou zi(pinyin) to them….(its fair) then u feel better.
When I was online, using ICQ and omglet etc. Somebody insulting me also, “chink ,yellow monekys, fuck u ,chinaman.Dirty Chinese, ugly chinese, china has slanted-eyes. chingchangchong,cheap chinese etc.” and there are articles’chinese are racists’,,,,, I do not understand.
To Patty, you say all this about China and Chinese people yet you have never been to China?
You say you make more money than them, obviously that is because you are born in America, where you can make use of a good society not created by African people.
If you want to see a real “black” country you should go to Africa, a huge continent mostly inhabited by Africans, and if you’re educated you should know Africa is the most violent, unsafe and corrupt place on the planet.
What’s so great about China?
Well i find it a very interesting country, very little violence and there is probably less rape in the entire country then there is in any “black” african country, let alone the whole african continent, which has less population than China.
And you try to insult Chinese people by being offensive about their appearance or hygiene?
How can you know 1.3 billion people are ugly?
How can you know 1.3 billion have poor hygiene?
You need to improve on stating facts not nonsense.
You also said Chinese admire white people?
Some may, that could have to do with having respect for them and for what they have achieved in the world, unlike Africa has.
Even in the USA it’s African Americans who are the most violent link –> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_crime_in_the_United_States
Also you seem to think China is a very violent and unsafe country, well here you can see China has 120 prisoners per 100.000 population, and the USA has 743 prisoners per 100.000 population, (from which about 30% is African American, which is strange isn’t it? Because African Americans only make up 12% of USA’s population.
You blurt out nonsense about china, i will state facts about Africans.
Have a nice day.
Compared to Europe, especially Dutch Anxiety, racism in China is quite mild but racism exists in all societies. Europe and American got it bad for taking shortcut by importing large number of slave labour. China did not have this problem due to its own large population.
But be warned don’t follow the European and American path or China will hatch up her own Dutch Axiety.
To Guido:
How long have you lived in China? Ive been in Zhuhai for 3 years and been pretty much everywhere else in China, and can read and speak Chinese and I keep tabs on the investigate reports done by budding journalists (usually undercover) that go “behind the scenes” to where food comes from here. But ive seen enough with my own eyes to support my opinions below.
Zhuhai is proclaimed as being a cultural haven in china with a clean environment blah blah blah, just like many other of the booming coastal towns. We have a saying, “you cant polish a turd” The streets are disgustingly dirty, everywhere except in the high priced apartment complexes where the average Chinese cant afford to live. Where 90% of the city lives its absolutely appalling at the level of filth that is deemed acceptable. Where the average chinese lives here there is no garbage storage at all, its all thrown on the ground in a large pile or in a non covered cement pen. Dogs fight away the cats, cats scare the rats, and rats scare the roaches. Coming from Canada this to me is an unacceptable living condition for any human regardless of race. But im sure there is worse places in the world. Imagine that 1 billion live like this.
The cleanliness standard in wet markets, fish docks, food processing plants is not enforced by local govt, all that is done is throw up banner in strategic places and hope the money hungry (but poor) uneducated workers will abide. The survivalist instincts and lack of rules by the competition causes in these industries absolute lawlessness. Ive have seen pigs being sliced and diced on wet market floors, fish being sold from the floor, and this is where all the market garbage is thrown to rot before it is collected. The smell is nauseating, but the people DO NOT CARE. They would rather buy their food, save the few extra kuai rather than go to the supermarket (which aint much cleaner) than worry about there own health, hygiene and intake of god knows what kind of chemicals, bacteria, or heavy metals!! People are becoming more aware of the food safety here but, no one does anything to educate where its needed. Its the people who live like sardines in those disgusting old apartments I mentioned above that process the food, sell it, farm it, ect. Not 1.3 billion chinese people are dirty, just 999million. The rest still may have bad breath, rotted teeth, spit and hack all over the street, cough, sneeze, yawn, without covering their mouth, roll up there shirt and expose their glistening bellies with pride… but at least they put on plastic nurses gloves when eating KFC.
What can powerless people in a communist country do to send a message to the food industry here??? Dont purchase from these disgusting wet markets, street vendors, and go to the supermarket. Talk with supermarket managers, write emails, complain complain complain!! You Chinese are 1.3 billion but you all act as if you have no F*cking voice box!!!! What if it was your child who suffered lead poisoning causing brain damage from eating tainted seafood farmed from a factory tailings pond, or a young man who eats raw vegetables fertilized with chemicals and became infertile? Don’t let people get away with using 地沟油 in restaurants…. and show some balls for a change. Forget “giving face” or “saving face” educate yourself and others by not tolerating this rogue food industry. 1,3 billion lobotomized years of communist education is tough to reverse.
To Guido, I think you’re wrong just as much as Patty’s statement. You sound no different from her. Have you ever been in America? Do you know about the racist history towards blacks? When D.N.A was invented, it was proved that many blacks were wrongfully accused for nothing. Since this happen, they created a law if D.N.A. to proved them innocent, they have to be in jail for more years. Which there’s still many blacks in jail. Do you call that justice? So don’t try to say that blacks does the most crime which comes from a source of wikipedia. And these are all facts. Everybody knows that African Americans are known mostly that get’s accused for doing nothing in America. As for the African Country, I’m not going to judge because I haven’t been there. I’m not saying all blacks. But both of you are giving negative remarks towards Africans and Chinese. Which offends me. You and Patty sounds racist.
As for Miao, thank you and I highly respect your point of views and efforts for being honest
@Norse_Hordes Yes, many Chinese are ill-bred, and China is still in the 3rd-world, you are from Canada which is heaven, China is still China, you are against Communist,and Communist is evil in your eyes. Those ill-bred Chinese is filled in your eyes.There are 0.8 billion farmers in China! And I’m sorry for what those chinese did in front of you. Beacuse China is poor, but not Every city is dirty. Yes, Chinese love eating, the streets are dirty
bcz they are ill-bred, there are many good chinese also. China has many many things to learn from Canada,and My canadian teacher from Vancouver said this thing also, but he loves China not like you. Bcz he saw good chinese also!
which other cities did you go? Try some other cities, there are many beautiful sences in China! About food, Chinese knew it and know it, not every kind of food as described like you. and the food problem is not only in China. Chinese are trying the save the food ! In my family, we cook food our own, its nice and tasty, not every chinese businessman are that bad as you think, if your eyes see the dirt, every where in china is full of dirt then!
