Lou Jing (1988- ), or 娄婧, is a Chinese student from Shanghai who took part in the television talent show, “Let’s Go! Oriental Angel”, in 2009. Even though she lost she became famous in China because of the Internet firestorm she caused, bringing to light how racist China still is (old news to Tibetans and Uighurs). As Hung Huang put it:
In the same year that Americans welcome Obama to the White House, we can’t even accept this girl with a different skin colour.
One night during the show they brought out the families of the contestants. There on live television her mother told China that she had an affair with a black man who returned to America not knowing she was going to have his baby. Then her Chinese husband left her after he saw that the baby was black! She had to bring up Lou Jing on her own.
Pretty strong stuff for Chinese television. Most of the comments that I have seen are directed at the mother, calling her shameless for speaking openly about her affair. The father is stereotyped as a black buck.
Women who have children with foreigners are seen as race traitors. And yet Eurasians, those who are half Chinese and half white, are stereotyped as having more beauty and brains than most. Eurasians are common in fashion, entertainment and advertising.
For those who are half black it is not quite like that. It will be hard, for instance, for Lou Jing to get married. It is unclear whether her skin colour will stand in the way of achieving her dream of becoming a television host. Dark skin is looked down on. Chinese women buy skin creams to lighten their skin.
When Lou Jing was little her skin colour was not a big deal. But as she got older and went out in public more, people would ask her about it, mostly just curious. Others, though, were less kind, calling her names.
But then she went on the show and it got way worse.
The hosts of the show called her “Our Chocolate Girl” and “Black Pearl”, which might be innocent. But people on the Internet left no doubt what they thought, calling her things like “Black Chimpanzee”.
They were saying she was not truly Chinese – even though she was born in China, has lived in China all her life, speaks perfect Shanghai Chinese (to the surprise of many) and can sing Shanghai opera better than most.
Because she looks black American or black African to the Chinese, many believe she is not truly Chinese.
Time magazine would have you believe that is because China is backwards, unlike America. As if Asian Americans do not face the very same perpetual foreigner stereotype in America. Even blacks are not seen as truly American, not like how white people are – just think about Katrina and the Birthers.
Lou Jing:
After participating in this competition, I finally found out, the world is not like what I thought it was.
See also:
There is this rapper/singer in Korean called Tasha or Yoon Mi Rae (hope I got it right) she is half black half korean and she experienced a lot of racism growing up and wrote a song about it in Korean called “Black Happiness” she rapped about how she would get teased and how she wished she was lighter and now loves her blackness.
There is this other singer called Crystal Kay she is black american and korean that was born and raised in Japan she doesn’t seem to have experience a lot of racism maybe its because she grew up on a base and went a international school but she never seemed as if she had a problem with being a big star in Japan even though she isn’t ethnically Japanese
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Recently, I was in a chat room in which Lou Jing was being discussed. I mentioned the racism Lou Jing faced being half-black, and this young WF said there’s also racism against half-whites and full whites in Asia as they don’t like foreigners. I told her that what Lou Jing experienced was much worse. She dismissed it as if it were pure nonsense. Let’s just say, we had a very fiery discussion.
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): She’s so pretty!
I’m proud of her for being so strong, and her mother too! I took only about ten minutes surfing other sites with this topic (luckily they had found and posted some “gems” of original comments) and it was just terrible. Not in the normal internet sense, but in the way of blatant, unsupressed vitriol for her mother by the commenters. It’s sickening.
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@ leigh204
Agreed.
I’ve been reading articles on the the matter of race in asian countries regarding bi-racial children but they are trying to put them underneath the same umbrella and ignoring the fact it’s more than that she is not fully Chinese but because she is black. This whole thing would be a very different story if she was Eurasian. At least on the color part.
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What a pretty girl!!! If I didnt know any better, and I didnt until I read this post, I would say she was a black american girl myself. This show was filmed in 2009?!? Ridiculous! I agree completely with the quote from Hung Huang.
“The hosts of the show called her “Our Chocolate Girl” and “Black Pearl”, which might be innocent.” <– doesn't sit well with me at all. She has a name; the references to her skin color, as complimentary as they may have been, wasn't called for.
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abagond….you’re a boy right?
