Comment by Hickle on Evolution Begins With A Big Tree - Chapter 32

@Hickle Why do say so? I didn't see anything racist in this chapter...

@Insight look at the way the only dark skin character is drawn compared to the other characters.

@Incubae Oh, that. I see these things so often I barely notice anymore. I don't really see it as racism, but more like ignorance. China is pretty closed off from common sense and most of their content related to anything or anyone outside China is based on stereotypes without taking perception into account. It could definitely be intentional racism though, you guys are right.

@Insight "I don't really see it as racism, but more like ignorance" All racism is a form of ignorance.

"China is pretty closed off from common sense and most of their content related to anything or anyone outside China is based on stereotypes without taking perception into account" The moment the creator gained access to the Internet that stops being a valid excuse.

"Could definitely be intentional racism though, you guys are right" Either way it rubs people the wrong way.

@Incubae I can bet you hav

@Pixwel can bet I have what?

@Incubae sorry I clicked wrong nick (I wrote it at 3:40 and my brain was half working)

@Incubae This is completely incorrect. Just because people have access to the internet doesn't mean they're researching other cultures. Having access to knowledge and being knowledgeable or using said knowledge are all different things, though not mutually exclusive. Many people couldn't accurately identify a Dutch, Swede, Norwegian and German if they were grouped together, nor should they need to unless their job or purpose required them to.

@Insight Sorry but what does identifying a person's origin have to do with the way people or colour are drawn? 

Also it isn't a knowledge thing. It is a common sense thing. There are also racist depictions and stereotypes of Asian people.

It is a well known fact that in Asia dark skin is considered undesirable. Asians can also have darker skin tone including Chinese people. 

So it doesn't even matter if the character is African, Caribbean, etc. 

They still went out of their way to draw them like this. 

Stop making excuses. It's offensive.

@Incubae

Considering the fact that my ethnicity is the one being "offended" and that I don't feel offended in the least (only pity for the ignorant), it doesn't seem as offensive as you're claiming. This type of depiction for people of color dates back long before this author even considered using it, to the early days of animation, including around the time of the first Dragon Ball episodes in the 1986 Red Ribbon arc, where similar illustrations appeared. It was certainly rooted in racism and discrimination at the time, but it has since become a staple and common portrayal in Chinese artworks. Modern usage simply implies ignorance of changing times and the effects of outdated depictions of foreigners (it's not just Black people), or adherence to artistic norms in their country. Using what is seen as the norm in your country isn't "racist" if you don't even understand the nuance behind it. Even if it's intentional, most people don't care. As a Black person (or whatever people want me to call my ethnicity now), I couldn't care less what a Chinese person, or anyone who doesn't directly impact my life, thinks of me or others like me.

 There is no need to make excuses when the facts are readily available. They likely didn't "go out of their way" to draw the character like this; what is common sense for some is not for others. It's common sense for you not to click random things on the internet that could use phishing to steal your information (or have other consequences), but someone encountering the internet for the first time won't have that "common sense"...

Also, if your response is "tldr", don't bother with it because you can imagine what I'd think of you whether or not you care what I think.