About Communist. It seems non-communists countries should not live on the earth and be wiped out, is it. Cuba, Vietnam and China ,North korea, the most criticized country is China, and only China. I know you hate China ,bcz China is communism Many ppl in western world say China is threating them. But When? Did china do it? American lost jobs bcz of China? Its really like that? Could it be called Racism? And in Germany, Only bad news in China will be reported by media. I’m not saying good about Communist, but bcz I’m Chinese~!
Sorry, the above is wrong,its “It seems communists countries should not live on earth and be wiped out’
@Miao, many jobs in the States are lost to China because big companies choose to outsource jobs to countries such as Chine because of cheap labor. It’s really not anyone’s fault except the companies’ fault, just trying to save money and make a profit :/
To Norse_hordes, i agree that some places arent very clean, it needs to be improved but thats no easy task for a country as large and populated as China.
To Mike: I am responding to Patty, she says Chinese people are bad and African people are good, than she really needs to look at the facts. And you dont have to have been to Africa to know what a shithole it is, its pretty clear to be honest, simple facts.
Go wikipedia some african countries, you wont find many where the government is corrupt and the people are violent and poor.
I know China isnt as clean as most western countries, but dont forget China was in civil war and war with japan at the same time not long ago, for a country with 1.3 billion people it takes longer to recuperate than it takes for a country with 50 million. China is improving, it takes time.
all i can say is that racism is the highest form of ignorance and backwardness .it is a disease that needs to be treated with education and enlightenment and unfortunately people like”guido”cannot be helped.it would be a waste of an educated person’s effort to even try.the chinese government itself has tried in vain.we could talk about the poor hygiene,the fake products,the lack of access to basic meidicine in pharmacies and yet there are 24 hour bars and cigarette shops,the internet censorship,the 24 hour ‘massage’ parlours,the pollution,the fake high speed trains and on and on.but why bother?a fellow like guido is busy judging africa based on wikipedia probably because he does not have the means to travel there.just leave such types to wallow in their ignorance.when the barbaric peasant gengis khan wanted to obliterate the chinese,it was because of his ignorance towards their then great culture.
I am also an expat living in China. Yes, I am white and I have had African friends who were treated incredibly poorly. There is no denying the Chinese are racist.
It impacts my life immensely on personal level as I married a man who has a Chinese face, he does not identify with Chinese people and is embarrassed and ashamed to be of Chinese heritage. I have been verbally abused countless times, threatened, pushed, pelted with rocks, hit, spat at and attacked and most of these events I was not with my husband. Although there have been many events where we are together.
It is my personal belief that the Chinese are a cruel, selfish, mean and spiteful people. I think this comes about as they have a sense of entitlement, that they are better than other people, but they have no responsibility towards others, people in their own communities or abroad. They destroyed their own culture through the cultural revolution and their education system lacks integrity and ethics, children are taught not to care about others. Strangers do not matter.
Yes, I do have Chinese friends and yes, not all are bad, not all of their schools and institutions are faulty but I also think China makes you a jerk.
I am born and raised in Hong Kong but I am filipina.I speak and understand cantonese.All my life I have experienced being discriminated by the chinese since elementary school until getting a job, opening a bank account (hsbc) and till this very day by just walking in a restaurant.Chinese people always suppose that we (non-chinese) dont understand them.they would talk about me & my friends/family out loud and have no clue I understand every single word.They were never aware or probably just dont care.
now that’s a little scary about china ,u know i have always dream t of what life cd be like in china.but i guess that’s life
Let’s see. They think Black people are dumb and violent and white people are ok, as long as they contribute to Chinese society and have a lot of money.
It sounds like they are rational.
What are you guys talking about “Chinese are racist”. They are black people. Can you not see. Are you blind! Look deeper than skin deep!Many bleach their skin! Stop gossipping and posting Junk. Chinese are black people bottom line. They were slaves too. Read history
The historian.
Why is it ok for blacks, whites and the media to discriminate and beat, rape, rob and murder Chinese/Asian in the US but not ok for Chinese in China to discriminate against these filthy hypocrites??
Chinese people are racist! they are even prejudice against other chinese! the “new china” as propogated by the communist is making the communist Chinese think they are superior to all races including their own. what the communist Chinese do not realize is that what china has is still inferior to the west. as a Chinese American, i am embarrassed by my own people. sham on you!
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I am astonished, to say the least. Ever so often I peruse different websites in pursuit of knowledge, and I found this article intriguing. More interesting than that were the various comments posted. I did not feel the need to comment until I read the absurdities of both Guido and Patty. While there are others who were similarly guilty of displaying varying levels of ignorance and/or racism, Patty and Guido led with the torch.
Patty, with your misguided statements, you have now played a part in sullying the image of your race—shame on you. You have actively judged a race because of an article and its comments. I am in no way discrediting the claims made by any of the people who have experienced this first hand, but you indicated a former desire to visit an internet friend from the country yet turned vicious towards his race after reading the information spewed on this site. You argued as if you were a child who was merely reacting as opposed to thinking logically. I implore you to apply logic before commenting on topics that you are sensitive to, because when you post on issues such as these you not only represent yourself—you represent the people you claim to be defending.
Guido, you keep attempting to take the higher ground on this issue with Patty and use Wikipedia as your only source to defend your argument. I do hope you understand that Wikipedia’s known issue is that it can be edited by anyone, therefore the content can at any time be biased an incorrect. The link, which you provided, takes us to a page that clearly warns of “known issues” and biased content. Now because of the ‘data’ you retrieved, you argue, “Even in the USA it is the African Americans who are the most violent.” How do you deduce that with only this one source? Also, how far did you read? Did you bypass where it says, “the rate of prevalence of incarceration for blacks declined…and the white rate slightly increased”? If you are going to use data/information, don’t use only that which will help your biased views while you discard the rest. Shame on you as well, because you have not helped those whom you intended to defend.
