After living in Taiwan for two years as an English teacher (from 04-06), I realized how much I not only broke many stereotypes of blacks (and Americans in general), but also became a much-needed ambassador for creating a broader image of African Americans. It was not a surprise how popular black culture was growing at the time—but what was shocking was the level of courage strangers had to ask me questions!
Of course, I was stared at; asked to teach hip-hop dancing; asked to rap; and constantly asked if I was from India, Africa, or the Philippines (“because Americans are all fat and you’re not”). But they weren’t asking me these questions because they were racist—they were asking out of true curiosity and intrigue—and okay, ignorance too. They often saw white foreigners but never people of color, so could you blame them?
At first I was a little annoyed with the stares and questions, but then I realized that I was often the FIRST black person these people had ever met. Do you know how incredible that is? So I became more responsive and showed them how multi-dimensional blacks could be:
“No, I don’t know how to pop-lock very well but I can teach you how to salsa dance.”
“I am not a rapper but could recite some poetry I’ve written.”
“I’m terribly at sports and I didn’t know how to dance well until I was 19.”
If you’re wondering, no, I am not saying that it is our “duty” to correct all the wrongs that have been brought against the black identity. What I realized before leaving and after coming home from Taiwan, was that a lot of African Americans refuse to visit or live in these types of places out of fear, and that’s really sad. I wasn’t the only black woman in Taipei; there were many black men and women, and all had their stories, mostly positive.
It’s time for us to follow in the great footsteps of Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and Josephine Baker (okay, let’s try to ignore the fact that her claim to fame was performing naked), and take advantage of the world around us; we’re not limited to America—and you may find that it’s easier to attain the success and $ you deserve half-way across the world, I did!
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March 11th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for this post!!
I lived in France from 2003 to 2004, and it was always assumed that I MUST be an immigrant from the West Indies or Africa — I couldn’t possibly be American because, as a black person, I physically do not fit the stereotype of what an American tourist looks like. Also, because blacks in America originally came from West Africa, many French people don’t perceive blacks to be true, “ethnic” Americans. This is probably because 1) they didn’t study/absorb American history and thus don’t understand that the term “American” describes one’s nationality, not one’s ethnicity (in other words, there are no ethnic Americans because everyone, except the Native Americans, came from somewhere else); 2) France’s black immigrants are fairly new to France (mostly arriving in the 20th century) and so they’re translating their experience to America; and 3) they forgot that most black American families have been in this country almost as long as whites. Perhaps we don’t just need more black tourists; perhaps we need more black history teachers abroad!
*One good thing, though: because I didn’t look American, I never got verbally harassed for the Bush-Chirac showdown over the Iraq War.
Also, I went to Turkey last year. On at least 8 separate occasions, people stopped me and the two others I was with (another black person and an East Asian) to ask to take pictures with us. (A Turkish mother even put her baby in my arms and got a shot of us.) At first all this was cute, then funny, and then just kind of annoying.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
haha, Erica, I didnt know you were famous in Turkey! Whenever my foreign friends and I went to the beach in Taiwan, we always had people come by and shoot photos of us (without asking for permission) because they aren’t used to women wearing bikinis (especially curvy women like some of my friends)! It was ridiculous, but really, many Taiwanese were pants and long t-shirts to the beach to prevent sun exposure!
March 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Hello there!
You are much more patient than I am because I would have certainly walked away if I had been subject to condescending questions… curiousity or not, there IS still common sense that should prevail when dealing with complete strangers.
I have lived in Nigeria and I can’t even begin to list all of the ridiculous stereotypes that they have about black people in the U.S. and black women in particular…that we are all loud, violent and promiscuous…that about sums it up. {looong sigh}
There are two blogs that focus on this topic!
Blackwomenineurope http://blackwomenineurope.blogspot.com/
ExpatJane http://expatjane.blogspot.com/
Let them know that Black Women, Blow The Trumpet set ya!!! *smiles*
Peace, blessings and godliness,
Lisa
March 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Hi Lisa,
I feel your frustration–it is truly a shame. And believe me, in the beginning I was SICK of being stared at. But then I reminded myself that I had chosen that path. I chose to be “the other” in a Chinese country. So for me, I tried to meet and talk to as many locals as I could (even learned Chinese), because I truly enjoyed breaking their wrong conceptions of blacks. But alas, one person can’t change the world’s perception–unless you’re Obama I guess.
best,
nubia
April 13th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
It’s great to find myself mentioned in the comments here. I can’t say I “focus” on it, but as a black American woman those stereotypes have hit me when I least expect it, I did write about it when it happened.
They seem to be so common that people don’t realize they’re tapping into them. When you call them on it, they’ll hem and haw and make excuses to cling to their stereotypes of you too.
