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The Buzz: ‘Bumble Bee’ Contestant Faces Racist Firestorm in China

Thursday Nov 5, 2009 – By Sky Obercam

shanghainese-black-girl-luo-jing-with-mother-oriental-angels-show

Lou Jing, a contestant on China’s version of “Idol,” is a recent victim of racial discrimination. The beautiful, gifted, Shanghai native has been the brunt of sheer hostility upon becoming a finalist in Dragon TV’s “Go Oriental Angel.” Why, you may ask? Well, she is the product of a Bumble Bee romance.

The-20-year old theater student is the daughter of a Chinese woman and African American man – who left them prior to her birth. Apparently, many Chinese feel that her African ancestry negates her Asian lineage. We’ve heard this line before, but by possessing that philosophy, doesn’t that imply some sort of genetic weakness on the part of the non-Black party?

Why do the racially challenged relinquish connection to their own blood in these instances?

3985434402_8e73db819d Back to the matter at hand, sources say “Lou admitted to Neteast News that the level of hostility had come as a shock. “The whole thing was a big bomb to my family and me and it caused great harm,” she said. ‘I wish netizens could tolerate my particular parentage and let it go as soon as possible.”

In addition:
“Chip Tsao, one of Hong Kong’s leading columnists and cultural commentators, believes that a child of a Chinese woman and a black person hits all the buttons that cause prejudice among Chinese. “It’s an obnoxious novelty,” he said, adding that Chinese prejudice against black people was part of “prejudice against people less well-off than themselves”.

There was, he said, greater acceptance of Europeans because they were viewed as successful, but mixed Chinese/white European couples frequently attracted racist comment.

One leading actress, Jiang Ziyi, who has an Israeli boyfriend, has routinely been accused of betrayal for consorting with a foreigner. A stark reminder of official racism came last year when Ding Hui, of mixed Chinese and African parentage, was barred from representing his country in the national volleyball team.”

It is in this country that only recently felt the pressure to change the name of a popular toothpaste brand – from “Darkie” to “Darlie” (seriously? Ughh). China’s got the largest population on the planet, and an economy that threatens to flatten the West within our own lifetime. We’re sad to hear about Lou Jing’s troubles, but the debate has got to take place over there, for everyone’s sake. Besides, a population as big as theirs can’t afford to be overrun with racists, wouldn’t ya say?

Sinnitta says:

November 5, 2009 at 7:02 pm

That poor girl. She’s like a stranger in her own land and i can relate.

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Nyota says:

November 5, 2009 at 11:47 pm

She’s gorgeous! Is her talent singing or rapping? And if their “Idol” is anyway like the show in America for her to be a finalist means that she must have won some popular vote along the way so she is definitely sparking what looks like a much needed debate.
I also have this feeling that if she was half white half chinese the Chinese would have accepted her so much more.
“Apparently, many Chinese feel that her African ancestry negates her Asian lineage. We’ve heard this line before, but by possessing that philosophy, doesn’t that imply some sort of genetic weakness on the part of the non-Black party?” —so true but I think that rule seems to be some universal myth that many seem to go along with. When mixed children claim anything but black, I feel that many people usually see them as disillusioned and denying their roots…a la Tiger Woods’ term “cablinasian”? LOL black people went into an uproar over that.

artofkawaii says:

November 6, 2009 at 5:58 am

the host just said she looks like Halle Berry… we all look the same right?

Brit says:

November 7, 2009 at 3:08 pm

poor baby :( but she is really cute and all this is making her kind of a big deal. maybe she can use this to make her stronger and fuel some international stardom after she finishes school.

fyi, the father didn’t “leave” them. he had no idea ma dukes was preggers when he had to return to america.

Alicia says:

November 9, 2009 at 3:59 pm

This doesn’t surprise me at all. We can’t expect any society to be above this sort of thing, especially when they are extremely homogenized in cultural and racial aspects. China is nowhere near the “melting pot” that America is and look at how people are treated here.

MosaMuse says:

November 10, 2009 at 9:54 pm

you made some real valid points.

Alex says:

November 11, 2009 at 8:02 am

China has what 56 ethnic groups. It’s all good along as you don’t have African blood or are a Uighur I guess. I find it interesting too that a lot of Chinese businesses are doing projects and have contracts in a lot of African countries, but will import workers from China and often not hire African workers. Also but I lot of Asian people in the US (and in their native countries) will get their eye lids “done”. I guess to look less Asian and what about heir calf lengthened and narrowing surgeries. I guess they have issues with wanting to look more Western. I guess anything outside of Chinese or Euro beauty standards is a sin. Sorry if I sound ignorant or culturally insensitive, but I’m annoyed.

ceecee says:

November 11, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I agree totally. I also think that China and other south-east Asian countries were pretty homogeneous until very recently, probably like the last 10-15 years when they experienced an influx of immigrants/foreigners and they have always had a very strong nationalistic sentiment which can easily translate into xenophobia if left unchecked.

Solgar says:

November 14, 2009 at 1:03 pm

China, it’s people pospered to become the world’s up coming super power by being loyal to themselves. If only ‘we’ could do the same we wouldn’t need to go begging to others.