My Character-Building Experience of Being Black in China

Let’s cut to the chase – walking off that Shenzhen plane felt different, maybe even too noticeable. My skin tone was so dark you couldn't miss it; it didn’t just match local standards it seemed louder than anything else around there.

Was anyone thinking they'd mistaken me for a local? Because I sure made an impression. People stopped dead mid-stride their eyes popping wide like seeing a ghost or something unexpected from another universe dropped in the middle of things.

Think about this: stepping into Shenzhen felt less like arriving somewhere and more like standing out front center under floodlights with no way to hide being African-descended here wasn't blending you were a stark contrast against everything else. My hair was pure drama – it's that natural afro thing, wild enough to challenge the very idea of normalcy or physics as we knew them.

It didn't just sit there; my curls actively shaped conversations asked questions and maybe even demanded attention on purpose if I recall correctly. You know what they say about first impressions well?

Categories:
Shenzhen,  Felt,  Local,  Chase,  Walking,  Plane,  Different,  Hangzhou,  Hangzhou,  Shenzhen, 

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