13 comment(s)

1. pammy | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   So is it wrong to be Senegalese??? I will also add that in many European and North American countries, African groups are often a target in one way or the other. In the same way, that you paint China as being racist in their treatment of Africans or people of color, other ‘developed’ countries and not so developed countries also have those same issues.

2. Akpowaidor Asekome Akpeti | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   It is quite a shame that the chinese govt should go on a rampage of racism.

   The level of naivety they show by not making a clear distinction between Africans and even going as far as labeling all Africans Senegalese is mindboggling and unproffessional for a country that is about to host the world.

   Let me remind the chinese that the economic law says that there has to be a buyer and a seller for every deal . in other words if the senegalese are truly seling as claimed, then there has to be a market which should be made up of some chinese.

   To clean up that mess , would involve attacking the craving for the drugs.

   We africans are proud of our heritage , we believe in our selves and are also aware that our contributions to humanity has left indelible marks . We also know that there are some few elements who may be dishonest and lack proper conduct ,very comparable to those seen in many developed nations like America Britain etc.

   i would want to the chinese Govt to see the drug issue from a non racial perspective . This attitude would foster a speedy solution to the problem .

3. Codrin Arsene | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   @Pammy,
   No one said is wrong to be Senegalese. On the contrary, if there’s any irony in this post (and there’s plenty of it!) it targets Chinese. Read again and convince yourself.

   @Akpo
   The source tells me that not many Chinese take drugs. Most Senegalese target tourists. That’s why they organized this raid. I would like the Chinese government to really treat Africans as equals in real life not just in theory.

4. pammy | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   Yes, I know it targets the Chinese but it does it with an
   European countries or North American countries are better in their understanding of differences but my point is – ‘there isn’t much of a difference’. These same stereotypes that we see in China, can be seen in the states or in any region of the world in which you have immigrants from a lower power position country who come in to stay, work or whatever….

   Pammy

5. Codrin Arsene | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   Well
   Where do you live Pammy? I lived in Romania, France, the United States and Argentina so far. I spent considerable amounts of time in several African countries and this is how I developed my passion for African Politics. While racial incidents occur in all these “Western” places, most EU member states have strong inclusion policies, minority rights laws and special commissions monitoring the situation of the African immigrants. Many Africans found justice in legal courts. Such a behavior, as the one mentioned above in China will never, ever, ever be tolerated. That why I’m asking you, where do you live? Because if you’re saying that Europeans and Chinese act alike, I’m afraid you have no practical data to back up your claim with.

6. pammy | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   I live in the U. S.A – the last time I checked, U.S.A was part of North America, we have incidence of racism that occur on a daily basis in the states. Let’s not talk about the issues of stereotyping that occurs in the United States against people of color. I am very sure that if I decide to bring people of color of African descent here who live in European countries (that you place so highly) – they will have similar stories to tell. In fact, I really do not have to go that far, please, look through this website and you will find their stories.

7. pammy | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   hmmm, when I say people of color, I mean people of African descent (first generation, second generation Africans).

   I think there is a saying, “do not point at the smudge in other people’s eyes, if there is a huge plank in yours” or something very similar to that…

8. Codrin Arsene | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   Well, Pammy,
   I live in the US as well. Chicago, to be more precise. Yes, I agree, there’s racism here as well. But comparing what happens here to what happened in China is disrespectful at least. Can you walk on the street and use the F word and associate it with blacks? Can you tell Blacks are stupid or they are all alike? I don’t think so. Those things have been recorded in China. I’ve met hundreds of black people of African descent living in Europe or the US and they all agreed they would not change their current lives for anything in the world (by comparison with what happens in some of their native states). Yes, racism is a real problem in the US but authorities are doing something about it. Thousands of projects, grassroots movements, media coverage, free press, all these are attenuating the racism. In short, there’s a bureaucratic system that is doing its best to protect black people. Yes, you can argue it’s not as functional as it should. People would agree with you on that matter. But show me one person who would rationally argue that US/Europe are no better than China at human rights. Because of most of the people would just laugh at you if you make that claim. Again, none of the examples presented above are ideal frameworks for action against racism. But they function well. So that after 40 years you can live in this country and have friends of any color, origins or religion. So that these people can get decent salaries. China has been involved in Africa for more than 40 years. Just like the US. How many black chairmen have you heard of in China?

9. pammy | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

   Whether people laugh or not is a mute point. Your post in its presentation was that North American and European countries in its way of dealing with immigration is so much better and being one of these African immigrants that we speak of – I can tell you that it isn’t so much better. We can speak English till the cows sing their way home, we can quote bureaucracies, policies, functionality and what have you but I look at simple terms of realities that African immigrants live here of which I am and you are not. This is the last I will say on this.

10. Codrin Arsene | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

    It is your choice whether or not you want to continue this debate. Anyway, a debate is always good no matter on what side of the argument one is situating himself/herself. Since I’m researching Chinese investment in Africa and I’ve seen how Chinese are treating Africans both in China and in Africa, I cannot do anything else but disagreeing with you. If you spend five days in Beijing with young people from the African diaspora you will see that there is no way you can even compare the treatment they get there with the one in the United States. It is that simple. Hypocrisy or not, America has a functional bureaucratic system. And people only realize that by comparison when they go to other countries and see how bad things are in other places.

11. Tunde | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply

    Pammy and Cordene,

    Racism is racism. The degree to whic each society practices it does not make a difference. I live in GA and I see it everyday. I lived in the UK too where it is also practiced but in a not so glaring fashion like what happened in China or obtains in the US.

12. pammy | Jul 15, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks Tunde.

    Codrin – Meant to say moot. Just realized my mistake at 4.19am.

    Pamela

13. wtf | Jan 13, 2009 | Reply

    i wonder how true or reliable is ur news,Codrin? Wat source u talking abt? Is the source trustable? wat if u making up or exaggerate?? I am chinese but i never heard of such news. At least, i hav no bias to africans at all, neither my friends. So when u talk abt something,Codrin, do not generalize it to all the population. dont say chinese bla bla,wat do u know about us?

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