Racism in China getting out of hand

[DevilDog]

7 minutes ago, Nolebull813 said:

Wait, @DarterBlue is black? Man I thought you were some old lame whitey 

You stereotyped him cuz homie got a serious stick game in the Market.  Tell the truth 🤣

[DarterBlue]

11 minutes ago, Nolebull813 said:

Wait, @DarterBlue is black? Man I thought you were some old lame whitey 

I am neither lame nor white. 

[DevilDog]

@Nolebull813 hell sometimes I think you're a Brotha..  One minute You quoting 2PAC and the next You bashing Da Homies for saying the POPO treats them unfairly.   For the record they beat up PAC for jaywalking.  😁 Shait I can't get a grasp on you homie.  You might be that brother who grew up in the adopted White home and periodically the Melanin gets the best of you.  😎 

This betta not be You 🤣

[DarterBlue]

On 4/22/2020 at 9:17 PM, DevilDog said:

Over the past week, hundreds of African migrant workers, traders, and students in the southern city of Guangzhou, home to Asia’s largest African diaspora, were tossed out onto the street—some by their landlords, some by hotel managers, and some by local officials. Those evicted, mostly Igbo Nigerians, insisted that they had paid their rent, had valid visas and the right paperwork, and had no contact with anybody infected with COVID-19. Meanwhile, many others were forced into a 14-day quarantine and random testing without getting their test results. Tony Mathias, an Ugandan exchange student, told Agence France-Presse: “I’ve been sleeping under the bridge for four days with no food to eat. … I cannot buy food anywhere. No shops or restaurants will serve me.”

So, I did speak with my son (I will refer to him as TD) last night about the above situation. His response was largely along the lines described below. 

Is there racism in China? Yes there is. No doubt about it. Much of it is driven by what they get from Western media, as there really aren't that many people of African origin in the country. More specifically, since the Covid-19 outbreak, the country has started to crack down to a much greater degree on individuals that appear to be foreign regardless of apparent origin. Recognizing this, in the past three months, TD has carried his immigration documents and passport with him whenever he leaves the section of the city he lives in. He is 6ft 2in, 210 lbs, and clearly not of native origin. So, prevention is better than cure. During this time, he has been stopped by Chinese authorities three times. Each time, he has responded to them in their native tongue and handed over his documents. He said that they have inspected them in a non threatening manner, returned them, and he has been allowed to go on his merry way. In one instance, one of the individuals he encountered expressed surprise that in the six years he has lived in China he has learned the language and has only been outside the country three times: Twice to the USA and once to Japan.   

More specifically, with respect to Guangzhou, while he cannot say for sure, TD suggested thus: Foreigners in China largely fall into three categories. 1. Those there legitimately, pursuing the purpose for which they came there (school, work permit, etc.). 2. Those who were admitted legitimately for a specific purpose (e.g. school), who were not pursuing the purpose for which they were admitted (grey area residents). 3. Those there there illegally. Since Covid-19, in fact since China and the USA got into their trade spat, the county's residents have generally become far more suspicious of foreigners. This has led to more locals reporting possible "illegals" to the authorities. This has led to more foreigners having incidents with law enforcement regardless of origin. Further, in general, it is more likely that Africans, as well as other individuals from the, so called, third world, would be in China in the second and third categories listed above, due to the situations in their home countries. This, combined with outright racism has led to the situation in Guangzhou. He also related the fact that his co-worker from Senegal had gone to Europe just before Chinese New Year, but had returned to China just before the imposition of harsh immigration standards. He was allowed in without incident and is back teaching at the school. On the other hand, a Serbian who had gone home during the same period, but did not attempt to come back till the week after the person from Senegal, was not allowed back in, and his job status with the school's international department is currently in limbo while he petitions for re-entry.

Regarding the situation with Chinese Muslims, he acknowledges there is a big problem. If you are Muslim but "keep it on the downlow", especially if you are not Uighur, you are more or less left alone. If you are a Uighur, and do not declare allegiance to the communist party, you are seen as somehow being a threat to the "Chinese way of life" and there is an active program in place to re-educate you. 

