My Experience
Context:
Few days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis (USA), which triggered unrests all over the world, a forum was organized in Bangkok (Thailand) on the treatment of Black people in Thailand. Many Thai people showed solidarity with black people and also talked about the injustices African and people with dark skin face in many Asia countries. It also led to the discussion on the treatment of minorities in Asian societies. After the forum, a Thai journalist asked me to shared my experience in Thailand as an African priest. It was published in their newspaper and the editor decided not to publish my name to avoid reprisals from Thai authorities.
Thailand is my second experience with an Asian country. Before coming here, I spent six years in the Philippines. I arrived in Thailand in February 2012 and just after few days, I discovered that it was not easy to be a black person in “the Land of Smiles”.
In fact, when my confrere — an Italian — and I went to meet a Thai priest who was in charge to introduce to us our jobs in Thailand, I remember that he greeted my Italian confrere with a welcoming smile and then looked at me and said, ‘I don’t like black people, they are bad people.’
I was very shocked and I phoned my parents who are my faithful fans to get some words of encouragement. Before that I could not have imagined that a man of God could go so low. Maybe I was very naive.
‘Many Times I Was Tempted to Give Up’
Another humiliating experience happened when I was studying the Thai language. Many young Thai people were willing to help my European colleagues do their assignments and improve their knowledge. But no one accepted to help me even while I asked for their help. Many chose to keep making fun of my pronunciation instead.
I also realized that during the meetings of priests and nuns, there seems to be the assumption that I am an ignorant; my Europeans peers were welcomed to give their opinions and I have to struggle to make my voice be heard.
When I was assigned as the priest in charge of a parish, I remembered that at the beginning, some people have difficulty accepting me as their pastor. Some even said that I will not stay there more than 6 months (thanks be to God, at the end I spent 6 years there before moving to Khlong Toei where I am working now).
I could see that other people were reluctant to introduce me to their friends as their parish priest, or to invite me to their house; they preferred to be seen with European priests.
It was not easy. I have to swallow my pride, and accept to be made fun of by some people who kept asking some strange questions, or making offensive remarks. Like may I touch your hair (as if I am a pet), do you have water in your country, do people wear clothes in your country, and so on…
Many times I was tempted to give up, but I kept praying, asking Jesus to help me to be perseverant, to love Thai people and to be faithful to the mission He has entrusted to me. My faith tells me that He is the One who wanted me to be in Thailand and to love Thai people.
Treated like a Criminal
Thai security officers also appear to be suspicious of me. I used to work in a parish located in Mae Sot in the far north. At a checkpoint on the way there, the police asked for my passport, but did not ask anything from my European friends.
It hurts me a lot when I remember that I brought my little contribution to the development of the villages by paying the tuition fees of some students, building a Church, building houses for some elderly people, and buying wheelchairs for people with disabilities.
Another experience I don’t look forward to is when I have to apply for the extension of my visa. have the same type of visa as other Europeans priests in our mission, but every time at the immigration office, they keep asking for many documents to justify my presence in Thailand.
I felt humiliated to be treated as a criminal, as you know, people from African are requested to go first to the section for criminal verification before renewing their visa.
As part of the criminal record vetting process, I must present my fingerprints and extra documents from the owner of my residence. The requirement doesn’t extend to the European priests, even though all of us live under the same roof.
But, please don’t get me wrong, I am not judging the Thai people – I am just sharing with you some experiences I have been through as an African person in Thailand.
Beautiful Memories
I always tell myself that not all Thai people are racist. I believe that there are many Thai people, even among priests and nuns, who are welcoming and kind. In fact, with time I came to meet very nice Thai people, and there are many who not only accepted me as a fellow human being, but also welcomed me as a friend. They felt at home with me. In the parish I work for, many Thais also overcame their prejudices about me and treated me as an equal person.
Before I flew home for holidays 2 years ago, many people in the villages gave me presents for my parents such as bags, traditional Thai dress, Thai sweets etc. When I returned, they were happy to see me back and they asked for news about my family. These gestures meant a lot to me, they showed me that they see me as their brother, and they love me.
I also remember with joy when Thai people helped me raise funds and collect gifts for Christmas in the villages. Some families also brought me to their house and shared Christmas meals with me, giving me an opportunity to know each other and build a better friendship. In those moments, I see the goodness and generosity of Thai people.
Thailand, The Land of Smiles … even for me and for us
Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles”, and indeed it is! Here, life is celebrated and All lives matter: hospitality and harmony are important values in the Thai society. In fact, many of our Thai friends admire and are attracted by our Xaverian community (seven confreres from four continents living together despite their differences). For this reason, I can say that there is no a systemic racism in Thailand but rather some Thai behave badly out of ignorance and prejudice.
By assigning African missionaries in Asia and precisely in Thailand, the Church through missionary Congregations such as the Xaverian Missionaries help fight against the stereotypes and prejudices again Black people and all people. Also, the fact that our communities are made of people who, though of different races, welcome and support each other, are a testimony that universal brotherhood is possible, and that there are not outsiders in God’s family. One of our Thai catechist who lives with us likes very much these beautiful words of Saint Conforti “make of the world a single family in Christ” and this shows that he is convinced of our unity in Christ. He believes in our dream and he believes that all of us, Xaverian missionaries in Thailand, by trying every day to live the Gospel of forgiveness, compassion, solidarity with the unloved, communion, care for the others, we bring our little contribution as people of faith to the formation of a world where all are treated equally and with dignity regardless of their origin, race or economic situation.
Martin Luther King Jr once said “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”. Another name for mission in Asia and precisely in Thailand is Dialogue, and following the advice of Martin L. King Jr and as a missionary, I should not allow bitterness, resentment to win over me, rather I should continue to be a man of dialogue, a builder of bridge; in other words, guided by faith, I have to keep bringing the light and the love of Christ to all and to the darkest places of our world. My vocation in a sense obliges me to facilitate the encounters between people, cultures, and to eliminate prejudices and discrimination in all his forms in the society.
A very famous quote from Desmond Tutu says: “You and I are created for transcendence, laughter, caring. God deliberately did not make the world perfect, for God is looking for you and me to be fellow workers with God”. Let us do our little bit of good wherever we are so that this world will be a better place for all God’s beloved children.
Thierry Kamga Kengne, sx
P.S. An edited version of this article has been published in: https://khaosodenglish.com/
