Contrary to what many people think, I have
always tried to have an optimistic view on human nature. But as I get older and acquire more
experience of the world, this belief is continually tested, particularly by the
actions and behaviours of people within my ethnic community.
Before I go on further, I would like to
make clear that this is not a rant piece. Too often have I been told off by my
fellow peers, for approaching the subject in too, let’s say, strong a manner.
So no, this isn’t an incensed essay on the
failures of my community. More a gentle article on the key issues my community
faces.
A significant proportion of the Chinese
community residing in the western world is being brainwashed by the western
media and culture. That’s quite a big statement to make, I know. But I have
good reason to say this.
The Chinese community in the west is highly
fragmented. We very rarely live in communities or ghettos like other ethnic
groups. Consequently, young Chinese
people growing up normally have very little interaction with other Chinese,
other than their parents and other close relatives.
In conjunction with this, we often
experience racism, albeit casual and not of the vicious nature that other
ethnic groups can sometimes receive. At primary school, I often had classmates
make squinty eyes at me, and would walk past to echoes of kung fu sounds in the
corridors. I’m sure most Chinese kids have experienced the same.
If you’re a smart young kid, you learn to
brush this off and develop a thick skin. The grown up way.
But most children aren’t like that.
Consequently, the alternative is that many
Chinese kids develop insecurities. They learn to mask these insecurities by
distancing themselves from their race, and becoming as westernized as possible
in order to be accepted.
This might begin with having the same
interests as their white British friends, but slowly spirals into wanting to have blonde
hair, big eyes, and a caucasian nose.
They shun being around other Chinese peers
at school, and prefer to be around white British or white Americans instead.
Being around another Chinese person becomes something of an embarrassment to
them, a symbol of all their insecurities.
And whilst some Chinese kids begin to
realize their error as they reach adulthood, a lot of them carry these
insecurities with them for the rest of their life.
You may be thinking how I could possibly
provide such an in depth analysis – and that’s because I used to be one of
these kids. Up until a few years ago, I used to be that Chinese guy who wanted nothing
to do with the Chinese community.
The other problem Chinese people in the
western world face is the lack of role models. There are very few British
Chinese or British American celebrities to look up to – especially for Chinese
males.
In Britain, there are very few British Born
Chinese TV personalities aside from Gok Wan and Ken Hom. There are no British
Born footballers, and in the U.S, there has only recently been the first rise
of an American Born Chinese basketball player Jeremy Lin. There are a few
American Born and British Chinese females in the public eye. But not many.
In fact, we are often portrayed extremely
negatively in the media. Hollywood movies stereotype us as the kung fu fighters
with the broken English accent. Or we are painted as the socially inept
geeks. The last time I remember seeing a
Chinese guy in a British series, he was stir frying chips in Peter Kay’s
restaurant.
There is no hunky Chinese man in western
media to aspire to, no charming Chinese male gentleman, very few female Chinese TV personalities.
And as China moves ever closer to become
the world’s next super power, the negative stereotypes are gradually evolving
into images of the big Chinese bully, the people with the poor human rights
record, and the backward individuals with the odd delicacies.
Western Chinese might look back into China
for role models. But even in a nation of dark hair and dark eyes, the
advertising campaigns utilize westerners to sell products and services –
further reinforcing the belief that white is what we should all be aspiring to.
There is also a real lack of pride in
Chinese communities in the west. Unlike, for example, the Jewish community or
South Asian communities – or even the Latino community in America – we are not
taught to stand up and be proud of our backgrounds. Instead, we instinctively
keep our heads down, ignore the injustices and try to get on in life.
All of this results in one thing. The
Chinese kids that developed insecurities at school, continue to have them in adult life. They
continue to shun their parent culture and continue to believe they are not part
of a stereotype.
Inter racial marriage is hugely prevalent
in the Chinese community. In fact, we are the community with the highest levels
of individuals getting married to a race that isn’t our own. This is a
statistic that is true for both Britain and America and occurs mainly with
Chinese females.
I have no objections to inter racial
marriage at all – its socially healthy to see communities mixing, and there is
also strong evidence to suggest mixed race babies are less prone to genetic
disorders.
Yet, I can’t help thinking how many of
these marriages and relationships are being driven by childhood insecurities, and
a need to distance oneself from the Chinese community. Only the people in
question would know.
I would be a fool to think that these
problems are existential only in our community. Various black communities, the
South Asian community, Jewish community and many other communities also have
similar issues.
However I can’t help but notice that it is
far more prevalent within the Chinese Ethnic group than any other minority.
Discussions in the media, on the internet and personal experience has proved
this to me.
In the U.S, where race is a hugely divisive issue, many American Born Chinese openly state their disdain for their parent
culture. The video at the beginning of this article is evidence of this.
In fact, in the past, I have encountered
many British Chinese individuals who have actively avoided me in social
situations. Though there are possibly many other reasons for them doing so, I
can’t help but think it is more likely down to the fact that I am Chinese – a
representation of all things they try and avoid.
It is a bleak outlook for many Chinese
communities living in the western world.
As I said earlier in this piece, I used to
be that person with deep insecurities about my race. I used to actively avoid
being around Chinese people and pretended to know nothing about my background.
But as I have grown older, I’ve realized
the error of my ways and begun to appreciate my parent culture. And I’m pretty
damn thankful for this. Who cares if my white mates give me banter about being
Chinese? Why should it stop me from being proud of ethnic origin?
I know this blog has a pretty small reach.
It will probably only be read by a few people and their mutual friends on my
Facebook and Twitter. Possibly some others on a message board if I’m lucky.
And I’m probably not offering anything new
in terms of opinions, nor am I likely to vastly change the views of some
western Chinese with internalized racial issues.
But even so, I would like send out the
following messages. Don’t forget your background, and don’t shun it. There is
plenty to be proud of if you’re a Chinese person living in Britain, America or
any other western country.
There’s nothing wrong with embracing
western culture. Assimilation is important for a cohesive society. But to
become so assimilated that you actively dislike your own race and will do
everything to avoid it? Now that is hugely depressing to see.
Thanks for reading.
