Twelve individuals are before the Equality Court for hateful and discriminatory speech directed at the Chinese community.
Not only was the speech harmful and degrading, it also deepened old wounds. The effects of such discrimination is deeply hurtful.The case, which was brought by The Chinese Association and began in the high court in March, concerns comments posted on the Facebook pages of Carte Blanche and the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary in early 2017. The 12 are accused of hate speech, harassment and unfair discrimination.
“Many South Africans don’t know the history of Chinese in this country — the contributions we have made and the pain we have suffered,” says Francis Lai Hong, deputy chairperson of the TCA. To paint a clearer picture, one needs to look at the history of the Chinese population, which dates back to the 1660s. At that time there were laws against the Chinese to limit their economic activities. When Chinese labourers were brought into the country as indentured labour in the 19th century, attacks on their race and culture began in earnest.
We are now well into the 21st century and without any racist legislation, yet mindsets remain. Much of the hate speech that is the focus of the present court case mirrors that used in the headlines of the 1880s. These words are used to dehumanise us. The negative stereotypes and misconceptions about our race and culture are still being propagated so that we continue to have to endure mockery in all areas of our lives, whether at school, at work or just trying to get our shopping done.
As a result of discrimination, many Chinese people may have distanced themselves from their own culture as a survival mechanism to feel more accepted. Future generations may then be conditioned to favour the dominant culture and see their own as inferior. This is not to say that all deviations from our culture are wrong, as long as it is done out of free will. And we are denied the dynamic identity of being both Chinese and South African.
Aside from social harm, discrimination also causes mental and emotional damage because it affects one’s self-esteem. Additionally, loss of identity and a lack of belonging lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Sometimes, what’s worse than the discrimination itself is the lack of validation that it is happening.
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