Sadly, I have seen racism against a variety of races. I’ve had the displeasure of hearing racist slurs from blacks to: Asians, whites, Hispanics, and even blacks…from whites to: blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Canadians (which baffles me), and so forth. At the core of this racism stirs ignorance, insecurity and an inability to heal countless scars inflicted upon each other and themselves. As a bi-racial woman (black and Indian), I appreciate the friends that I have been fortunate enough to embrace from different cultures because we have learnt so much from each other and about ourselves. It deeply saddens me that 21 centuries later, we claim intelligence and superiority as humans, yet we still squabble over the basics. I have never been to China but I plan on embarking upon that adventure next year in spite of this article and all these opinions. I have read the experiences of others, and while I know the possibility exists for me to share a similar experience, I will not allow it to taint my opinion of a country that I have not experienced. Also, I will not allow it (and neither should any of you) to create/feed stereotypes or form negative opinions of a culture and people that life has made us ill equipped to understand. I can only lead through example and education and hope that one day, conversations like what the two of you shamefully displayed, will be a thing of a long forgotten past.
I travel to China all the time for business. Although the large majority are ignorant about other cultures , however, there is more about class and wealth discrimination than racial, especially in Hong Kong. Taiwan is the opposite…their women love black men, and you can get laid everday as a black man in Taipei
. They practically fight over you, if you look reasonably well dressed. Mainland China outside of Shanghai and Beijing is another story. they will stare at you until they stumble…but again why the heck do you want to go there as a black man.? I stick to Taipei and Hong Kong…its a lotta fun.
Consult this link which shows how much wicked Chinese people can be: http://kaichenblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-black-man-wants-dignity-in-china.html. I wonder why they invade Africa. They should stay in their one colour so-called paradise. People in Africa are becoming gradually aware of this racism. Very soon, these undesirable invaders will soon pay the price in Africa for this racism. Can an African open a shop in China and get Chinese consumers? But our streets are now full of Chinese shops with fake items. They push the ridiculousness up to sell doughnuts along our streets. The so-called wealthy people who despise Africans for being poor. If I take the case of this topnotch Cameroonian journalist abused in two of the most racist Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. How many and what type of Cameroonians live in China compared to the numerous illiterate and empty Chinese migrant workers, doughnut sellers and even prostitutes who illegally invade Cameroon? Chinese racism against black Africans, particularly in Yunnan province (Kunming) and probably in other parts of China, has come to an extend where even when applying for admission into a university, they first ask for your nationality and passport. If you are black and African, they find an excuse to reject your application because getting the JW202/201 form (required for student X visa) and residence permit will almost be impossible. I can give you too universities to avoid: Kunming University of Science and Technology and Yunnan Normal University. Being a student, they will ask you to come with a tourist visa (L) and pretend to convert it to a student visa (X) once in China. This works for Europeans and Americans (mostly white), but as a black African it will be impossible to get a residence permit. This will be the beginning of a real nightmare, an unforgettable bitter experience. To conclude, I urge RACIST CHINESE TO STAY IN CHINA. If Africans are worthless, why do they invade Africa? For the time being, Chinese people do not encounter any discrimination in Africa, but if racism against black Africans continue in China, a hard time will start for your POOR migrant workers who invade Africa. A final reminder, a poor African cannot enter China due to tough visa regulations. If they happen to be poor there, it’s because they have been impoverished by discrimination in the Chinese job market and racism. TO BE FORWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED.
Hell yeah Chinese are the most racist people on Earth i can tell you that 92% of them disgust blacks no matter how rich and powerful you are…Now am not trying to discriminate or say something without facts, i do love the Chinese dearly but in return what do i expect…Henceforth, to them white are like God and they can do anything beyond their will to please a white man…i tell you what? some of this old white men will say…son am heading to China where i can get the most easiest sex with young teenage girls well to them Beijing is like paradise disgusting. tho i have dated one in the past and whenever we take a walk i always see the look and stare from this people, grumbling and murmuring some words behind us and often most time i get scared. To the black community…oh boy forget it we are just like piece of garbage with no future to the Chinese ..they accuse us of drugs and living a thug life and am like what do they say to the Italian drug lord, how about Russia, mexico, China as well too and other European countries who are heavily involve in other related crimes but it is not just about that they hate dark skin. No wonder light skin cream are been sold in large quantities in Asia ….i understand perfectly that racism still exist but some are just worst. Is it the media and other world bodies…But no matter what? if at all the entire world hate blacks just for no reason. you know it does not bother me at all because it makes me stronger and feel special about who i am, so i will only smile and work harder to achieve my dreams…I have one message to the brothers and sisters, always put this in mind that we are Unique and be more careful if you are traveling to Asia or rather China always know what to expect, its not safe for dark skin people….22yrs old university graduate…
[...] but if I could understand the language, I’m sure I would be able to partly testify to this.(http://www.thechinaexpat.com/racism-in-china/#) For now, all I know is that the majority of the people I encounter are very nice and helpful. I [...]
I have noticed that some articles written by Africans are censured. But when Chinese people insult Africans, their comments are published. I hope this article will be published.
I laugh when some Chinese say they don’t want their sons and daughters marry black people. Do they think black Africans dream of marrying Chinese people? You are ignorant because you are not free on your own soil (No free press, Internet censured, one political party, one thought)and don’t have any opportunity to travel, discover Africa, to discuss with Africans to understand their culture, their history and to know who they actually are.
Let me tell you that, coming to China is not a dream for Africans. China is only the last choice after they have tried to go elsewhere. As concerns poverty. Let’s first agree on the fact that money is only a convention to assess wealth in nature. Money itself is nothing. You cannot eat coins or bank notes; neither can you build a house on them. Money is a convention imposed by westerners to maintain their supremacy by imposing unfair exchange rates and refusing a single currency or means of exchange used worldwide. The true wealth is made of natural resources. Africa is the richest in terms of these natural resources. They are the start of manufactured goods. An American who does not have a single dollar in New York will die of hunger. This is not the case in Cameroon, so-called poor African country. A cameroonian villager with no single penny has hectares of land belonging to him, natural fruits like non-planted pawpaws, mangoes and many other natural products at his disposal without any effort. Not taking into account his own farms with abundant crops s/he cannot sell because money, the white man convention is blocked in western countries and is not circulating sufficiently. Is this man poorer than an American who has as an only asset USD2000 in a bank account? Not sure, he’s even richer than him. I would not mention the pitiful case of a poor Chinese! But western financial institutions and media have convinced him that the only wealth on this earth is made of bank notes and coins. Since he does not have them, s/he thinks his poorer than the above-mentioned American.
