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The whole world must condemn racism against black community in China


Reports of black Africans being subjected to racial abuse in China are shocking, retrogressive and should be condemned outrightly. Several reports of Nigerian and Kenyan nationals being denied entry into their homes and public spaces such as subways because they are foreigners have emerged and caused an uproar on social media. It has also been reported that members of the black community in Guangzhou are facing special scrutiny amid coronavirus pandemic, unlike the citizens.

It is inappropriate and inhuman for the Chinese government to treat foreigners, who are in the country legally, like animals. The world is currently facing a deadly pandemic that has so far left over 125,000 people dead. Economies are suffering. Millions of people across the world have lost their jobs because they cannot go to work lest they contract the deadly virus, whose disputed source is said to be a food market in Wuhan, China. Thousands of families have lost their loved ones and there is the need to treat everyone with respect, love and show compassion regardless of their nationality, race and religious background during this difficult period.

The Chinese government must, therefore, come out and address the reports of racial discrimination against blacks in the country, apologise to the victims and the world for subjecting foreign nationals to racial discrimination. Denying people entry into their homes because of the colour of their skin is backward, discriminatory and should be condemned in the strongest terms possible.

The Chinese government must also assure the world that it will treat all humans living in the country with dignity and respect to avoid tensions between countries. There are millions of Chinese nationals living in other countries yet we have not seen reports of them being denied access to public spaces or their homes. If they suspect that certain people are infected with COVID-19, why not isolate and test them for the virus just like others? Why deny them accessing their rightful homes and using public services such as buses and trains? China’s response to the racism reports is underwhelming and does not address the issue at hand. In a statement, the country says African nationals have been treated as good friends and partners during the pandemic in China, which is contrary to reports from the ground.

Governments should unite in condemning this racist act by the Chinese. This is a very serious matter that should be addressed immediately to avoid retaliation against Chinese nationals living in other countries. As a country, China should take lessons from Portugal, who granted all immigrants full citizenship rights, albeit temporary, during the coronavirus pandemic and England who extended expiring work visas for all migrants working as medical officers.

This is not the first time that China is facing a backlash for subjecting blacks to racism. In February 2020, a video showing African children chanting racist slogans in Chinese fuelled social media outrage and calls on African governments to protect their citizens from inhuman treatment by the Chinese. In the video, the children chanted “I am a black monster, I have a very low IQ”, not knowing what the Chinese words meant. In 2017, the BBC reported that Chinese online shopping platform Taobao was forced to pull down a promotional video and photos featuring young black African children following outrage on social media. The advertisements by the company were deemed as exploitative and against child labour laws. No one should be discriminated because of the colour of their skin in the 21st century. Racism is backward, inhuman and has no room in modern society.

This article was also published by the Daily Nation

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