All Things Considered

Mixed-Race TV Contestant Ignites Debate In China

By Louisa Lim

Published November 11, 2009 4:09 PM

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President Obama's arrival in China on Sunday is being eagerly awaited by many people, especially one young woman in Shanghai. Lou Jing is of mixed race, with a Chinese mother and an African-American father. She became famous nationally after her participation in an American Idol-type program sparked a spate of vitriolic online racist abuse.

For Lou, the reality television show turned out to be a lesson in brutal reality. The talent contest is called Go! Oriental Angel, and the 20-year-old made it through preliminary rounds to become one of 30 contestants.

Lou is studying for a degree in television anchoring at Shanghai's prestigious Theater Academy, and her teachers thought it would be a good opportunity. But from the very first, the focus was on her skin color.

Spotlight Cast Ugly Shadows

Introducing Lou, the host said, "her chocolate-colored skin lights up her sunny character."

In a short yellow satin frock, Lou launched into a rap she had written to introduce herself to the audience. In retrospect, this moment probably marks the end of Lou's innocence — and the start of a process of questioning her own identity.

"When I was young, I didn't really know I was different from other people," she says. "It was only after entering the competition that I realized I was different from others."

The show drew attention to her background, which is very unusual for China. She was raised in a single-parent family by her Shanghainese mother, who is a teacher. Her African-American father, whom she has never met, returned to the United States without even knowing he had conceived a child in China.

On air, her mother, Sun Min, said she had only ever had one conversation with Lou about her father. She described how her then-7-year-old daughter had asked about him.

"I didn't answer and immediately started crying," Sun recalled. "From then on, Lou Jing never asked again."

Painful Fallout

In her two months on air, Lou was nicknamed the "Chocolate Angel" and the "Black Pearl" by the media. She wasn't bothered by these names, she says.

But online, the poison pens were venomous. Chinese posting messages on the Web criticized her skin color as "gross" and "ugly"; they called her shameless for appearing on television. The worst insults were reserved for her mother for having had a relationship with an African-American out of wedlock. Lou and her mother are now suing one Shanghai newspaper for libel.

There were online statements of support as well, but the verbal attacks stunned Lou.

"I looked at the posts and I cried. Then I didn't look at them anymore. I decided I would do my best to go abroad to study," she says.

The Obama Parallels

Lou sees Obama as a motivational figure and hopes his visit to China will be televised live. The parallels haven't gone unnoticed: One well-known blogger and magazine publisher, Hong Huang, remarked that even as the U.S. was welcoming Obama to the White House, Chinese people were unable to accept a girl whose skin color was different.

China's economic progress has been astounding, but Lou Jing's cautionary tale exposes the fact that social attitudes still lag far behind.

For now, Lou is still on TV, guest-hosting a variety show showcasing different regional dialects. It's a job she had lined up before her appearance on Oriental Angel, she says. Since then, she hasn't had a single work offer — no advertising contracts or modeling jobs, either.

Her dream is of escape. She wants to study journalism at Columbia University. She believes the lack of knowledge about racism in China is such that many people didn't even realize their comments were discriminatory or hurtful. But for her, the world suddenly seems a different place.

"Before, on the street, people might say things like, 'How come she looks like that?' But that was just a small number of people. When I was younger, I thought life was beautiful. Why is it that now I've grown up, I don't think that anymore?" she says.

China still likes to think of itself as monocultural, but as it opens up — and more Chinese marry foreigners — the issue of what it means to be Chinese is emerging. Lou was born and bred in China, and never lived anywhere else, yet this latest saga has made her wonder whether she can ever really belong in China.

"I've always thought of myself as Shanghainese," Lou says. "But after the competition, I started to have doubts about who I really am."

For the show's producers, putting Lou under the spotlight may have been a clever ploy to boost ratings. But the fallout has been painful: Her mother has stopped working, and when asked if she regrets appearing on the show, Lou replies: "If you beat me to death, I wouldn't take part in that competition again."

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View Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, host:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. Im Melissa Block.

MICHELE NORRIS, host:

And Im Michele Norris.