The notion of happiness is very relative. Did you hear that there is an earthquake, a typhoon, a snow storm killing hundred thousands people in Cameroon? This is unknown here in our so-called “highly indebted poor country”. But they are the best friends of countries like USA and China that believe to be paradises on earth and insult Africans. Yet, I prefer to live safely in a hut than being in a skyscraper and be buried alive and unexpectedly in a matter of seconds by an earthquake or a 9/11 terrorist attack.
Finally, the so-called industrial development is in many cases an illusion. It solves one problem and generates many others. The airplane, the car, the train were not invented by Africans. They facilitate people’s movement, but they brought new causes of death: air crashes, road accidents and train collisions. The so-called industrial development has brought more threats to human beings compared to the problems it pretends to solve. Air pollution, the ozone layer that is disappearing with the risk of the planet being burned and this will lead to the disappearance of humanity, the weapons that kill thousands of people. in short, inventions made by those who look down on Africans were inspired by the devil and will destroy this world. They are not reasons for despising some races or countries.
For ignorant Chinese whose perception of other races is informed by biases rather than readings, travels and deep research, I will give them this overview on African history.
Africa is a continent not a country. Let’s give a picture.
Cameroon is in central Africa. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are two of its neighbouring countries. But a Cameroonian in one of these two countries is a complete foreigner, having to get a visa and to go through immigration clearance like in China. Moreover, China is an old nation. African nations are still very young and fragile. If I take the case of Cameroon. Before the arrival of the white man, our ancestors were living in small groups, with different languages and cultures, treating each other as foreigners. The white man came first of all as a friend and gained their confidence. Took the time to study and deceive them. Then, there was colonization. During this period, the white man tried to bring all these people, not knowing each other, speaking more than 250 different languages, and having their own social organisations, together to form a single nation. This is the birth of what is known today as Cameroon. From independence (in 1960-61), these people started building a new nation, trying to overcome their cultural and language differences. This is a very difficult task. Bringing people to understand that they belong to the same entity, when occupying top positions in the government, they should do it in the general interest not in the interest of their ethnic group, to look at all Cameroonians as their brothers, and not only people from their ethnic group. 50 years only of independence are not sufficient to reach this goal. So, China or other very old nations should not be compared to Africa and take their vision of happiness and development as a reference for all people, neither look down on all those who are below their standards. Why should a Cameroonian think of inventing Air-conditioning when s/he’s not freezing in snow, lives in the rain forest and has a warm climate. Why should s/he think of inventing an aircraft if s/he is satisfied with what is given by his/her land and does not need a high-speed vehicle to go and look for natural resources elsewhere. All humans are equal.
The only weakness that explains the problems of African is SELFISHNESS. Black people were not brought to America and Europe as slaves because the white man was too strong or intelligent. But because Africans only looked at their selfish gains by selling their brothers and sisters to the white man. Same thing with colonization. The white man used Africans to defeat other Africans and conquered other Africans (see the story of the renown king Chaka Zulu in South Africa as an example). Nowadays, it’s still selfishness that is the cause of civil wars in Africa: embezzlement of public funds, corruption, and so on. People look only at their immediate personal gains, and not at the general interest in the long run. That’s what those who want to critize in Africans can criticize, not skin color. Nobody passed a competitive examination to be black, white, yellow or whatever. We just happen to have the skin color we have. Racism is stupidity and those who feel discriminated by people they welcome in their countries with respect naturally react to these unfair attacks. THERE ARE MORE CHINESE IN AFRICA THAN AFRICANS IN CHINA. WHO IS LOOKING FOR A GREENER PASTURE ON THE OTHER ONE’S LAND?
So far so good i am Educated and i have my degree, soon i will become an MBA holder at the age of 22….i don’t care about the Chinese or what they do think about Africans besides i don’t intend to visit such country as China or their retarded, ignorance racist people or perhaps marry one….If other great nation could fight and put a big stop against racism why China and the funny part of it is that, they keep on circulating the world gosh….Moreover we all know the truth so what is the point of hiding it…..Chinese don’t like blacks, they hate us and as long as they keep on doing it, we as black people or nation will not want to mix with them….i got my pride and i will stand for it. To all the black people around the world don’t go to China cos its not safe for blacks and Chinese should stay away from blacks as well….Wonder why Africans are still trading with such racist people…
In addition, am not a racist, i welcome everyone, i love meeting people and making friends all around the world no matter your religion or where you come from. Well my school has given me the opportunity to meet people from different country and continent that came to study and i have got lot of experience and understand bout we human….peace.
You’re 100% right Kenny. The racist attitude of Chinese towards black people should not be hidden. Our leaders deceive us saying China is our best friend, we have an excellent cooperation with China. The truth should be spread and told to the African people back in Africa. When you’re someone’s best friend, you’re welcome to his home. That’s what Chinese government should have done by making a positive propaganda about what they gain in Africa, by telling their people that more Chinese live and make a better living in Africa than the reverse. It’s the contrary that is done. Officially, they receive our heads of states in China with all the honours, they talk of win-win partnership. But in local laws and attitude, hatred against Africans and black people is encouraged. Chinese laws, not only the general public attitude, allow a homeless illeterate white American or European to get a 30-day tourist visa just by showing his passport. It’s believed that by his skin colour and nationality, he’s rich and virtuous. While a top-ranking African civil servant or executive will have to prove that he has at least USD100 per day spent in China. And once he’s got this visa, extending it in China is another story. How foolish those people can be! They open their doors to those who despise them and reject those who welcome and treat them as human beings. They were places in the western world where people used to paste this public notice: “Access forbidden to dogs and Chinese”. They were put in the same category as dogs and today they bow down before those people.
