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Racism is an ugly concept in every sense.
But the thing that hurts deep down, even more so than racism, is self hating
racism.
I can never, ever accept someone from my
own race discriminating against Chinese people and other East Asians. When
slavery still existed in America, black slave owners were seen as the worst of
the very worst by black people.
And in a sense, that’s how I also see self
hating Chinese people.
It’s a cancer in our community. A really
hurtful cancer.
It’s not that I believe that every ethnic
minority should be completely and utterly loyal and devoted to their race. That
in itself, can be said to be racist. But, at the very least, they shouldn’t be
hateful to their own community. Surely that’s not too much to ask?
So yes, strong words from me, and I have
good reason to say so.
I have, on many occasions, met people from
my own race who directly said they don’t like hanging around Chinese people. Or
saw their parent culture as embarrassing and shameful. Sometimes it wasn’t a
direct word. More of a general attitude towards me and my race – which so
happens to be their race as well. In some cases, you can feel real disgust in their voice.
It really does hurt to see and feel this.
And the thing that most upsets me is that
it’s a prevailing attitude, and one that could potentially destroy the Chinese
community.
These problems don’t just exist with westernized
Chinese who have grown up in the UK, America, Australia or in other westerns
culture. It seems to be a deeply ingrained problem in Chinese culture altogether.
There is an inferiority complex that runs
with many Chinese people. A belief that westerners should held in high regard,
and that we should look up to them. And this leads to Chinese people treating
them better, and discriminating against their own community. It seems that a
lot of East Asians have never shaken off the colonial attitudes of the past.
How does this manifest itself?
- Western models being used in advertising in China, resulting in perceived better brand image and more products being sold by the company. Because that’s what the consumers want to see.
- An English teacher of Chinese origin, who can speak perfect English, yet is overlooked by the school in China because the head would prefer a western looking person teaching English.
- Chinese people flaunting their western boyfriend or husband, in an attempt to show everyone the apparent social ladder they have climbed. And let’s be clear here, I’m not against mixed relationships – in fact I’m all for them. But what I’m not for, is relationships that have been formed by one person for an ulterior motive.
- Surgery by many Chinese people to alter their features to more western features.
- General preferential treatment given to westerners.
There are so many examples which I could
reel off.
Let’s be clear here, I’m not western person
bashing. As I said earlier in this article, racism is ugly. What I am bashing however is the absurd inferiority complex some sections of the Chinese community have.
The putting of the westerner on the pedestal, as I like to call it.
Until we learn to address these internal
community issues, we are never going to be able to tackle racism.
And sadly, I don’t think we ever will.