Many people in China are eagerly awaiting President Obamas visit next week. One in particular is a 20-year-old woman from Shanghai. Lou Jing is mixed race. Her mother is Chinese, her father African-American. And she participated in an American Idol-type program and found herself at the center of a debate about racism in China.

NPRs Louisa Lim met her in Shanghai.

LOUISA LIM: For Lou Jing, a reality television show turned out to be a lesson in brutal reality. The talent contest was called Oriental Angel, and the 20-year-old made it through the rounds to become just one of 30 contestants. Shes studying for a degree in television anchoring at Shanghais prestigious Theater Academy, and her teachers thought it would be a good opportunity. But from the very first, the focus was on her skin color.

(Soundbite of TV show, Oriental Angel)

Unidentified Man: (Foreign language spoken)

LIM: Introducing Lou Jing, the host describes her saying, her chocolate-colored skin lights up her sunny character.

(Soundbite of TV show, Oriental Angel)

Ms. LOU JING (Participant, Oriental Angel): (Rapping in foreign language)

LIM: Lou Jing then launches into a rap shed written herself. In retrospect, this moment probably marks the end of Lou Jings innocence and the start of a process of questioning her own identity.

Ms. JING: (Through translator) Ive always thought of myself as Shanghainese. But after the competition, I started to have doubts about who I really am.

(Soundbite of TV show, Oriental Angel)

Unidentified Man: (Foreign language spoken)

LIM: The show drew attention to her background, which is very unusual for China. She was raised in a single-parent family by her Shanghainese mother, whos a teacher. Her father, whom she has never met, was an African-American who returned to the States without even knowing hed conceived a child in China.

On air, her mother, Sun Min, said shed only ever had one conversation with Lou Jing about her father when the child was seven.

Ms. SUN MIN: (Through translator) She asked about her father. I didnt answer and immediately started crying. From then on, Lou Jing never asked again.

(Soundbite of TV show, Oriental Angel)

Ms. JING: (Singing in foreign language)

LIM: In her two months on air, Lou Jing was nicknamed the Chocolate Angel and the Black Pearl by the media. She wasnt bothered by these names, she says. But online, the poison pens were venomous. Chinese netizens criticized her skin color as gross and ugly. They called her shameless for appearing on television. And the worst insults were reserved for her mother for having had a relationship with an African-American out of wedlock.

Lou Jing and her mother are now suing one Shanghai newspaper for libel. There were online statements of support as well, but Lou Jing was stunned by the verbal attacks.

Ms. JING: (Through translator) I looked at the posts and I cried. Then I didnt look at them anymore. I decided I would do my best to go abroad to study.

(Soundbite of TV show)

Ms. JING: (Foreign language spoken)

LIM: For now, she is still on TV, guest-hosting a variety show. But her dream is to study journalism at Columbia University. She still believes that the lack of knowledge about racism in China is such that many people didnt even realize their comments were discriminatory or hurtful. But for her, the world suddenly seemed like a different place.

Ms. JING: (Through translator) Before, on the street, people would say things like, how come she looks like that? But that was just a small number of people. When I was younger, I thought life was beautiful. Why is it now that Ive grown up, I dont think like that anymore?

LIM: China still likes to think of itself as mono-cultural, but as it opens up and more Chinese marry foreigners, the issue of what it means to be Chinese is emerging. For the shows producers, putting Lou Jing under the spotlight may have been a clever ploy to boost the ratings. But the fallout has been painful. Her mother has stopped working. And this is Lou Jings response when asked if she regrets appearing on the show.

Ms. JING: (Through translator) If you beat me to death, I wouldnt take part in this competition again.

LIM: Lou Jing sees President Obama as a motivational figure and hopes his visit to China will be televised live. The parallels havent gone unnoticed. One well-known blogger remarked that even as the U.S. was welcoming Mr. Obama to the White House, Chinese people were unable to accept a girl whose skin color was different. Chinas economic progress has been astounding, but Lou Jings cautionary tale exposes the fact that social attitudes still lag far behind.

Louisa Lim, NPR News, Shanghai. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

Source: NPR

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