Africans back in Africa should not trust the hypocritical smiles of Chinese traders who pose a serious threat to local African traders, while the reverse is not possible in China. They should stop buying products in Chinese shops and I tell Chinese in Africa, as a Chinese police officer told me in 2008 while trying to extend my L visa after being abused by a Chinese company, the best thing they have to do is to go back to their one colour paradise in China. We are happy in what is poverty and hell in their eyes, so please rich people leave us alone! Finally, it’s a young African who is talking. I promise, we will one day govern Africa and everything with China or any other arrogant country will be made on a reciprocal basis. All these immigration laws and border controls will be tightened, our doors will be opened to those who open theirs to us and tightly closed to those who close theirs to us. Currently, we are unfortunately ruled by selfish leaders whose only concern is to remain in power for life and who do not care about their people’s welfare.
There is a lot of racism against whites. Some of it is positive and mostly directed at white men and the older they are, the better they are treated. For white women, not so much. Expect to be talked down to, ignored, yelled at and belittled in the workplace, and treated to nasty and spiteful comments by the local Chinese women. That’s not all of the time and not with everyone. But it exists, it’s prevalent and you, as a white woman, will deal with it every single day that you’re there.
im from china, and personally i do not dislike people from africa or people with darker skin because of their appearances or ethnicity, but i understand that lots of chinese people dislike foreigners because they look different, whether they are white or black because that they are different from us. and there is a general idea of disliking black people is that we tend to think that whites are usually better educated. no offence to anyone, it is just the way it is in china. even among chinese people ourselves, the well educated and upper social classes are always better respected. it is true that chinese dont like japanese due to historical reasons, and it is also partially because that japan also thinks of china as its greatest threat in asia, and there is just no trust between the two countries. however, i dont think the majority of chinese “han” race hates ethical minorities in china. many people go to tibet to travel and love it there, and as far as we are concerned, as long as people are born on china land and they dont want to split our country, its cool. some people in big cities discriminate people from poorer areas in china, and thats not because of racism. we have classmates from different minor races at school in china, and no one has been mistreated because they are not of the “han” race. western people tend to believe that chinese people hate people from tibet, according to what they read in western news, and that is not the true fact. we only hate those people who want to split our country, regardless of their races.
personally i understand it must be very hard for a foreigner to live in china, because after all, we are a single culture country, we are not used to having people who look different or do not speak our language living here, even chinese overseas usually stay in their own groups because of our culture.chinese dont think very good of the whites either also due to historical reasons, such as starting from 1800s when the bristh started wars with china and eventually clonized hong kong for 99 years etc. just chinese people might appear to be more polite towards white people, but it doesnt mean white people are foreigners, it is always the fact that foreigners are different from us.it is hard to explain why it is this way, but it is sadly the truth that its very hard for people who do not look chinese and are born in china to fit in the chinese society.china is traditional and conservative society, with our population and history, it is very difficult for any foreign influence to really change the fact that we are single cultural. we are not rude to people who come to visit or are interested in chinese culture, and lots of students here from every country learn chinese language and appear on tv shows. but we do not like people who do not have jobs in their own countries, and coming to china only because they can speak english, doesnt matter if they are white or black. and these are a lot of them here, and thats why we dont respond that warmly now when people say they want to come here to teach english. personally i know an australian guy who used to teach at our school, who had no work when he was in australia and came here shouting at students and never wanted to return to aus, all students hated him even that he was white.so if you want to be respected in china, respect the chinese first, and act respectfully, especially do not push any stereo typed political opinions about how china is not demorcratic and crap onto the locals here. if you want to think china is poor and a country without freedom of speech, or chinese are all brain washed by our government, do not come to china at all, coz you ll either be disappointed or discriminated.
This is one of the most hilarious sites I have come accross. Made me laugh so hard, started my day on a great note! Am planning my second trip to China, but this time not to Shenzhen but Suzhou. So was browsing through the web to find a few more details about Suzhou! After reading all these comments, For the first time I feel like I agree with the statement ‘Ignorance is Bliss’. I travelled with a Colleague first to Guangzhou, then to Shenzhen. It was Okay. We noticed stares in Shenzhen, but they were accompanied with smiles and hello, which I thought was very friendly. I enjoyed celebrity status. I know I am beautiful, so I believed I was being noticed. I walked through China streets with poise and confidence. I always wear my smile, have to remember to put it off when going to bed!! In Shenzhen, one lady brought her little daughter up to me to say hello. That did not offend me. I held the little cutie in my arms and gave her back to her mum. The kid kept waving. Iknew she had probably never seen a black person before. 1. We dont speak any Chinese so if harsh words were said, we did not understand any of them, let alone hear them. Now that one of the contributors speaks of it, In Shenzhen, we flagged down a few taxis, and some just flew past empty like they didn’t notice us. Guess they didn’t! We thought they were probably rushing to pick someonelse, or just busy!
I am Black, dark skinned for that matter, but like I have already said, I know without a doubt that I am a very beautiful lady. My dad told me that for as long as he lived. I am a size 8 and a figure 8, I dont have a very pretty face, but that does not bother me. I have a beautiful heart! I understand when the Chinese say black is not their definition of beauty. We can live with that! Just like I know Chinese is not an African definition of Beauty. Not at all! In one of the country’s I lived, a young girl got pregnant by one of the Chinese constractors. She walked with her mother to where the Chinese lived, and she failed to identify him. Most Africans are not able to differentiate one Chinese from the other. For most of us they all look the same! Ofcourse they are able to differenciate ugly and beautiful among themsevles, but ask me, and I will tell you I dont know what is beautiful or ugly in China.
I visited a wonderful friend of mine in the USA. For me she looked so much like her mother, but the mother said she looked like her dad, because she was as fair as he was. To tell you the truth, I could not see what is fairer and what was not They were all white! Among the Africans, we too have skin shades of darker and lighter, but am sure the whites and Chinese probably do not notice the difference. I feel sorry, very sorry for my blackmates who spend a fortune on trying to get skin lighter to fit into other races! Black brotherhood, we need to love ourselves and appreciate who we are. We are blamed for a lot of Crime, it is everywhere, and for the few who believe in peace and goodness, let’s strive for that. I loved the Infrastructure in China, I made a few good friends. I also noticed a lot of filth, some worse than that in Africa. I aslo noticed a lot of copying of Ameican lifestyle among the Chinese. For the Chinese, you will look smarter sticking to you foods, and promoting your culture ofcourse while getting exposed yourselves! I hated the TV programs, because most of it looked like Chinese miming America..that for me was extremely disgusting!
