Post by NZBC on Mar 9, 2008 17:01:58 GMT 12
www.dimsum.co.uk/viewpoints/british-chinese-diaspora-and-the-take-out.html
The takeaway business is one of the longest serving traditions, not to mention, cultural stereotypes around, alongside Asians, as in Indians, working in off- licences and corner shops, and the Blacks as either criminals, or being financially poor. Not to mention the furore that was The Black and White Minstrel show in the US when White performers were wearing what was a form of theatrical make-up, known as ¡®Blackface'; hence their faces were Black.
Here, Parker argues in the main body of his essay how the Chinese takeaway acts as a metaphor in discussing ethnic food and its significance and implications within a multicultural society. Likewise, Wong (1993) argues that those working in the catering business- in particular racial groups such as Indians and Chinese- are valued by other people as being good at what they do, which is cooking and serving food to tend to the needs of the so-called dominant groups in society; i.e. Whites for instances. It is claimed that over 80% of BBCs work in the catering business alone, in contrast to other so-called professions (see Youtube video clip on Being British Born Chinese). Many Chinese takeaways throughout Britain and across the globe operate as either immigrant run or family- owned businesses.
The takeaway business is one of the longest serving traditions, not to mention, cultural stereotypes around, alongside Asians, as in Indians, working in off- licences and corner shops, and the Blacks as either criminals, or being financially poor. Not to mention the furore that was The Black and White Minstrel show in the US when White performers were wearing what was a form of theatrical make-up, known as ¡®Blackface'; hence their faces were Black.
Here, Parker argues in the main body of his essay how the Chinese takeaway acts as a metaphor in discussing ethnic food and its significance and implications within a multicultural society. Likewise, Wong (1993) argues that those working in the catering business- in particular racial groups such as Indians and Chinese- are valued by other people as being good at what they do, which is cooking and serving food to tend to the needs of the so-called dominant groups in society; i.e. Whites for instances. It is claimed that over 80% of BBCs work in the catering business alone, in contrast to other so-called professions (see Youtube video clip on Being British Born Chinese). Many Chinese takeaways throughout Britain and across the globe operate as either immigrant run or family- owned businesses.