There's quite a parallele here in the USA. Asians do not enjoy any of the minority benefits dished out by affirmitive action. In regards to education and the professional arena, the reasoning (at leat implied) was that Asians are smart and hard-wroking enough to succeed on their own, totally ignoring facts such as that Chinese was the only race ever to be barred from immigration by legislature, or that most second generation Asians grew up in less-than-optimal environments not unlike other minorities. I don't think Africa is the only "weird" country when it comes to issues like this.

I applaud the CASA... I would also like to believe that their actions go beyond seeking recognition of their ethnicity solely for economic reasons. I hope that it is with pride in their ethnicity (Black Chinese) that they seek this recognition.

In my research, I find that most people don't know there were several dynasties in China that were ruled by Blacks:
1. XIA Dynasty (c.2205-1766 B.C.)the first dynasty founded by Blacks
2. Shang/Yin Dynasty (c.1700-1050 B.C.) Black/Negroid people who were referred to as Asyi and Yueh are found in Chinese records.
3. ZHOU Dynasty went to African by way of Iran
4. Shang Dynasties:
Shang-Li (ruled by the Li-Qiang (Black)
East Y (Black)

The totem, "Blackbird" was a Black ethnic group in China.

The LiMin were Blacks who were associated with Yao, a Black Chinese hero.

The Lapita is the earliest known Black/Negroid culture in Indo-China (1600-1200 B.C.)though the DNA (HLA Antigen) dates back prior to 9000 B.C.

Etc. etc. etc../.

The racism that blacks endure in Asian society is fifty times worst then in white causcaian society. The second e-mail message highlighted the black/asian history, is that taught now in schools i think not. Would africans get equal rights and equal treatment in China, Japan, South Korea i think not. I have visited South Korea and if you are a person of color other than Korean or White you are demeaned as worthless. There is discrimination of individuals who are half Korean. When you see stories like this when a race of people demand fairness and equality , but in their own country they would never give it to others of another race. It almost appalling.

I love irony. Remember the anti-African riots in Nanjing in late 1988 - complete with mobs of violent, abngry, young Chinese men shouting "Kill the Black Devils"?

For those who are interested, Frank Dikkoter's book "The Discourse of Race in Modern China" is an excellent introduction to the subject.

It's also worth pointing out that the Chinese are beginning to pay more attention to Barack Obama's candidacy and the very real possibility that he may be elected president next November. In recent years, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has often been the target of widespread racist commentary in Chinese chatrooms. If Obama is elected, how might similar racist attacks on a sitting president influence U.S./China relations? Food for thought.