Can’t we just learn how to accept our differences and live in harmony. I dont need to believe your beautiful, but at least I know that if we were all skinned and hang up on a tree, No one would tell what was white, black, yellow. red, cream, etc. We are ALL human, with the same sewage pipes in our systems. Let’s just try and be human to each other.
[...] teaching roles ( educators) over other races as open and allowed practice. Racism in China (http://www.thechinaexpat.com/racism-in-china/) Racism Doesn’t Exist in China! If you ask a person in China whether racism exists, you may [...]
Dear George, you were asking why should Chinese not be racist against black (in China) when black are racist against Chinese (in US)…..what kind of question is that!? I do wonder how come people can be so cruel to each other. We are here all to live good lives and to make the world better place to live for all of us, aren’t we!? It will never happen if people keep thinking the way you do! I suppouse you are not in primary school.. where some kid does something bad the other one has to do the same to get back on him.
I am not religious, I don’t have any degree, I am white and I do come from ex comunistic country…I still know the difference between what is right and what is wrong! and because someone does something bad doesn’t mean , you must do the same-you are ment to be better then them! that is the whole point.Because some people are lower inteligency, you don’t go and copycat them!well this is why! I am so upsad to read all this. If you ever grow up…you will find out that all people are equal! all of us are the same!we should treat each other with respect and the only enemy are those who are pointing the fingers, they should be ashamed.if you give respect you will get respect!
Every Black I know in China claims to be from some other country like England or America or Canada when they are actually from African countries.I was not racsist until I came to China I am a white American. I have lived in the roughest Black communities in America but the blacks I have met here are the worst people I have encountered. I was once asked by a Black guy to go into business together and he handed me a suitcase with 1 million USD they were fake I am sure in uncut sheets and he said he got them from the CIA to overthrow his government. He wanted me to hold the money for him. I got away quickly. In Dongguan on bar street it is rife with Black drug dealers who charge exorbitant prices for low quality illegal drugs also in Guangzhou near the Golden Dragon hotel in Sanjuanlu is a black area that is known for Heroin and cocaine sales. Every Black that approached me there was offering Heroin.China is making a big mistake allowing the Africans to stay here. Now some are legitimate but the majority here are thieves and drug dealers here on fake or expired Visas.Every black that I have met has told me that they expect the chinese girls to give them money for sex. A colleague I had made nationwide news for doing just that. Google “Glyiss from Ghana Dongguan sex scam”
They have a strong foothold in Guangzhou where most are illegal aliens who dont work and rob and scam everyone they meet in addition to the drug trade.
[...] be fair to myself, part of the problem is their textbook. Starring extremely Aryan children named Jim and Nancy, it leads students through fascinating conversations about Jim’s [...]
i think ignorance of majority of chinese people is the main cause of their behaviour towards blacks in china, but one thing we all have to acknowledge is that the discrimination present in china is non violent unlike some other places like russia. i bliv we as human beings should unite now..n we’ll do much more than even goin to the moon, finding cures for diseases, inventions n all dat,, STAND FOR PEACE
Chinese people are some of the most racist people I have ever met. They get away with it because the people they speak about, for the most part, do not understand the language. I do and have listened in on some very interesting comments. There ‘hate’ extends to Caucasians (dirty Westerners) even though we allow them to emigrate to our country. When God said, the meek shall inherit the earth, the Chinese is who he was talking about.
The reason they don’t like people from xin jiang is because they are like the gangsters from the ghettos in the U.S
They rob, they steal, they kill people, they also drip HIV infected blood into people’s food.
But of course there are good ones that owns their own shops but thats only the minority.
Also, if you think chinese people are racist.
Go to korea, they are by far the most xenophobic race i’ve ever met.
I’m black. Honestly we don’t give a shit about Chinese people/girls with their “ignance”. Not all Chinese people are bad. I have met really nice ones and bad ones before. secondly,I have seen that white girls in China are not attracted to Chinese men either. They find black men attractive. Lol
What for ?Not all of us! I am Chinese and i really want a black friend! but unfortunately Stupid people are everywhere! especially a country like China, which had been closed from outer world for centuries! just got open for only several decades .people need adapt to the new world
Everyone’s racist. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian, European, African – we’re all racist. That’s just another example of how perfectly god created us.
On the bus in eastern and central Chinese cities, the Uighur (and other minorities) sometimes intentionally sit with an empty seat between them, and it stays empty because the Han Chinese will stand rather than sit there. That empty seat seems to be a quiet way to show disgust with racism, and I hope it makes at least some Chinese feel ashamed.
Asians in general ARE RACIST… ESP. Chinese… Chinese are the worst…. Japanese are just as bad… Both hate blacks.. Even Indians are VERY RACIST … Don’t like any Asians. Who needs them…
I agree that many chinese are racist, particularly against blacks. However, the racism against Japanese is not at all one-sided. Japanese are notorious in east asian countries for the racism against east asians, in particular Chinese and Koreans.
No racism in China, its just when normal East Asian ppl saw a Black person they’ll naturally get horrified(or curious) by their look, particularly those very dark ones.
White maybe a bit better but still if a 6’7″ big nose white man go to East Asia, the ppl will have the same reaction by their meathead appearance.
So they’re just horrified by coloured people’s(Black/White) outlook that differ from normal human(Asian), its their natural response but they’re racist
This is an interesting topic. It surprises me how humanity has failed to see beyond little differences. Scientifically, we are 99.99999% the same. Differences are in the levels of melanin and a few other characteristics, which are genuinely attributed to our adaptations to our different environments.
A farmer has a 100 cattle, some are black, some Gray, some white, etc. But when the farmer sells them, the price is not based on their colours but weight. It still baffles me how we could not move beyond race. We should judge a man/woman based on their character and not race.
Anyway, we hope for peace. Little disagreements do happen. For as long we dont spill blood I think the rest we shall gradually overcome.
P/S: I am a Native African from southern africa, many Chinese are landing on our ports everyday, but we havent had any problem. In fact we receive them as fellow trading partners. We do not think they are better or worse than us because of their economy. We think, through trade we shall all improve.