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To Leah:
abagond….you’re a boy right?
Errr… boy.. ? Ok.. I am sure your intent was not racist. He’s a black man living near NYC, graduated from Columbia with a CS degree but also studied the ancient Greeks. He is married but separated.
https://abagond.wordpress.com/about/
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@aiyo:
“There is this rapper/singer in Korean called Tasha or Yoon Mi Rae (hope I got it right) she is half black half korean and she experienced a lot of racism growing up and wrote a song about it in Korean called “Black Happiness” she rapped about how she would get teased and how she wished she was lighter and now loves her blackness.”
I’d say Tasha Reid aka Yoon Mi Raes is one of the best, if not THE best female rapper in Korea. “Black Happiness” is an awesome song! And sad to say, I’m not surprised how she was treated while she was growing up. Particularly in East Asian countries, conformity and homogeneity is highly valued and anyone not fitting into that criteria is frowned on and shunned.
Black Happiness – Tasha Reid/Yoon Mi Rae
Black Happiness lyrics
My skin was dark from my past
People used to point at me
Even at my mom Even at my dad who was black, and in the army
People whisper behind my back
Said this and said that
I always had tears in my eyes
Although I was young
I saw my mother’s sadness
Everything
seemed like it was my fault
Because of my guilt
I washed my face everytime during the day
With my tears I melt the white soap
I always hated my dark skin
why O why
Does the world judge me
When I hate the world
I close my eyes
I put my soul into the music my father gave me
I feel the volume
And fly higher and higher
Far away
la musique
(When I hate the world)
(Music soothes me)
(you gotta hold on)
(and love yourself)
(When I hate the world)
(Music raises me up)
(so you gotta be strong)
(you gotta hold on)
(and love yourself)
Time passed and I was thirteen
My skin was dark brown
Music doesn’t judge color
They give me light
I lead my music
We lean on eachother
I don’t feel lonely
Then one day
I was given a chance
I held on to my microphone
And suddenly I was on stage
I say goodbye to music and ask it to come back
Then I became nineteen
I have to lie
I put white makeup over my face
They told me to wear a mask
They said my mom’s race was okay
But not my dad’s
Every year my age was nineteen
During times when time stopped
I felt like I was in jail
And I leaned on myself
I spent endless, painful days
I ignored their warnings
And because I missed music
I tried to escape
But no, I got caught
I prayed all night
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Not too surprising that Asians can be racist against Blacks. In fact, what non-Black group actually likes Blacks? Hell, Blacks barely tolerate each other – look at our problems with colorism (and tribalism in some African countries).
The girl is beautiful – just hope she is able to hang on to her dignity and pride.
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I had to look up the term “birther”.
They are certainly delusional.
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If Lou Jing were part white rather than part black, then there wouldn’t be much of a hoopla. The Eurasian/hapa-looking Asians are prized, and practically sought after.
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Leigh:
Thank you so much for the English words for the “Black Happiness” song!
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If Lou Jing were part white rather than part black, then there wouldn’t be much of a hoopla. The Eurasian/hapa-looking Asians are prized, and practically sought after.
I had the impression that Southeast Asians (such as Thais and Filipinos..) were more tolerant of Afro-Asians than Northeast Asians.
Do you think this is true..?
FWIW Mark Ndesandjo, Obama’s half-brother now lives in China and is married to a Chinese woman:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16/mark-ndesandjo-obamas-hal_n_158692.html
http://www.thomascrampton.com/people/mark-ndesandjo/
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Uncle Milton,
Sorry, but your avatar just TOTALLY FREAKED ME OUT. You look exactly like my ex-boyfriend. Exactly. That is so creepy. I went and checked out his Facebook page again and… it’s the same dude! How weird is that?
Do you have Scottish ancestors?
Now every time you post something I’m going to be inclined to throw a frying pan at my monitor. May I disagree with everything you say in advance, to save time? LOL!
I’m starting to feel peer pressure to have an avatar. *sigh*
Sorry to derail the thread.
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Asians, especially Chinese, seem like they kiss white people’s ass and are desperate for their approval. Weren’t they colonized and treated as inferiors at one point in history? They seem to forget that.
