China’s Changing Views on Race

By THE EDITORS of New York Times

Philippe Lopez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Lou Jing, center, a contestant in a Chinese talent show this summer, caused an intense debate in China because she is of mixed-race parentage.

With trade and commerce drawing ever larger numbers of foreigners to China’s cities, tensions have become more common in a country of little racial diversity. This summer, African immigrants, mostly traders and merchants, who make up a growing enclave in the city of Guangzhou, protested police harassment. And in a well-publicized cultural moment, a 20-year-old Shanghainese contestant named Lou Jing, who appeared on the Chinese “Idol”-like talent show, caused a national debate (and drew racist attacks on the Internet) about what it means to be Chinese. Lou, the daughter of a Chinese woman and an African-American man, whom she has not met, considers herself completely Chinese.

As China expands economic ties with the rest of the world — including Africa, where it has considerable investments — how might increased immigration alter Chinese perceptions of race? How has the society historically dealt with ethnic differences?

• Yan Sun, political scientist
• Ho-fung Hung, historical sociologist
• Zai Liang, sociologist
• Dongyan Blachford, professor of Chinese studies

For continuing reading and debate on the website of NYT :
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/chinas-changing-views-on-race/

Liu Zhongjun
Sent from Paris, France

Posted via email from Comprendre la Chine