Africa is not as filthy as may be portrayed. We participated late into fair trade, but we are working frankly to improve. We hold no grudges against Europe or USA, mainly because it wont help. We need to focus.
I am speaking in personal capacity and not for the group…
I don’t understand why so many Chinese would not like blacks, but yet many moved to Jamaica where most of the population are black. My grandfather (R.I.P.) was a Chinese man. He moved to Jamaica, opened a grocery store, married, and had a good life.
You gave a decent name to a world problem, when I was born I was born to mother Earth. My mom or dad told me you had no marking on your body that said different but you were a baby … a human baby. I grew up became Muslim, I was tortured in my own country for being a good muslim, imigrated to a country which was No.1 in multiculturism and tolerance. But faced the worst level of racism at work and elsewhere. Married to a chines have a daughter and my chines wife was subject to highest level of racism by classmates in a professional college she would cry and cry all night … why is it so, she got selected in the professional college with highest entrance GPA award. But racism etc pulled her leg so hard that she lost one year. We decided to go to china . So I started to look for jobs as a teacher, response I had to white. We are so tired and sick of this disease in society that I wish sometime I was born to an animal would be better then to a human. So now we just live, Can’t go to my country as they will kill me on the spot(as they did to my uncle), can’t go to china as there is room for white people but not dark people like me. Can’t live at the place where we are ‘cs I am hated as Muslim so much that the neighbor will bring and let the dog poo at my door, when I requested it is not nice he told me get the hell out of our country etc etc. My wife is hated just because she is chines and chines are taking all the jobs from them….Hmm this article has just made me more sad that black skin people are treated the same. I wish there were no country flag … one world. Thanks
Hi. I’m Chinese by ethnicity and live in Singapore. I’d just like to say that China may be quite one-track minded but they are opening up and becoming more curious about their neighbours. It’s the education system and the government that needs to change. And the basic solution to all this is Love and Understanding.
I’m a Christian and although I say it from 1 view, I know that many Chinese will need the love of Christ because it’s a sacrificial love from a Father to a Son that the Chinese people can relate to.
Many painful sacrifices have been made in the past in order that they may find peace but in their hearts they have no love from this peace. Preference over gender and controlling the number of children in the household has lead to abortion and infanticide for decades. The perception that if one cannot enter a college and obtain a degree or scholarship that they are doomed to be peasant labour exists. This same thinking has been inherited in the Chinese in Singapore as well only in a different form.
I was brought up in a middle income class family and striving to be excellent was the norm. If grades fall below a certain percentile, threats like “You see that Indian man? Do you wish to become like him – be a road sweeper for the rest of your life? If not, study harder!”
This was the kind of mindset my generation grew up with due to the push for economic growth from the baby boomer era post-WW2. The next generation does not have much of this thinking but have been pampered from hardship, having the tendency to be proud and snobbish as they grow more affluent.
Not many of my generation survived the pressure to excel, and have blamed politicians for this, which is not to say the politicians were always right. Most Singaporeans in general, in fact, felt more let down by their government but determined to see change and have a glimmer of hope. This was reflected in the recent election whence more voters cast their ticket for the opposition, even though the result was still favoured towards that of the ruling party of over 30 years.
Although there is racism in Singapore amongst the Chinese majority towards the minority, Singaporeans in general have a better mutual respect and understanding towards other races and skin colour. Some minority have taken such racial comments lightly, not to say that it is not apparent.
A day will come when all will fade black and white to grey, equality for all. There are opportunities to invest in China in terms of economic growth and education, and an increasing number of Singaporeans are taking an interest in it. Who knows? Along with the talents they bring, they will share what it means to be equal amongst the natives and infect the nation with the love and understanding that these people require to exist peacefully, even alongside blacks.
True, true, true. Three points to point out though.
One point is that the common phrase in China directed against black people is learned from the history of the English. In history, black people were always treated badly, giving chinese people a false image of black people through comics and the history books.
Second point, directed at the unconcious racism, is that chinese people call people from other countries old-***, which is the same thing as not recognizing them, thus being racist. The most classical of them all are the ones that point out white people and mexican people.
Third point, though racism against black people should be noticed, it is not the most direct and offensie ones unless a chinese person really want to start a fight with a black person. The worse kind of racism both in mainland China and among chinese people that are spread in the United States are the racism against mexicans. Although there are no particular slurs made up against Mexicans (I don’t think any slurs are made up for a particular race in China), they are thought to be poor and are likely to steal things.
This whole blog is racist! Chinese people starring at you and saying ‘hello’ is racist? I’d say you have alot of cultural lessons to learn before you gain the slightest understanding of the Chinese point of view. Do not confuse curiosity with racism.
Long time no being here~ I’m doing my homework,receivinng one email and another email…. I wanna keep slient to see your comments. This webpage is funny made for racists
Thanks for thoes friends who have a peaceful mind and a kind heart ~Thanks a million.♥
hi, I am an Asian working here in Beijing. I am so sad to know that the reality is racism do exist here.. I am currently working as a full time teacher. I have been normally working, working so hard until the day I have known that I am the CHEAPEST PAID FOREIGENER in my company. I started working with 2500 RMB a month as one-month trainee, then now, 3500. I thought that I am getting a good (so-so) pay, but I have heard that my co-workers from Western countries (white ones) receive 10000 RMB per month and THEY ONLY WORK BY HOURS A WEEK, I MEAN IT’S NOT LIKE ME, 40 HOURS/WEEK. I then felt, it is really unfair. I am now actually thorned, if I will resign and change my work into a higher salary one, or just ask a raise from my boss. But regarding the latter choice, the big question is how? Will my boss accept it calmly? or will he look down on me… I am really suffocated… I just feel, they abused my innocence (or should I say stupidity)… TT
racism?no.
but there is discrimination
of poverty.SO do not worry about racism,chinese can be a little bit snobbish sometimes.
