The "Glass Hearts"

[Randy W]

Both articles are from the SCMP

 

China ‘opposes’ racism but dismisses criticism of CCTV blackface skit

Foreign ministry says backlash over Lunar New Year comedy sketch is ‘futile’ effort to drive a wedge between China and African nations

 

 

During the skit, a young black woman tried to convince her mother to let her move to China by getting a Chinese friend to pretend to be her fiancé.

The mother, played by Chinese actress Lou Naiming wearing blackface and a fake posterior – and accompanied by a monkey, apparently played by a black performer – was thrilled to hear that her daughter planned to marry a Chinese man and grateful for China’s contribution to African countries.

The comedy sketch ended with the mother discovering her daughter’s lie, but she said she couldn’t be angry because China had done so much for Africa, shouting in Mandarin: “I love Chinese people! I love China!”

 

 

 

CCTV should apologise for its blackface skit so China can show the world that it, too, knows how to say sorry

Michael Chugani says China demands apologies from others yet never apologises. It should start, as there’s no better way to showcase its rising power than to show it knows it is not always right

 

China’s rise is unstoppable and inevitable. It has worked miracles in rapidly improving the lives of millions. That was the easier part. The harder part is deciding if it wants to be a benign superpower or a belligerent one that bullies its smaller neighbours.

The world fears America’s might, is unsettled by its current unpredictable president, but is calmed by its democracy. If authoritarian-ruled China wants to be respected as a superpower, it needs to reassure the world its might doesn’t mean it is always right.