It is not proper to be racist in Paris.
But is widely accepted to talk crap about the Chinese.
Parisians do not feel bad for coming up with blunt generalities about the Chinese. Parisians not being racist, they do not comment upon the characteristics all Chinese have in common. For instance, they do not say the Chinese are cruel. They know they are, but, not being racist, they do not say it.
Parisians being thorough analysts of the situation of the world, they prefer to talk about economy and geostrategy. Thus, everytime the word ‘Chinois’ is mentioned in a conversation, one Parisian will necessarily say ‘They’re taking over’. Other Parisians will smile hearing that. If the discussion gets more precise and serious, one may then sense real worry on the Parisian’s side. To express his fear, the Parisian will usually at some point in the conversation say ‘ils vont nous bouffer’. If the Parisian has actually been to China, he will throw a ‘vous vous rendez pas compte’ in there.
This last argument is not a good one. For the Parisian se rend compte. He always does. But when it comes to the Chinois, he really does. The Chinese community used to be circumscribed to the 13th arrondissement and to Chinese restaurants. Fifteen years ago, many Parisians started interacting with the Chinese to buy computers from them; that was in the 12th. Over the past 10 years, the Chinese have taken over the textile business: you will therefore find many Chinois in the 2nd and 3rd. All this is ok. But what Parisians are truly bewildered about is the fact that the Chinese are now taking over most Parisian cafés. Au revoir Auvergnats! Bonjour Chinois!
Several elements are brought to the table by Parisians to explain such an evolution. “Ils sont travailleurs” is the main one. It is of course accurate. But the Parisian is well aware of the importance of money in such matters. Two theories preside when it comes to Chinese money: ‘c’est la mafia’ and ‘ils s’entraident beaucoup, ils ont leur propre système de financement’.
All conversations about the Chinese end the same way. ‘Ils ne me dérangent pas, ils sont travailleurs et discrets’. For the Parisian is not racist, he shall not keep on with his reasoning which would involve comments about Blacks and Arabs.
Parisians have respect for Chinese. No Parisian would push that respect as far as to actually befriending a Chinois. Such a thing is not conceivable. Especially since Chinese ‘spit’ and ‘are loud’. Call that the Parisian vision of being discret.
Useful tip: While in Paris, do not bother trying to make a difference between Asian people. They are all Chinois.
Sound like a Parisian: « Ils sont forts ces chinois»
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Tags: Chinese · chinois · foreigners14 Comments
14 responses so far ↓
haha! Just read a blog of a Czech girl of Vietnamese origin, complaining how students in Paris are so totally uninterested in interacting with Erasmus students…shame indeed. First she said she thought there was never a “friendlier nation” than the French after visting Provence, so I am not sure about her judgment after reading this.
“Ils vont nous bouffer…” est la phrase qu’on entend aussi en tcheque en parlant des chinois ou des vietnamiens. C’est que les parisiens ne diraient pas, les tcheques n’ont pas des scrupules…”Un danger jaune” etc…:)
Have a nice trip…:)
Je suis mort de rire, pasqu’habitant dans le 13eme arrondissement on en est entouré :p
And they think imitating Chinese accents is _hilarious_. So discret.
Thanks for illuminating this. I am almost not a francophile anymore.
Tongue in cheek or just a hint of truth?
I am Canadian of Chinese descent and had a terrible experience with some people in Bedoin (in Provence). Keep your manners in check people around the world and remember you are not the only nation on this planet. If I make an effort to understand you then you would surely, and kindly, return the courtesy. And no, catcalls are not acceptable.
Parisians on the other hand have been civil and helpful.
Happy Travels.
I think you’re a bit too lenient with Parisians on this one…
What I see in Paris is open and shameless racism about China, the Chinese and all of Asia for that matter (but mostly against China)…
These people that think they’re better than anybody and more educated than you are so crassly ignorant and racist against China it sometimes makes me wanna puke.
But then Parisians have invented several kinds of racisms. According to them
-It’s bad to be racist against Arabs and Blacks before that would make you a friend of Le Pen.
-But it’s OK to be racist against any other people or nation.
Simply because Parisians are racist with everybody (even non-Parisian French people), but they are post-colonial guilt-ridden with Africa.
Linny… by law, Paris is part of France. In reality, they are two different worlds really. People tend to be nicer elsewhere in France, warmer and more welcoming. But you find this in most countries I’m sure. Big cities make you cold. Thank you though Linny!
iFawaaz… très old school!
Jonnifer… they do that indeed! Especially in Chinese restaurants. The Parisian is a refined being…
Constance… I could say only Parisians think that way but I wouldn’t really believe in it… sorry!
Met Sally… are there really other nations in the world? I’d love it if you could double check that for me…
David… I agree with most things you wrote. But this blog is an aesthetic and cheeky construction, some sort of a field report. I’m not here to scold Parisians. I’m just pinpointing a few thinsg I notice here and there! Being lenient or not is not my job. All the more so as, I do believe there is a lot of racism going on. And I do believe this post makes it clear. But there are also legitimate questions and concerns when you see entire neighborhoods (Belleville, Sentier, Marais to name a few… becoming almost exclusively Chinese). It’s not racism to regret that the rue du Temple is all Chinese import-export shops for wholesalers only. It’s not racism when you live in these neighboroods to miss having a boulangerie, a boucherie or a magasin de journaux nearby…
But I still totally agree with the 2 poids-2 mesures thing.
Parisians must freak out when they come to Sydney!
Now I have to know what Parisians really think of other races! … What do they think about Mexicans!? Haha. Love the Blog!
Fi… I have a few friends there - not complaining!
Nenii… Parisians love Mexicans. Just like Morrocans are way exotic and sexy in the US…
I’m actually rather disappointed now….and here I thought Parisians were more open minded than most Americans……..Such hypocrisy and contradiction if they (the Parisians) see themselves as educated and cultured. Why look down on people of other races? It doesn’t do anything for anyone. There shouldn’t hate but love in this world.
I wonder how the French feel about the Vietnamese (my father’s motherland). They did at one point colonized Vietnam.
Anne… Parisians like the Vietnamese. Being ‘older’ immigration (compared to the Chinese, which is very recent immigration), they are much more blended in French society. Many Vietnamese doctors, lawyers… and boy, Vietnamese food rocks!
Funny opening! You sure do say what’s on your mind.
I agree that we, parisian don’t really do any difference between east asian, they are all chinese, excepted the japanese.
In some way, it is quite true, the large majority of east aisan parisian have chinese backroom. The Vietnamese immigrant in the 1950’s 1970’s were infact overseas chinese living in Vietnam
“Now I have to know what Parisians really think of other races! ”
Stop to see Paris as white, there is many non white Parisian (say 30-40% of the population) mostly black and arab but there is also a large east asian community.
Greater Paris host the largest east asian community in western Europe, estimated at over 500,000 people.