NEW SLANT ON RACISM IN THE BRAVE NEW OBAMA WORLD
November 16th 2008 07:04
The ascension to the US presidency by Barack Obama has an instant and positive international effect in terms of race defining, prejudice and a renewed global resistance to racism of any form.
A Thai-produced tourist guide to Malaysia is creating controversy, mainly due to what is perceived as its racist thrust, particularly its comments that black men have no chance with Chinese women in Malaysia.
“Marriage between black men and Chinese women are (sic) virtually non-existent. Don’t bother trying if you are black,” says the guide book, titles Dos and Don’ts in Malaysia.
In reviewing the book, the Bangkok Post on Sunday reported, “Critics said given that Lewis Hamilton is on top of Formula One racing, Tiger woods is the entrenched force of golf and Barack Obama is about the assume the presidency of the US, most would have thought these horribly old-fashioned notions about racial stereotyping were destined for the dustbins of history.”
The publishers claim the book is an attempt at irreverent humour poked at the social mores of a country often beset by racial differences.
But it’s not just blacks that get it in the book. Chinese can be “brash, crude and uncouth,” and urbanised Chinese are said to effect ridiculous western names: “There is probably a Hitler Ang somewhere down town.”
Indian men are said to “morph into the most brutal and ruthless Mr Hydes after marriage.”
Malays get a good rap in the book: they are described as “courteous” with “a strong sense of community spirit way superior to the Chinese and Indians.”
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