Job Discussion Forums

upchuckles · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 111

Where you see racial strife I see opportunity.. You can be an ambassador and a benchmark towards better understanding..

Granted there is a great ocean of people in China having misunderstanding and apathy towards people of color. The racial tension you mention also applies towards foreigners of all colors.. There is great animosity from young Chinese males who often view the coupling of Chinese and white foreigners with disgust and venomous anger.

The best way I've found to deal with this, is not to confront the venom with more venom. you already said it, most people are ignorant.. You are a teacher, you should live by example.. You dont have to accept their way, you don't even have to like it.. But you don't want to put yourself in situation or have situations escalate to the point of violence and clash of temper.. Of course its not your fault what happened, but you swim in someone elses ocean now..

Not all Chinese are racist, though I will agree most are quite ignorant and have bias against people of color.. The only thing to do is to give those with ignorance and apathy a clear and positive example of yourself and the culture you represent.

On a final note, several of my good friends who are african american had really good teaching and living experiences in Guangzhou China..

good luck man.. hope your girlriend feels better..

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

A'Moo · Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

We have had a couple of these postings now, one from an individual who described himself as looking like Thierry Henry, if I remember correctly. In fact, the writing style of that poster was eerily similar to the current poster. The current poster seems to be most interested in publishing his book, and letting us know that he has been learning Mandarin "from the time he stepped off the plane"....And that, well, we white people just do not understand. Well, I guess that I am just not that marky-mark, eminem type. I have no black friends, nor am I actively seeking any. I can go into my past experience with African-Americans etc., but shall refrain for now. Overall, China is a pretty good place for Blacks and Whites, as we are offered perks and assistances that the average Chinese cannot fathom. Yes, racism and resentment come with this. Thats part of the deal.
In regards to esl, Black teachers are offered far more than Asian teachers, even those born in English speaking countries. The few Black teachers I have seen here have been paid pretty well the standard rate, which is the awful countryside wages that Whites are also paid. Maybe it is more difficult for them in the larger urban centres, where competition is much tougher for the high-paying jobs, this I cannot comment on....Though scanning the OP's post, White or Black, with his level of English, no international schools are going to be banging down the door. Piece of advice-if it IS the worst experience of one's life, three days sounds like a good time to cut one's losses, not three years.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Flaunting a relationship with a local girl of a different race is never a particularly smart move for a foreigner, particularly a member of a highly visible minority. That the case anywhere in the world. Saying so is not "racism"; it's just REALISM.

In my three years in China I met only one (1) black EFL teacher. He was a Nigerian who worked with me in a two-week summer camp for Chinese English teachers in Zhuhai in 2005. During the school year he worked for New Oriental. At the camp, he was very popular with the students and never had a problem. I don't recall his saying that he had ever had a problem with his "day job" either.

Ricepaddy · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 219

I'm going to come to Mike's defence here for a moment. I worked with the guy for a short while (he may remember looong bus rides to Baoan), and I did obliquely bring up this very subject one day. Mike did tell me he had had some �experiences�, but didn�t dwell on the matter; he struck me as a man not given to whining or self-pity. If he�s posting this on Dave�s now, to my mind it just shows that, like Popeye, he�s had all he can stands and can stands no more.

Incidentally, he looks nothing like Thierry Henry. (Sorry, Mike, the truth must out)

And by the way, if the man hasn�t posted on Dave�s since he joined, could some bright soul please explain to me what this has to do with the price of cabbage? Is there a quota system at work of which I have hitherto been unaware? Are one's experiences of China less valid if one hasn't commented on ice hockey or moaned about how noisy the campus is?

OGFT · Joined: 24 Jun 2006 Posts: 432

kensensei · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Shanghai

Michael, I think I can speak for all posters when I say I am shocked and disgusted by the senseless violence you described. We understand your pain and wish your gf a swift and full recovery.

As a caucasian American, I don't profess to be an expert on racism. I have had my share of "racist experiences" in China myself. But it just means people treated me "differently" because of my race. As a white foreigner in China, being treated "differently" does not always mean "badly". For a black person in China, however, I imagine treatment is far worse.

In spite of all that has happened to you, I would not leave China yet. There could be a happy ending to all this. But if you leave now, you may not find a silver lining. I for one am very interested in reading your book about your life in China. It sounds like quite a remarkable story of human dignity and forbearance.

