Racism is alive and well in New Zealand.

[randomness]

Just before midnight, Saturday night, lots of kids cruising in their rice burners. I looked at a cheesy-looking white Honda a little too long, I suppose, and one of the white guys inside shouted, "This isn't your country, what are you doing here?"

One never gets the quick response out in time. In this case, I should have shouted, "Visiting!" in a clear, loud, American accent.

Unfortunately, it took me too long to figure out whether I should be offended. I mean, he was right. This isn't my country. On behalf of Chinese-New Zealanders I flipped the guy the bird.

Comments

[contrariety.livejournal.com]

So, it's very interesting to hear stories like this, because I really don't have the perspective, obviously, of being Asian; and I just don't have any first-hand evidence of whether or not Asian-directed racism is alive and overt in various different places. I'm still not sure whether it's something you've said you've experienced in the US as well, although I think you've implied in other posts that you have.

Anyway, that sucks. *I'm* glad when you're in *my* country. :)

One finger or two?

[mkellis.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it took me too long to figure out whether I should be offended. I mean, he was right. This isn't my country. On behalf of Chinese-New Zealanders I flipped the guy the bird.

Which leads me to wonder if New Zealanders use the one-, or two-fingered salute. If they normally use two, then it was probably just as good as the American accent.

They're still idiots, of course.

Re: One finger or two?

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, was wondering about that too.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

So, it's very interesting to hear stories like this, because I really don't have the perspective, obviously, of being Asian; and I just don't have any first-hand evidence of whether or not Asian-directed racism is alive and overt in various different places.

So, I always feel reluctant to mention this sort of thing because I don't want to sound like I'm whining. However, given that most of my friends just don't have this experience I figured I'd mention it, because it is useful to let people know it happens.

I'm still not sure whether it's something you've said you've experienced in the US as well, although I think you've implied in other posts that you have.

It does happen in the States, too. Boston and New England in general are remarkably racist, although I suspect a lot of that is communal clannishness, more than race-hatred. I get more general racism in the Midwest, though. The South isn't as bad as people from the North seem to think. California and the Pacific Northwest are actually pretty good. That may just be because there are so many Asians out there.

But yeah, I try not to talk about it, because who wants to hear me whine?

Anyway, that sucks.

*shrug* Actually, it's just normal.

*I'm* glad when you're in *my* country.

Thanks! :) It'll be cool to see you again. Hope your birthday was fun!

Re: One finger or two?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Which leads me to wonder if New Zealanders use the one-, or two-fingered salute.

You know, that's a good point.

Actually, they were around the corner and gone, and I'm pretty sure they didn't even notice me giving them the one-fingered salute. Short attention span.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

You're not the first person I've heard say that about Boston. I don't get why, is it just the "you're not from these parts" attitude New Englanders are known for?

[antoniusrex.livejournal.com]

But yeah, I try not to talk about it, because who wants to hear me whine?

I do! I do!

I'll take a Leon Whine over someone else's happy dance any day. Mainly because your whines are well thought out, honest, and, dare I say it, entertaining.

That being said, I feel ya. It's one of them there things that often goes unspoken, but is there.

And, yeah, there are a lotta Asians out here in California. Which is why we, in the black community say you're like white people. ;-) Really, the new black people in the US are San Salvadorians, the new Jews are the Native Americans, and the new Asians are the Mexicans. Wait, is that right? I think. This state is screwed up.

How do they feel about us darkin' folks in New Zeland, by the way? I wanna travel soon.

[denyse.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about New Zealand, but friends of mine who've studied and lived in Australia says it can get pretty bad there sometimes. (The occasional shouted out insult, nasty note and one memorable incident where stool was thrown at their house with graffiti saying 'chink go home')
I live in Boston, and at work get daily enquiries from folks to the tune of 'where are you from?' Once in a while I'll respond 'Rhode Island', but the usual response to that is 'where are you really from?' But on the whole I don't really have any serious problems with rascism in the Northeast.
Alternatively, they'll ask me what China is like. :) I tell 'em it seemed pretty nice, at least the parts I visited on a two week vacation once.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Two illustrative words:

Boston. Busing.

It was a long time ago, but the "this is our place, you don't belong here, get out" attitude lives on. It's the dark side of having a local sense of place.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I'll take a Leon Whine over someone else's happy dance any day. Mainly because your whines are well thought out, honest, and, dare I say it, entertaining.

Thanks! I'll still try to keep it to a minimum, though. :)

How do they feel about us darkin' folks in New Zeland, by the way? I wanna travel soon.

Well, from what I can tell, you'd be the only black person in town. So you'd be treated as an exotic, clearly a tourist. And New Zealanders, by and large, are very polite and nice people.

One of the reasons I think Asians are getting crap in NZ is because there have been a lot of immigrants lately, so Asians are no longer exotic. They're being percieved as a threat by the folks who feel threatened by newcomers.