china.org.cn
Ding Hui is a black man with a South African father and a Chinese mother who was born, and grew up, in China and only speaks the Mandarin dialect. He's also a solid volleyball player who has been called to represent his country on China's national volleyball team for the 2012 Olympics.
And some of his countrymen seem to have a problem with it.
According to the UK's Telegraph, commentators have noted that Ding has a "pleasant and perky nature" and is talented at "singing and dancing." Fans on Chinese Internet forums have lauded him for the "whiteness" of his teeth and the "athleticism of his genes."
"People seem to care more about my heritage and appearance, but all I want to do is to play good volleyball," Ding told the paper. "I am not a foreign aide. I want to be included."
"I had hoped the press would not dig out the boy's African heritage or his family details but instead focus on his skills and performance," added the team's coach, Li Shiping.
According to the Telegraph, the black population in China is growing rapidly, specifically in Guangzhou, which is called "Chocolate City" by locals. According to Chinese authorities, there are 100,000 residents or citizens of African descent from Nigeria, Guinea, Cameroon, Liberia and Mali, and the population continues to grow.
Comments: (8)
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By: alicia on 5/07/2009 10:33PM
I am hoping the haters get over themselves.
Alicia
http://fashionasmusings.blogspot.com/
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By: Frederick Newton on 5/08/2009 6:39AM
Right on to the Afro-Chinese Brother and the volley
ball team. This is nothing new. Lets thank the media
for increasing our knowledge. Stick around folks,
the best is yet to come.
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By: Love on 5/08/2009 7:54AM
Thank the media for increasing our knowledge? LOL is all I can say to that. Africans are all over the world. Even in places most of us have never heard of. Its obvious his Mother dont have a problem with Africans and neither should anyone else. Afterall, she birthed him with an African. :) It just goes to show how some asians still think and act just like the white folks who havent gotten over the fact that Melanin is the dominate force in this earth.
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By: Lingreen62 on 5/09/2009 7:25PM
Melanin is not the dominant force on this planet. It is gray matter. Brains betters melanin anytime.
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By: Tish on 5/08/2009 10:27AM
I really wonder if they will ever get it. It is more people on this planet of color than white.
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By: lawmiss on 5/08/2009 6:36PM
why in the world would anyone subject himself to the racial comments of the flat face morons. Who cares about their opinions??? And, why in the world would he care enough to want to be around those asians to take their crap. Come on, it's almost funny. How in the world can they make derogatory comments about anyone. too funny.
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By: Roderick on 5/09/2009 1:14AM
Something should be mentioned about a Society where sports announcers can openly make racially insensitive comments on television and still keep their jobs. I guess China is the place since it's where a good portion of American jobs are now.
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By: Harvey Davis on 5/09/2009 6:27AM
I suspect that Obamas Presidency has had and impact on the decision by the Chinese Government to call there first African Chinese player to represent China. His election is forcing other countries to at least provide a color blind appearance as to how they relate to other races within there population. Although this is excellent information by the press the reality of people of African descent living and prospering in other parts of the world is not new. For example Dr Claude Anderson states that there are hundreds of thousands of African Germans in Germany. And that this African German population was persecuted along with the jews during the holocaust.
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