At the end of the day, TD puts it thus. He sees himself as a "guest" in China. In that sense his rights are more limited than that of citizens. However, in his six years there, he, himself, has been treated fairly, and he has never encountered hostility when he goes out in public with his wife despite their obvious differences. In that sense, he mused as to how this would be perceived in certain parts of the USA (obvious multiracial couple). He chose not to answer his own question. His wife interjected that TD was considered an "Honorary Chinese" by those who know him.

I don't believe I have fully addressed your concerns and am certain that there is racism in China. Nevertheless, the situation is probably more nuanced than portrayed here in the USA.     

[DevilDog]

6 hours ago, DarterBlue said:

So, I did speak with my son (I will refer to him as TD) last night about the above situation. His response was largely along the lines described below. 

Is there racism in China? Yes there is. No doubt about it. Much of it is driven by what they get from Western media, as there really aren't that many people of African origin in the country. More specifically, since the Covid-19 outbreak, the country has started to crack down to a much greater degree on individuals that appear to be foreign regardless of apparent origin. Recognizing this, in the past three months, TD has carried his immigration documents and passport with him whenever he leaves the section of the city he lives in. He is 6ft 2in, 210 lbs, and clearly not of native origin. So, prevention is better than cure. During this time, he has been stopped by Chinese authorities three times. Each time, he has responded to them in their native tongue and handed over his documents. He said that they have inspected them in a non threatening manner, returned them, and he has been allowed to go on his merry way. In one instance, one of the individuals he encountered expressed surprise that in the six years he has lived in China he has learned the language and has only been outside the country three times: Twice to the USA and once to Japan.   

More specifically, with respect to Guangzhou, while he cannot say for sure, TD suggested thus: Foreigners in China largely fall into three categories. 1. Those there legitimately, pursuing the purpose for which they came there (school, work permit, etc.). 2. Those who were admitted legitimately for a specific purpose (e.g. school), who were not pursuing the purpose for which they were admitted (grey area residents). 3. Those there there illegally. Since Covid-19, in fact since China and the USA got into their trade spat, the county's residents have generally become far more suspicious of foreigners. This has led to more locals reporting possible "illegals" to the authorities. This has led to more foreigners having incidents with law enforcement regardless of origin. Further, in general, it is more likely that Africans, as well as other individuals from the, so called, third world, would be in China in the second and third categories listed above, due to the situations in their home countries. This, combined with outright racism has led to the situation in Guangzhou. He also related the fact that his co-worker from Senegal had gone to Europe just before Chinese New Year, but had returned to China just before the imposition of harsh immigration standards. He was allowed in without incident and is back teaching at the school. On the other hand, a Serbian who had gone home during the same period, but did not attempt to come back till the week after the person from Senegal, was not allowed back in, and his job status with the school's international department is currently in limbo while he petitions for re-entry.

Regarding the situation with Chinese Muslims, he acknowledges there is a big problem. If you are Muslim but "keep it on the downlow", especially if you are not Uighur, you are more or less left alone. If you are a Uighur, and do not declare allegiance to the communist party, you are seen as somehow being a threat to the "Chinese way of life" and there is an active program in place to re-educate you. 

At the end of the day, TD puts it thus. He sees himself as a "guest" in China. In that sense his rights are more limited than that of citizens. However, in his six years there, he, himself, has been treated fairly, and he has never encountered hostility when he goes out in public with his wife despite their obvious differences. In that sense, he mused as to how this would be perceived in certain parts of the USA (obvious multiracial couple). He chose not to answer his own question. His wife interjected that TD was considered an "Honorary Chinese" by those who know him.

I don't believe I have fully addressed your concerns and am certain that there is racism in China. Nevertheless, the situation is probably more nuanced than portrayed here in the USA.     

