Chinese Baseball: A Racist's Game

by Bill NG

"Have you ever heard of Chinese baseball?" American baseball perhaps. But, Chinese baseball? That question was raised by an instructor in a seminar. As a Chinese-American, I had never heard of it. No one else in the class had either. The name of the game apparently originated in Chicago where there are very few Chinese-Americans. The instructor, who is from Chicago, shared this story as an illustration on how to cope with staff communication problems. The gist of the story is that in the baseball game itself, after the white ball is thrown by the pitcher, anyone can kick the bases. That, he said, is the best way to win. The story upset me sufficiently that I could not understand the point. It supposedly illustrated communication. It supposedly was the best way to win; somehow, nobody, therefore, loses in the game.

I was upset because it sounded as if in the game, at the point where everyone kicks bases, there would result all mannter of confusion. Kicking the bases made it seem that Chinese people were people kicked about. Why else call it "Chinese baseball"?

I confronted the instructor during the class break and inquired as to the origin of the phrase. He did not know where or when the term had come into existence, but he did know that it was a game which had been played in the Chicago area for several generations. I told him that I was Chinese and that his statements had insulted me. The instructor asked me not to "take it personally." Probably his ancestors had problems with Chinese people and the naming of the game had racist origins. Having expressed my concern and having been reassured, I still did not feel very goodabout the way it had been done. Still, I assumed that the phrase would not be repeated. To my amazement, the instructor then closed teh seminar by re-using the illustration. I again approached him. And again he was apologetic and said he would have to find another name for it. Will he?

It is clear to me that members of the dominant society often are not sensitive to and remain unconcerned about minorities. They have no sense of the history of ethnic groups in this country. They will not take seriously the comments and feelings of minorities, even when they are specifically todle that their actions are offensive. Do we have to be dramic forever to insure that our point of view and our feelings are taken seriously? Do I have to "knock" the instructor over the head with a bat? Apparently so, for racisim is alive and swinging.