China Journal: In South Africa, Chinese are the new black!
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
United States
June 19, 2008 12:32pm CST
China Journal: In South Africa, Chinese are the new black! A high court in South Africa ruled on Wednesday that Chinese-South Africans in the country will reclassified as ‘black,’ a term that includes black Africans, Indians and others who were subject to discrimination under apartheid. As a result of this ruling, Chinese will be able to benefit from government affirmative action policies aimed at undoing the effects of apartheid.
Would you like to be labled something you aren't just to get freebies? Do you really want to be hired because you are a minority? No self-respecting minority I know does. They want to be hired because they are the right person for the job. They don't want to be labeled. But then not everyone is self-respecting, right? Some just want a hand out.
2 people like this
4 responses
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
19 Jun 08
When I filled out a job application for the place I'm working now, I acutally left the "race" part blank... I'm sure people who were reviewing my job application & resume knew I wasn't exactly white or black but it was for the principle of the matter... Matter in fact, when I was hired in this place, I had 3 other job applications out... 2 of them I filled out that I was Asian, the ohter 2 I left blank... Funny one of each called... I decided to take this job because they offered me more...
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
19 Jun 08
They should not be able to ask you what your race is. It should not matter. That should be against the law, but you can thank Affirmative Action for that.
@sk66rc (4250)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I completely agree with you... Where I'm from is no more important than where any other person is from... Way I see it, doesn't really matter... I'm here now & if I'm better at something, great, if not, more power to the other guy for being better at it... Affirmative action is more of an insult to me than anything else... I don't take hand outs for the color of my skin... I'd rather work for what I have...
@only1shi (404)
• United States
8 Aug 08
i guess my first question would be, since when are chinese people "black"? most people that i have met of chinese heritage don't want to be classified as oriental, but rather asian if they had to be labeled anything other than chinese.
it may sound strange, but as a black person, i don't agree with affirmative action. i think that it demeans those of us who get to where we are because of hard work and intelligence. i don't think that i should get a job, or be accepted to a school because of what i am. but that i should get there because of who i am.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I thought that was very strange, too...to label a Chinese person black. No, I am not surprised you are against affirmative action. Lots of minorities want to be recognized for the their intelligence and skills and that is the way it should be. I am in that group, too...where if they want to hire me it is because I am hearing-impaired or have epilepsy....that is IF they want to hire me. I don't need that hand out. I am insulted by it. It makes you wonder who these people are who come up with these ideas for a better world.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
8 Aug 08
i wish more people in south africa would think like you. i also think its unfair. just an example... white children that were born after apartheid ended, cant get jobs because they are white. they dont know why they are labelled as being previously advantaged. and as the case is that most white parents lost their jobs, it could lead to a new wave of racism. directed both ways. hows that helping anybody?
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
12 Aug 08
If I had to fill out an application form and they wanted to know, I would have said Human. (I could say Child of God, but well, they might not like that.
) No wonder so many white South Africans are leaving South Africa. I mean how crass can one get? Revenge is not the way to fight apartheid. Sometimes I wonder if things were not better then and if the world should have kept quiet. You can change a nation gradually and get it so that all citizens are equal, but not as they did it in Animal Farm where some with a certain skin color are now more equal than others.
Well there are always those who want to get something for nothing. Wait a few years or few months, and South Africa will be in the same position as Zimbabwe.
) No wonder so many white South Africans are leaving South Africa. I mean how crass can one get? Revenge is not the way to fight apartheid. Sometimes I wonder if things were not better then and if the world should have kept quiet. You can change a nation gradually and get it so that all citizens are equal, but not as they did it in Animal Farm where some with a certain skin color are now more equal than others.
Well there are always those who want to get something for nothing. Wait a few years or few months, and South Africa will be in the same position as Zimbabwe.
@soooobored (1184)
• United States
7 Aug 08
I think its kind of a leap to go from Chinese reclassified themselves within an arbitrary system to they have no self respect. I am a Northern European mutt, and when I would apply for scholarships I could go ahead and call myself "Irish" or "German" or "Lithuanian" and so on. And I sleep great at night, no loss of self-esteem for me! 
Within your post, you say "black" is a term that refers to those who were subject to discrimination, and go on to list different ethnicities that are included in that group. It certainly doesn't sound to me like the Chinese members of the "black" title are losing any identity!
Within your post, you say "black" is a term that refers to those who were subject to discrimination, and go on to list different ethnicities that are included in that group. It certainly doesn't sound to me like the Chinese members of the "black" title are losing any identity!@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
12 Aug 08
Remember, I didn't say it..the article said it.