However, after having one too many run-ins with close-minded people, I tried to focus on the positive. After awhile I simply didn’t bother much with other foreigners because they’re the source of most of those stereotypes. In contrast, Koreans have, heard them and clung to them also. But I found that the Koreans I got close to either didn’t hold them too close or were able to get past it much quicker than people here in the States (I moved back home in early March of this year.) A few explained that they learned a lot of the stuff they’d heard about blacks just wasn’t true. I’m glad that, on some level, I helped to push things forward a bit. I was also glad to see that so many young black teachers have come to Korea to work. Most of them are just great young people.
So it’s funny to be back in the States, having all this experience and travel under my belt and to see many people who still have very limited views on black Americans. Things are changing. They are. But I can’t worry myself over them. I’m looking for people who are open in their views on the world. I’m not interested in those who refuse to learn and adapt even when their views simply wrong.
–ExpatJane (although, I’m not longer an expat, so the name is Regina)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I am a 40 something black woman born and raised in the UK. I have worked in both China and Indonesia as an ESOL tutor. Both experiences meant that I got stared at ALOT….even when I had been their for over 8 months, the same people still stared!!
I am looking to go abroad again but because of the staring I dont really want to go to either country again….don’t get me wrong I met some really nice people both Chinese and Indonesian but the staring really got to me after a while and I dont think I could go through that again. Your story about Taiwan interested me and you mentioned that their are other black people out there. Perhaps I should try there…What advice would you give me?
May 10th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Hi Diane,
Thanks for reading my post! Taiwan is a great country–the people there are very open. If you are going to go, I would recommend first checking out http://www.tealit.com (teaching english and living in taiwan). It’s a site to find roommates, learn about jobs, info on the country itself, etc. I would not have survived my first month in Taipei without it!!!
I didn’t have a job before I left, I just looked for one there, and I have to admit, that was a bit stressful (although there are TONS of jobs to apply for) but I was lucky because I already had a friend there who hooked me up with a job interview at her school. If you want to get a job beforehand, I would advise contacting Kojen (a cram school) and Wall Street Institute (I worked there). These are two very reputable and well-known schools. I used to know the director of hiring at Kojen, but I think she has left. Most foreigners live in Taipei (in the north) or Kaoshung (in the south, a much smaller city, i don’t recommend it. It’s way too hot there!).
If you want to know more, just email me! (info@nubiaduvall.com)
Best,
Nubia
June 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
interesting article i live to travel but im not 2 good at languages i was so surprised 2 c the other day nigerians living in Singapore!
June 10th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Elizabeth – Once you live in a country, you begin to pick up the language easily! I knew no Mandarin before going to Taiwan but the “survival skills” kicked in and I realized I needed to learn it if I wanted to get a good meal! =)
July 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I totally agree!
I’m on my way to Africa this month! Tanzania!
August 10th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
This is all very interesting. My brother is director of schools in China for EF. I am looking to try my hand at TEFL. One thing I can see in my research is that black men are basically absent in any talk about living, working, teaching overseas or abroad. I am a black man. I won’t bore you with all my degrees and certs and training. Black men are greatly marginalized in the US and not even considered in other countries. I am an educator and counselor, my thesis was on Globalization, however I have traveled abroad and have gotten the stares and the questions about basketball etc. I think what the US has put out in propaganda about black men has destroyed any positive image of black men. One can say black men make wrong choices as well but the message has been out there to long. It is a problem that has been rooted and will never go away. Black women have risen to the top in the executive board room and are the chosen black over men in the US and everywhere else. I would be interested to know how many black men you all saw in executive positions, teachers in your travels. Not blasting just wondering.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hi Dennis,
Thanks for your feedback. I have seen both sides in Taiwan. My ex who is black became a manager at Wall Street institute after working there for about a year and a half, which is the most expensive and prestigious English school in Taiwan. He had a big staff under him. I also had black men who felt like their school mistreated them. I also knew black men who claimed to be mistreated, yet were actually flirting with their students/misbehaving and that’s why they were being reprimanded by their school!
One major issue is that black men are seen as sex symbols abroad and girls flirt with them a lot. When a person isn’t used to getting so much attention, he/she tends to fall prey to it and make bad decisions. This also happened to my ex in the beginning. If you are not mature enough to handle these situations, you are not going to gain respect at your job/in social settings and stereotypes will be perpetuated.
February 26th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Nigerians!. . . You mean the drug-trafficking, 419-scamming, sex-slaving nation on the western coast of Africa. . . ha, ha, ha! What a joke! These folks should be the last to criticize us!
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:32 am
I have a question to ask. Are there alot of black women in Taipei? Also does the Taiwanese men date black women? I am planning a trip their and I am very curious. I am very interested in their culture. I love to travel and I want to travel to Taipei in the summer.,,,,