japanese?that is another story^
I am an African American woman and the whole race thing doesn’t upset me at all. It doesn’t get to me, seriously. I don’t go around looking for the gawking, sneers, whispers and gasping when I am in public. In fact when I do notice other people looking it’s usually because they go out of their way to compliment me on clothes, my smile and tell my fiance and I that we are a handsome couple. Sometimes people just assume a person is only looking at you for a negative reason instead of a positive. I refuse to walk out my door with that kind of mindset. I am aware that racism will always exist, but why should I care about how some people in China base their ideas of all blacks from Nike commercials and gangster flicks on tv. If you really think about it many do the same thing here in the U.S. when so many people assume that all Chinese know Kung Fu, are affiliated with Triads, are quiet and passive and have small male genitalia. I don’t understand why some people feel that it is so alarming to hear that many Chinese would have a problem with someone in their family dating a black person. I am a black woman and I don’t date black men, asian, hispanic, pacific islander etc. I have my preferences and I won’t apologize for it, I only date white men for the fact that is what I am attracted to and compatible with. Aside from that my romance does not dictate my relationship with friends and associates who are black, Hispanic, Asian etc. I am happily engaged with my handsome fiance and yes he is white. I am not ashamed of who I am, in fact I am very proud to be black but I don’t believe that I have to be with someone who is in my race because some outside of it believe that is the right thing to do. I focus on myself and I don’t worry about what people think of me because I am not going live my life denying myself of what I want only to settle for what everyone else says I should have because of the color of my skin. At the same time I won’t be upset because many people choose to stay with their own race when it comes to dating/marriage because no one else’s life style or traditions affect me and it really isn’t my business. No feelings hurt.
The real problem liberals are going to have when China surpasses the United States is that it is not a multicultural society like the failing US, but basically all Asian.
Multicultural society fails while Asian monoculture succeeds – proof that diversity is not strength.
What about age discrimination? Is it true that the Chinese govt. won’t allow anyone to work there as an expat who is over 55?
If i had a miserable life, i would probably put all my frustration on someone who doesn’t look like me…if i had a lack of knowledge about our world, i will probably follow my own “un-based opinions”… If… blablabla…this topic is endless…no one will find a solution about the racism in the world.. just keep going on your life…fight for your success…God bless all of us…
Number of issues need to be readressed in this article:
1. “Many people in China think most black people play basketball and are violent.” – this made me laugh; I wonder where the Chinese could possibly get that idea from? Hint: maybe heavily influenced by the all-too-powerful Western media? US businesses bringing that form of cultural perception into China? with limited exposure to other perspectives other than what have been imported, what do the Chinese have to compare with?
2. I would argue racism is completely a different concept from (as Edward kindly clarified) curiosity and ignorance. The Chinese have only recently opened to international markets. Many local people have not before had oppotunities to interact with foreigners (especially non-whites who did not come in the form of imperialists). There might be xenophobic based on lack of exposure or understanding, but there have been no collective violence against “blacks” or “hispanics” – unlike in US or UK.
3. China and Japan’s attitudes towards each other are very much embedded in historical reasons. with so much similarities in physical and cultural attributes, their mutural dislike cannot be argued from a “race” point of view.
4. To elaborate on the above, there really is only one human race. Racism is an experience, and very subjective to the individual. But social exclusion can happen to anyone. within the increasing competitive chinese labour market; for example some locals themselves have been turned away for not being pretty enough to market certain product (ironically in multinational companies).
sorry for the extensive post, but articles such as this does nothing for cultural harmony.
PEACE
Most of the racism I encountered was far from subtle. When waling with my Chinese wife in Shanghai, the looks we got varied from disbelief to outright contempt. We encountered the same even in my hometown of Flushing, New York. The stares, the facial expressions were not pleasant ones-nit one bit.
Here in NY, my wife has looked for apartments, agreed to rental terms and been ready to sign-only to have the apartment become “unavailable” when her white husband (me!) shows up with the check. the NYC Human rights commission told me that most of their rental discrimination complaints are against Asians-more specifically Chinese.
Over the last few years, I’ve lost a good deal of respect for the Chinese-and that is a shame.
When I used to study in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and the city of Halifax I recall a pizza restaurant that I frequented that formerly employed a Chinese-Canadian pizza delivery man so let me explain by saying that he’s been blatantly racist towards black folks.The first time I heard him say n****r I remarked something like “you say the “n” word?” where his reply is “What? They can call me a ch*nk?” So therefore he’s indicating that if black folks address the Chinese as ch*nks that Chinese should have the right to address them as n*****s.Finally his former boss (who was like a friend to me) mentioned to me that when he lined up at a local pastry/coffee shop that he noticed a African-Canadian guy diagnosed with some mental disorder saying “f**k you” to a woman(if necessary to point out a white Canadian woman) and at some point the former pizza delivery driver decreed something like “that’s no way to talk to woman” and at some point the former pizza delivery driver got hold of his head and shoved him away and after wards he gestured him to “bring it on” and next thing you know he called him a “stupid (or dumb)n****r” and after wards punched him in the face.That woman actually thanked him for standing up to that guy and eventually some one notified the local police where eyewitnesses vouched for the former pizza delivery driver and he was told by the police that he has a right to defend himself. So therefore what are anyone’s thoughts on this matter?
In fact, Thai people and han chinese immigrants mostly teochew and other min chinese in Thailand consider black people as best friends but we never dream of them as our sexual mates. Asian novels describe white yellow as beauty queens or bosses, but described blacks as maids. The story of chinese with black african women just happened 150 years ago during western colonization when chinese (cantonese and hakka) were sold by whitemen as labour slaves to America, Africa and Latin American where they had no choice. In asia, yellow men with black africans are strange thing. In thailand, we have one minority negro people who are physically like african blacks in Africa, and han chinese immigrants of all sub groups never touch them nor have any sexual intercourse with them, they just go to the north to find their white yellow as their sexual mates.
chinese people in thailand still never dare to disclose the story of chinese men and black african women. I, as a thai, who live among han chinese, know well that they never dare to disclose it because han chinese immigrants here want to save their face and social prestige. because the story of han chinese men and black african is strange and can cause all thai people to mock China and to doubt what had happened to chinese people because no chinese men of full blood in Thailand never touch negro looking people (one minority) in the south of thailand. Thailand has 41 ethics, and han chinese men of full blood never go to the south to meet the negro african minority, but they go to select lanna girls of white pink yellow skin only.