Keep writing!

Michael Nelson · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:06 am Post subject:

Ok, A Moo or whatever you want to call yourself, I didn't want to stoop to directly responding to you, but I have to say something about your comment on my English ability. First of all, I have a Master's degree in Creative Writing from Brown University. I guess you would suggest that this 200 year old institution made a blunder in accepting me or, as I would anticipate, you might think they accepted me because I am black. I was accepted, along with only 3 others that year, to the Creative Writing department out of an application pool of nearly 400. I received a full scholarship and two fellowships along with a monthly stipend. Basically, they paid me to go to their university.
I published a book of poetry when I was in high school that was sold throughout America and Canada. I have written several plays and five screenplays, one of which as I said before, is on the verge of being optioned. I have an entertainment manager in Los Angeles working on the deal for me as we speak.
As for international schools not knocking on my door, I did work for one international school briefly but the pay was too low so I quit. Currently, I am the head teacher and manager at an after school essay writing center for Korean students in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Every day, several Korean students cross the border from Hong Kong to Shenzhen to attend my classes. And BTW, all of my students come from international schools. My Korean students have shown me infinite more respect than any of the Chinese students I taught before. They do not care about my skin color and realize I have a lot to teach them.
I have accomplished far too much intellectually as a writer and a thinker to allow someone to suggest my problems in China are a result of my "low English level".

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

And the basis on which we agreed to operate with them involved a manifesto, where it states that we proceed from different ideologies and policies. One thing that we insisted on was that they should take an oath to reject racism and discrimination.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Racism is always there underneath, but usually it is exploited in these times of economic crisis, and it's hard to find out when one slides into another.
Iris Chang

Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it's perhaps far more terrible than it's ever been.
Angela Davis

Sometimes I feel like rap music is almost the key to stopping racism.
Eminem

Evil is the shadow of angel. Just as there are angels of light, support, guidance, healing and defense, so we have experiences of shadow angels. And we have names for them: racism, sexism, homophobia are all demons - but they're not out there.
Matthew Fox

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I think what I came through is great, but my son can take it to another level, not having to fight racism. His mother's a Norwegian and I'm mixed up four or five times, so he can face the world.
James Brown

Black reporters are as capable of racism as anyone else.
Julian Bond

Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.
Rosa Parks

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:15 am Post subject:

I've just deleted two postings for being off-topic and inappropriate as to content.

If there are similar postings, there will be sanctions.

This thread is informative and will not be derailed by a few members to the detriment of the majority of members.

It is highly probable that if you engage in derailing, you will be taking an unpaid vacation from this board.

gregmcd101 · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 144 Location: Ireland (for now)

A'Moo · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:59 pm Post subject:

InTime · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 1676 Location: CHINA-at-large

Well do I re-call
20 years ago in the subways of HK
with my Shanghainese fiancee living in HK...
in young love
loving being anywhere w/her
but then noticing the EYES of the men
staring at us
and...unlike US racism looking at black man w/blonde girl...
no...the stares continues even when I stared at them...
Then I real-ized...
they were doing EYE Qi Gong
Looking laser-like at HER
oblivious of me
Then I'd look in another direction in the subway...
and I'd see more eyes doing the same thing
Staring down her
I was thinking
"Can't take this. Gotta show him..."
Push? Curse?But...they were just too many...
So...I'd often end up lowering my eyes and my spirit

Thinking 'What would Sidney Poitier do?"

Now I realize...the ART...
is to NOT let them get the upper hand by bringing you down
Wear a SMILE (Confucian-style)...and with the girl linked,
POINT and SMILE at the nasty faces...while making a happy face

That's HI-Level spiritual training

For myself, as a White, I would tell myself that such nasty racism was my opportunity to repay for the nasty racism/genocide of US history...

BTW...fix the TITLE

An urgent message to all black potential black teachers

Hang in there...or...try elsewhere...

You DO have options

Best wishes

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

It's been my dilema since being in Asia . Whenever I am with a Chinese women I get stared at more . My girlfriends kid follows at about thirty feet behind because he doesn't want to be part of it . I'm usually to occupied with what I am going to do and where I am going to let the stares get me down . I think we have to be careful in doing things like showing affection by holding hands or openly kissing . This is not done in China by Chinese . But I think like Korea behavior is changing fast .

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China