Outstanding update and very informative with 1st hand knowledge coming from a brotha there.  Thank You very much sir!  I'm gonna PM you later on something.  Respect your knowledge and wisdom

[DarterBlue]

14 minutes ago, DevilDog said:

Outstanding update and very informative with 1st hand knowledge coming from a brotha there.  Thank You very much sir!  I'm gonna PM you later on something.  Respect your knowledge and wisdom

Feel free to. 

[maxchoboian]

6 hours ago, DarterBlue said:

 

At the end of the day, TD puts it thus. He sees himself as a "guest" in China. In that sense his rights are more limited than that of citizens. However, in his six years there, he, himself, has been treated fairly, and he has never encountered hostility when he goes out in public with his wife despite their obvious differences. In that sense, he mused as to how this would be perceived in certain parts of the USA (obvious multiracial couple). He chose not to answer his own question. His wife interjected that TD was considered an "Honorary Chinese" by those who know him.

 

I think your son's approach makes a great deal of sense. When (semi)permanently in another country, learn their language and customs. Provide paperwork to the authorities when questioned. Things go a lot more smoothly for all. On the other hand, for those who are argumentative and combative, whether in a country like China, or in a country with more freedoms like we have here, treatment will undoubtedly be different.

[DarterBlue]

1 minute ago, maxchoboian said:

I think your son's approach makes a great deal of sense. When (semi)permanently in another country, learn their language and customs. Provide paperwork to the authorities when questioned. Things go a lot more smoothly for all. On the other hand, for those who are argumentative and combative, whether in a country like China, or in a country with more freedoms like we have here, treatment will undoubtedly be different.

Yeah, the old saying about when in Rome do as the Romans do. According to TD, a couple Americans he has worked with over the past six years have gotten into trouble for trying to impose their will on the Chinese system. For one of them who was particularly insistent, all it did was get him fired and escorted off the campus by the police and ultimately he had to leave the country as he lost his work permit. I don't think that was his objective, as he had shared some sensitive information with TD as to why he wanted to stay in the far east. 

[Horsefly]

49 minutes ago, DarterBlue said:

Yeah, the old saying about when in Rome do as the Romans do. According to TD, a couple Americans he has worked with over the past six years have gotten into trouble for trying to impose their will on the Chinese system. For one of them who was particularly insistent, all it did was get him fired and escorted off the campus by the police and ultimately he had to leave the country as he lost his work permit. I don't think that was his objective, as he had shared some sensitive information with TD as to why he wanted to stay in the far east. 

😂. That attitude sounds about right for some Americans I’ve run across.  

[maxchoboian]

5 minutes ago, Horsefly said:

😂. That attitude sounds about right for some Americans I’ve run across.  

And it sounds like some who are here from other countries. "I can do whatever I want. This is a free country!" Yeah...you can't do whatever you want.

[Rippers]

58 minutes ago, DarterBlue said:

I don't think that was his objective, as he had shared some sensitive information with TD as to why he wanted to stay in the far east. 

Ha.  What was her name?

[Cossacks]

3 hours ago, maxchoboian said:

I think your son's approach makes a great deal of sense. When (semi)permanently in another country, learn their language and customs. Provide paperwork to the authorities when questioned. Things go a lot more smoothly for all. On the other hand, for those who are argumentative and combative, whether in a country like China, or in a country with more freedoms like we have here, treatment will undoubtedly be different.

Exactly! I remember watching Midnight Express in the early 80’s when I was pretty young. And I figured out then with a mental note to myself: 

“Don’t try and smuggle Hash if you are in Turkey,  they won’t appreciate it and it might be a little painful 😂😂.”

[DevilDog]

1 hour ago, Cossacks said:

Exactly! I remember watching Midnight Express in the early 80’s when I was pretty young. And I figured out then with a mental note to myself: 

“Don’t try and smuggle Hash if you are in Turkey,  they won’t appreciate it and it might be a little painful 😂😂.”

That's a great movie though. The irony is one would need hash when you are locked the fuk up in Turkey.  That was crazy.  I bet he don't even eat Turkey anymore.