| Many
here say my name, Shon-tiyon, is hard to say. As a result,
I'm better known as "the man with special hair"
(a reference to my dredlocks). Nevertherless, my time here
in China has been a dream come true. My earliest recollections
of China are from listening to my grandfather's stories.
My grandfather had spent part of his early life working,
and living in China. I desired to improve upon my understanding
of China, and the Chinese that I had learned from my grandfather's
stories. Furthermore, it was my desire to better inform
the people here about the U.S., especially people of color---black,
Asian, Latino, Native American, etc.---that are in and from
the U.S.
Due to images from U.S. pop culture it is usually assumed
that I can dance very well or play basketball very well.
I don't get upset about the stereotypes thought because
I know and understand that people just don't know any
better. I'm very patient with the people because I know
more often than not it is the first time that they have
encountered a black-American let alone a guy with dredlocks.
I feel that it is part of my job to help the people better
know and understand me as well as to learn from them.
I'm strongly committed to this task because I love the
people. My chinese name, Shang Yang Binfa, is taken from
one of my hereos, a reformer that did what was in the
best interest of the people more so than himself. In the
same spirit, I'm making the necessary changes within myself
first and foremost, and then in the community to make
sure the future for China, the US, and the world is better
for the generations to come. In a way, I believe this
is what my grandfather was for when he was in China many
years back, and Shang Yang Binfa was for long before him.
This is the legacy that this English-Chinese speaking
reformer "with special hair" plans to carry
on.
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