華裔美國人 歧視仍是個問題 但正在改善

Frank H. Wu is the son of parents who immigrated to the United States from China. Mr. Wu says people ask him every day where he is from.

Frank H. Wu 是從中國移民至美國的夫婦的兒子。Wu 先生說人們每天都問他是從哪裏來的。

“I explain that I’m from Detroit, Michigan, ” he says. Detroit is a city in the middle of the US. “But people shake their heads and say: ‘No, no. What I mean is, where are you really from?’”

“我解釋我是從密歇根州的底特律來的，”他說。底特律是美國中部的一個城市。“但是人們搖頭說：‘不，不。我的意思是，你究竟是從哪裏來的？”

Frank Wu says the word “really” shows he is not considered a true American. He says the question can make him and other Chinese Americans feel hurt.

Frank Wu 說“究竟”一詞表現出他並不被視爲一個真正的美國人。他說這個問題讓他和其他華裔美國人感到受傷。

Mr. Wu leads the Hastings College of the Law at the University of California. He notes that some Americans say they do not trust Chinese Americans. They are called “communists, ” he says, with secret loyalties to China.

Wu 先生是加利福尼亞大學黑斯廷斯法律學院的領導者。他指出，一些美國人說他們不信任華裔美國人。他們被稱爲“共產黨”，對中國有着祕密的忠誠。

A 2012 survey of U.S. public opinion found some truth in Mr. Wu’s observation. The survey showed that about one-fourth of those questioned believed Chinese Americans would support China over the United States in a dispute between the countries.

2012年進行的一項美國民意調查表明 Wu 先生的觀察有些道理。該調查顯示，大約1/4的受訪人認爲華裔美國人會在兩國爭端中支持中國。

Another survey found that 72 percent of Chinese Americans said discrimination against their community was a problem.

另一項調查表明，72%的華裔說針對他們羣體的歧視是一個問題。

Chinese American writer Helen Zia once said, “Whenever US-China relations get chilly, Chinese Americans get pneumonia.”

華裔美國作家 Helen Zia 說過，“不管何時美中關係變得寒冷，華裔美國人就會受傷。”

In other words, political problems between the two countries affect Chinese Americans personally.

換句話說，兩國的政治問題影響到每個華裔美國人自身。

Trade between China and the United States is one example. Some American industries say Chinese businesses import products at prices that are too low. The prices are not fair, they say. And, as a result, American companies must cut workers.

中國和美國的貿易是一個例子。一些美國產業說中國企業輸入的產品價格太低，他們說這些價格不公平。而這導致的結果就是，美國的公司必須裁員。

Helen Zia says such complaints are like thinking of Chinese imports as evil.

Helen Zia 說這種抱怨像是把中國進口當成惡魔。

Ms. Zia says the American public also criticizes US politicians for developing close relationships with China.

Zia 女士說美國公衆還批評美國政客與中國發展親密關係。

For example, in 2012, critics of President Barack Obama said he had violated election laws by accepting cash donations from China. The Obama campaign denied violating such laws.

例如，在2012年，總統奧巴馬的批評者成他接受中國的現金捐助已經違反了選舉法。奧巴馬選舉團隊否認違反了相關法律。

Ms. Zia said US politicians accuse each other of being “corrupted” by Chinese money. She said that is another way of playing to the public’s fear of any Chinese “invasion” of the United States.

Zia 女士說美國政客常常互相職責對方被中國的金錢“腐蝕”。她說這是迎合公衆擔憂中國“入侵”美國的心理。

In 2009, a Chinese-American group called the Committee of 100 asked the American public for their opinion about Chinese Americans. About 80 percent said they had a good or positive attitude about Chinese Americans.

在2009年，一個叫做“100委員會”的華裔美國人組織向美國公衆詢問他們對於華裔美國人的看法。大約80%的人稱對他們華裔有着良好或者正面的態度。

But only 64 percent of Chinese Americans said they felt others had a positive attitude toward them.

但是隻有64%的華裔說他們感受到了他人的正面態度。

Sociology professor Charles Gallagher says most Americans believe they are accepting of minorities. But, he says, Americans can accidentally cause harm if they act like everyone in a minority group is the same.

社會學教授 Charles Gallagher 說大部分美國人認爲自己可以接納少數羣體。但他說，美國人還是會偶爾地傷害少數羣體。

Bernie Wong leads a Chinese American organization in Chicago. She says attitudes about her community have improved.

Bernie Wong 在芝加哥領導者一個華裔美國人組織。她說人們對華裔羣體的態度已經有所改善。

In the past, she says, Americans believed people from China worked only in stores and restaurants.

在過去，她說，美國人認爲才中國來的人只在商店和飯店工作。

“Now there are many Chinese Americans who are in the corporate world and very successful in investing in new businesses, ” she says. “So the whole attitude has shifted.”

“現在很多華裔在企業裏工作，還有些在投資領域非常成功，”她說。“所以人們的整體態度已經改變。”

Bernie Wong adds that the Chicago government now asks Chinese Americans for their opinions about political and business concerns.

Bernie Wong 補充道，芝加哥政府現在在政治和商業問題上會詢問華裔的意見。

And, when Chinese Americans say they have been treated unfairly, she says, her organization works with city officials to resolve the problem.

而且，當華裔說自己受到不公平對待時，她的組織會和城市官員一起工作解決問題。