Anyway, that’s not why I’m here….Abagond, I came here because I wanted to ask if you would make a thread about a missing woman in California named MITRICE RICHARDSON. She was missing for 2 weeks but it is just now getting media attention. The details of the story are very fishy, and many believe the police had something to do with it. Please write an entry about her. She was arrested and taken into custody, and the police department released her at 1AM with no car, no money, and in a drunken state in an unfamiliar area.
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I heard about her. Good idea. I will do a post.
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^^^
Wow, Uncle Milton pretty much laid out (his perception of) all of Aba’s credentials, didn’t he? I notice that is very common for white people to do.
A poster asked a simple question, not what race he is or what university he graduated from.
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Lou Jing’s story doesn’t surprise me. Nearly all of the black Asians I’ve known had little to do with people from their East Asian ethnicity of origin. It wasn’t even a thought that they would be accepted.
Goes to show you that “biracial/mixed” doesn’t truly exist (for the very most part) if you’re black.
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To mynameismyname:
(his perception of) all of Aba’s credentials
Everything I said was pulled from information that Abagond has posted on his blog… if I am wrong feel free to correct me. I initially had a fairly strong (negative) reaction to her usage of the word “boy” that’s why I stated his race. I know whites (or most anyone..) would normally be impressed by anyone with a CS degree from Columbia, so I threw that in also. In retrospect I probably should have left out the part about his separation.
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To Black&German:
Do you have Scottish ancestors?
On my mother’s side… yes predominantly highland Scots. My father is Jewish but I have been told I look much more like my mother except for the dark hair and darker skin tone. And I swear to you I am not your former boyfriend. 🙂 I’ll probably change the photo, it’s ancient.
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Out of topic!
Lynette tu est magnifique! Miss wordpress! LOL!
Lynette you are so gorgeous in this pic and your hair looks beautiful.
In case someone is wondering , I don’t them gorgeous bcz of their length or coz they are curly but only bcz it looks so healthy.
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you welcome!
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@abagond:
Leigh:
“Thank you so much for the English words for the “Black Happiness” song!”
(You’re very welcome. :))
@Uncle Milton:
“I had the impression that Southeast Asians (such as Thais and Filipinos..) were more tolerant of Afro-Asians than Northeast Asians.
Do you think this is true..?”
I can’t speak for Thai people as well as all Filipinos. However, Southeast Asians tend to be a bit more tolerant of Afro-Asians. Perhaps sympathetic would be a better word in a sense that they’ve been looked down on by East Asians and know what it’s like to be judged for their ethnic background. Personally, I’ve found Westernized SE Asians are more accepting overall.
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“abagond….you’re a boy right?”
I found that whole exchange rather bizarre.
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@abagond:
It was.
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I’ve never thought of myself as above people…any people. I just want to be treated with respect and dignity just as others should be treated.
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It is also a complete myth that East Asians have fine features… many also have broad noses, thick lips and coarse hair (not curly… but not fine and dead straight either) – the stereotype of the delicate china doll is just that, a stereotype and not even a general representation of the average East Asian population.
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@Therese:
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a Filipina (SE Asian) and I have come across some Chinese (East Asian) who I swear were Filipino, but they weren’t. I mean, I get mistaken for Chinese, I’d daresay, 99% of the time by other Filipinos! So it goes to show you Asians also have varied looks.
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@ Therese
I don’t think there is any need for name calling. [editor: she is referring to a now-deleted comment]
The fact is, white skin is prized in most parts of Asia while dark skin…err not so much, and its not like that because only a handful of people think that way, there’s a reason why it’s an issue.
I agree, Asia has many faces, I’ve met a few Asian people who thought I was from Laos and I’m not of Asian decent at all(I think its my eyes) my parents are both black and I was born and raised in the Caribbean. My friend is from the Philippines, most people here think shes ‘Cuban’ lol. So yes the china doll is naught but a myth but that’s the only thing you’ll see on TV or in magazines and for many that’s all they know or want to know.
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“The fact is, white skin is prized in most parts of Asia while dark skin…err not so much, and its not like that because only a handful of people think that way, there’s a reason why it’s an issue.”
Hmm… But isn’t colorism sort of universal? I thought that was because dark skin is associated with manual labor?
