China in African American cosmopolitanism, 1919–29

Abstract

Abstract The betrayal of the Western powers at the Paris Conference of 1919 directly led to the eruption of extensive anti-imperialism in China. This influenced Chinese politics throughout the 1920s and helped secure the return of tariff autonomy and the start of extraterritoriality talks at the end of the decade. The development, though not prominently anti-racist, struck African American observers as a notable achievement against white supremacy. Including it into their imaginary of a global offensive against racial discrimination, they regarded association with China as a unique opportunity to strengthen themselves and weaken white racists. But because of the ineffectiveness of China, African American reactions stemmed mainly from empathy rather than admiration. China, for its part, served as a resolute co-fighter for racial equality in a relationship of mutual usefulness.