Job Discussion Forums

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

I am currently in Wuhan, Hubei.

Last term there were two black people at my school. One was a Kenyan girl, a qualified teacher who had been teaching for 2-3 years in kenya. The other was a Ghanaian-American who had been in China for about 3 years and had lots of experience. In his other schools, he had had a good time.

But at this school, they treated those two badly. I had come fresh from my CELTA course with no experience and they gave me 4500 a month, as they did to one of my colleagues who had only done an online CELTA weekend course. Meanwhile he and the girl with all their experience got 3000!!!

But at the other extreme, the latter of the two who I am still good friends with, has not had the really nasty discrimination that you speak of. He really likes China.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:08 am Post subject:

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Well, Mr Ludwig,
I am first of all concerned with a label applied to MYSELF, and I do take umbrage at being labelled something that I would never label myself with. You have to immerse yourself in the so-called PC lingo proper of the U.S.A. to understand needs.
I prefer to use and accept this term, and I think, those who have been using this term might go the other way instead - learning from the rest of the world that this moniker is something of a specialty that they had to come up with due to their own racial categorisation needs.
Why is it "Caucasian", and not, say, Babysumeropian? Or just "whites"?
We have given up the 'N' word - good riddance, say I! But we need to give up the 'C' word as well - it is patently wrong.

blackguy-n-Asia · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 201

Why do honest discussions attract losers like Victoria? Banana and hookers? Why be racist. I hope you're not teaching anywhere.

I'm going to Asia in October to teach in Shenzhen. Skin colour and race is something that the Chinese will have to deal with, as borders open. We are just the first of many to come in the next decades....so attitudes will change in time.

Don't let ignorance get in the way of your persuit. Do what you feel like and explore. Very Happy

If you are qualified, there souldn't be a problem getting a job anywhere in Asia.

Darius · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 11 Location: Hong Kong.

Despite our protestations my employer refuses to hire even well-qualified African - Americans because he says that his students and / or their parents don't want them !

The attitudes of many employers simply reflects the attitudes of the population as a whole.

It's sad but what can be done ?

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

my two cents worth....

my school will not hire a black person. that is their unwritten policy. the guy who does the hiring (he hired me) has told me straight to my face, that blacks are dangerous, dishonest and a few other things. in the beginning, i was able to just disregard what he said to me, cultural differences and all, and i tried to like this guy. but now, after nearly five months here, i can say i don't like him, i don't like their policy, and i'm afraid there are many, many more just like him in this country. we're not talking about an old generation chinese guy either, he's only in his early 30s.

xiulan3636 · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 5

I have visitied China many times and racism is everywhere.
I am laughed at, stared, ignored, and some of the women even come up to my face to say rude things, mostly the younger women around 25-30. I really have not had a problem with men, they are very curious about me.
As far as teaching, I was a tutor for a small school, not officially a teacher and I have not really had a problem, except with my body type. I am a black female. For me I think the fact that my boyfriend is Chinese and we plan to marry is often the reason I have encountered racism. I think seeing me and my boyfriend at a restaurant causes a little curiosity, most of the chinese men just as my boyfriend simple questions, and some personal questions, that of course he does not respond to. I think mostly if you are respectful you will be ok. Oh, be advised that it is best not to discuss your personal life with your fellow teachers, especially if you date.

LSP · Joined: 09 May 2004 Posts: 56

well i now have the money to go, so now i just have to find a school that won't freak at the site of my photo. i'm going to get all cleaned up and take a good picture tomorrow to send to some of the schools i'm talking to, and hopefully a halfway decent school with halfway decent pay will hire me. i don't want much, just an appartment, 4500 rmb, and chinese lessons. that shouldn't be too hard right?

manise · Joined: 21 Nov 2003 Posts: 7

I have read the various comments on this issue with interest. I am black, or is it brown skin, being of Islander descent. If the distinction is between white and black, I suppose I have to catogorise myself as "black", that is not being "white".

I spent two semesters in Wuhan and I must say that I have not experienced any discrimination from the Students nor from fellow teachers and University administration.

What I'm trying to say is, don't generalise - not all Chinese people are racist. As happened in many countries in the world, you always find pockets of discrimination on the basis of skin colour,culture , religion, the country you come from and so on.

NOT ALL CHINESE PEOPLE ARE RACIST! Wink

Kurochan · Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 944 Location: China

hesterprynne · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 386

Consider that you are going to a country in which the mainland people squat to use the bathroom. Consider that my friend, who is an "English major", does not know how to use a can opener. I am just getting to the point that I can have limited, rudimentary conversations with people who do not speak English- that is, people of a low economic bracket. One told me the other day that he did not like black people because they are always shooting guns (this part was mimed) on movies and television. Consider that dark-skinned people (dark Chinese, Indians) are referred to as "black". Do as we all do and come with a thick skin. Sometimes you will want to deal and sometimes you won't! If you get too much flak, just starting talking trash about Japanese people and get them off on that tangent.....just kidding, just kidding!!!

LSP · Joined: 09 May 2004 Posts: 56

Victoria · Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 137

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

Kurochan said: "I don't think it's that they don't LIKE black people, I think in China they are mostly freaked out when they see someone who's black. It's just not in people's realm of experience. What people don't know about scares them."

Really? They never watch NBA or World Cup Soccer? They never watch foreign DVDs or VCDs? China is now saturated with "western" influence and culture. I've posted this elsewhere that maybe they are shocked the first time they see someone with a different skin color or someone with a large body, but "not in people's realm of experience" means it is their first time to even THINK about a different person. Maybe in extreme rural areas - - but Shanghai? Shenzen? Beijing? Hangzhou? Come on!

By the way, my school hires a virtual rainbow of staff here. There will be at least four postions open for September (and maybe some summer jobs to get you started. We are in Hangzhou ("Heaven on Earth") a modern city - - it (the city AND the school) has its problems to be sure, but it is live-able. PM me if you want more info.