In Germany it used to be that dark = lower class but now it’s the other way around as a tan signifies a life of leisure rather than an existence as office or factory drone.
“On my mother’s side… yes predominantly highland Scots.”
Aha! I knew it. You have “Scotsman” written all over your face.
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leigh204:
Hey, a Filipina! Cool!
There’s a Filipina woman who’s son is in my son’s preschool class. Really pretty. But she looks much more typically-Filipina than you do.
Dated this cute Filipino guy in college that was into karate and had a bod like Jackie Chan (who is my Asian sex god, we all totally crushed on him in high school). Yum! Only problem was that his muscles were so hard as to be uncomfortable. It was like snuggling up to a boulder. But nice to look at.
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Gen Says:
I agree, Asia has many faces, I’ve met a few Asian people who thought I was from Laos and I’m not of Asian decent at all(I think its my eyes) my parents are both black and I was born and raised in the Caribbean. My friend is from the Philippines, most people here think shes ‘Cuban’ lol. So yes the china doll is naught but a myth but that’s the only thing you’ll see on TV or in magazines and for many that’s all they know or want to know.
Years ago, I met the mother of one of my best friends. She was also a Filipina. And I kid you not…I thought her mother was white! She resembled actress,Olivia Hussey of Romeo and Juliet. According to my friend, she wasn’t half-white either…so go figure.
Black&German Says:
leigh204:
Hey, a Filipina! Cool!
There’s a Filipina woman who’s son is in my son’s preschool class. Really pretty. But she looks much more typically-Filipina than you do.
I get this all the time especially by Filipinos. I don’t look the typical Filipina. They’re always astonished when I tell them I am. As a teenager, I’d go to all the Filipino parties, and I’ve actually heard some Filipinos say, “Hey, you look Chinese. Are you Chinese? But something tells me you’re Filipino.” lol! All the time, I tell you.
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[…] Abagond explains: Lou Jing (1988- ) is a Chinese student from Shanghai who took part in the television talent show, “Let’s Go! Oriental Angel”, in 2009. Even though she lost she became famous in China because of the Internet firestorm she caused, bringing to light how racist China still is (old news to Tibetans and Uighurs). As Hung Huang put it: In the same year that Americans welcome Obama to the White House, we can’t even accept this girl with a different skin colour. […]
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I don’t think China Smack’s cherry picked quotes are representative of the voices in China’s blogsphere.
I searched the girl’s name on Baidu and found as many, if not more, comments in support of Lou Jing:
“洪晃:我们凭什么歧视混血女孩娄婧” – “Hong Guan: what right do we have to discriminate against mixed blood girl Lou Jin”
“娄婧没有错,对娄母也应多宽容” – “Lou Jing is blameless, her mother deserves understanding too”
“看中国男人怎对娄婧母女发邪火” – “observing Chinese male-chovanism againt Lou mother-daughter”
“娄婧的呼声感人肺腑” – “Lou Jing’s appeal [to find father] moved me to the core”
“娄婧天使舞台证明自己和大家一样” – “Lou Jing’s stage presence proves she is the same as everyone”
“并不是因为她有着奥斯卡影后上海“哈利贝瑞”的称号。而是娄婧切身的故事” – “not because she resembles Halle Barry, but because of her life story”
“勿以肤色论英雄” – Shouldn’t judge by skin color
” “黑珍珠”娄婧证明自我” – “black pearl” Lou Jing proves self-worth
“娄婧比模特儿更美” – Lou Jing is more beautiful than models
“大家多谅解她吧” – people should cut her some slack
“娄婧是个小天使,这与她的肤色无关” – Lou Jing is an angel, matters not what skin color
“黑色只是普通的肤色” – Black is but a normal skin color
“很佩服你的勇气” – I admire your [Lou Jing’s] courage
“自认为一番高论的鸟语,首先让我感到你真丢我们炎黄子孙的脸” – your [racist] self-righteous BS made me feel you’ve lost face for all Chinese
“应该让我们所有的人值得同情” – they deserve all our sympathy
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Shes really pretty.
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@ Nubian Queen:
I agree. She’s really pretty. Actually, I find her prettier than the other contestants she appeared with. Not to mention, she comes off as a shy, sweet, and dignified young woman in her interviews. I wish her much success in her life.
