hakka: Re: Hakka

["pitt" <l.gambling@dundee.ac.uk>]

>Dixie wrote:
>I agree with all your points except the above.
>Eg. An American-born Chinese who is not able to speak any Chinese and he
>also think and act exactly like a Westerner. He doesn't identify himself as
>a Chinese. But in the eyes of the Westerners, he is always a Chinese. It is
>something that he can't escape from, or can he?

Dear Dixie,

I think you have confused Race with Dialect/Cultural grouping. If one looks
oriental, one can not escape from being biologically oriental regardless of
what one's cultural background is. I think for the sake of inclusivity, this
forum has adopted the definition that if one has an ancestor who is vaguely
Hakka, then one can call oneself Hakka if so desired. I however do not
subscribe to this generous definition. To me, being Hakka is being
culturally Hakka, in the present tense. If let's say a Caucasian White
should speak Hakka and chooses to adopt Hakka culture, then he should be
entitled to be a Hakka. I personally think that a culturally Cantonese
person in Hong Kong for example if he discovers that in fact he has
ancestors who were Hakkas probably will not call himself Hakka if he doesn't
speak Hakka. One can change one's culture, but not one's race. As SL Lee has
pointed out repeatedly, we are all Chinese.

But, there are Chinese out there who will call themselves anything when it
suits them, votes to be gained, helps from guilds, etc.


Pitt