Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper discusses the traditional concepts of recognition and sovereignty under the laws of the United States as well as the political or popular notions of recognition and sovereignty as it relates to the ‘Taiwan’ issue. This abbreviated paper examines the myths of recognition and the erroneous role that most believe that international law plays regarding recognition and sovereignty
I've spent the last decade, actually the last 18 years, preparing myself to have a career in the field of Sinology (a Sinologist is a person who studies China or things related to China). I’ve gone to the best schools in the United States, Canada, Mainland China and Taiwan for formal educational training in the hopes of one day representing my country or U.S. business interests in Mainland China, the United States or Taiwan.
This formal educational training includes a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Juris Doctor and in 2010, a Doctorate of Philosophy all related to China or Far East Asia. I also have extensive work experience in this field as well but I often wonder: why aren't there more African-American Sinologist’s working in the United States, China and Taiwan?African-Americans are underrepresented not only within Sinology, but they are also absent in the departments, offices and branches of the U.S. government concerning China, Taiwan and with private U.S. businesses in China.
The exclusion of African-Americans from U.S. government operations and private U.S. businesses in Asia are distrubing. But is this ‘exclusion’ of African-Americans really deliberate or is it due to the fact that this is not an attractive field for African-Americans to enter?Unfortunately, this appears to be a deliberate choice by employers in both the public and private sectors within the United States. I don’t know how many times I have been told by both U.S. and Chinese citizens “...that with your background why aren’t you working for the U.S. government?”
The answer is simple, American is still a country that has not overcome the issues of race in its hiring practices and it has increasingly become a nation where merit has little, or nothing to do with procuring a job of minimal influence in the public and private sectors. Yes, the ‘glass ceiling’ is alive and well in the United States and pointing to one or two prominent African-Americans within the U.S. government is not diversity nor does it break this 'symbolic' glass ceiling.
I have known well-qualified African-American Sinologist who were just starting their careers. I knew some well and some not too well, who abandoned their profession because they could not get employment in the United States because employers refused to hire them as it related to China or Taiwan. I have also been personally told, as well as have heard, employers (white and Chinese) saying that they “...would never hire a Black person.”
Even when there are no overt signs of racial discrimination in hiring, hiring someone who looks like you, attended the same boarding school or someone you can ‘relate to’ has had created an on-going racially disparate pattern in U.S. government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of State in the areas of China. This is particularly troubling when highly qualified and patriotic African-Americans do not have the opportunity to serve their country only because of their skin pigmentation. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that no matter how qualified I become, no matter how many businesses that I have successfully navigated and helped succeed in China in the past, no matter how many degrees that I have...that I will never be given the opportunity as whites do to work for the U.S. government or private business regarding China related matters in the U.S., Mainland China or Taiwan.
There’re no use crying about it or becoming angry or blaming a particular people; while it is sinful...that’s just the way it is. So I can move on or stay still and pout, rant and banter. I choose to move on.
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