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Leigh204
appreciate much that you’ve written. esp. about yoon mi rae, i just mentioned her in another forum with reference to lou jing. i grew up with her as my model coming from japan.
in fact, yoon mi rae is now married to korean rapper drunken tiger – with a beautiful bouncing baby boy, living in seoul. she is now considered the “queen of seoul” and he the king of rap (he is full korean). they are much accepted.
there are so many other examples, usually coming from celebritydom. japan having many examples like soon mi rae. i think china will catchup. it will take time, and probably many of the comments came from an older generation of chinese. the younger – group are exposed and moving forward. that i have faith in.
off the cuff, think she looks asian or more physically asian but with a beautiful tan. her poise, humility, and beauty are what really set her apart. beautiful combination and think its appreciated by many, even in china.
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@myasato222:
there are so many other examples, usually coming from celebritydom. japan having many examples like soon mi rae. i think china will catchup. it will take time, and probably many of the comments came from an older generation of chinese. the younger – group are exposed and moving forward. that i have faith in.
The older generation has a tendency to cling on to strongly held values and beliefs regarding race. I do agree the younger generation have begun to open their minds and become more progressive.
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She is gorgeous. It’s painful to even imagine what she must have gone through. I’m surprised she says she didn’t feel any different till later in life. The stuff ppl have said about her is pretty horrible.
But, I wouldn’t be so sure that she “can sing Shanghai opera better than most”. Check this out. She cannot sing at all. Which makes it even more interesting why she got as far as she did in the contest (assuming it was a talent contest, but I’m not sure).
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ps. there’s a link on the word “this”. So click on that. Also, it starts at 2:05.
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“For those who are half black it is not quite like that. It will be hard, for instance, for Lou Jing to get married. ”
i see this is an international thing…i’m so depressed right now, i’m going to eat myself into oblivion
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peanut,
I feel you when it comes to your sense of discouragement at the global ANTI-BW RACISM that exists but as BW gain control of our media image and DESTROY ANTI-BW LIES, MYTHS, and STEREOTYPES, I believe future generations will have a more POSITIVE attitude towards BW.
I already see MORE younger WM/NON-BM who are MORE open to SERIOUSLY DATING and/or MARRYING BW than past generations of WM/NON-BM.
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This does not surprise me at all its a worldly issue but in japan there a several half black celebs and even full black celebs on tv who have japanese wives and mixed race children. China is different and the people are a bit hard headed and ignorant to alot of things.
saying this i have lived in china for 2 years and have a friend who is african and in china he is treated wonderfully probably theres less racism then in london for example blacks tend to be turn away from nightclubs, excuse is to many guys or guest list only, but then they let a group of white guys in, im not talking guys suited and booted either.
Chinese people are fine they are as racist as any other.
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It’s close to five years since I last read about Miss. Lou Jing.
I wonder what she’s up to these days.
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The asian in China and Japan was dark once upon a time.People forgot about Ainu.I love Jero,Lou and the list is kinda long.Eurasian don’t get that hardcore racism,tribalism and colorism throw against them.Only thing they feel is confuse.People that mix with black or something. People seem to ignore the black side of them and praise the asian/white flowing in them. White blood is a huge plus for everybody to give a biracial being a sugar cookie for their existence. Some people treat mix people as science exp
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So basically the rule of thumb is (as I’ve always known) when you have darker skin, you’ll most likely have a harder time.
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It’s close to 10 years since I last read about Miss. Lou Jing.
I wonder what she’s up to these days.
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Why must the Chinese accept her? Just because Americans/South Africans were shamed into accepting blacks as their countrymen because of historical mistreatment doesn’t mean all the nations of the world have to. You should see the hostility many black South Africans have towards Asian South Africans.
You could argue that blacks being considered real Americans is a form of compensation for slavery, but the Chinese never did anything to blacks. No slavery. No segregation. The Chinese don’t owe blacks a place in their country, just like, say, Nigerians don’t owe the Chinese a place in theirs.
PS: Eurasians aren’t really seen as truly Chinese in China. Bruce Lee (either 1/4 or 3/8 White, it’s unclear) had full Chinese refuse to train in martial arts with him because he was mixed.
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