The children's book 'My Birthday City,' designed for Amsterdam's 750th anniversary, has faced backlash from the local Chinese community for a section deemed discriminatory. This segment of the book features a game akin to Snakes and Ladders, instructing players to avoid 'blocking' Chinese tourists, which many argue reinforces harmful stereotypes. Community activists, like Hui-Hui Pan, voiced concerns over the book's racist implications, prompting protests by around 100 individuals calling for unity against anti-Asian racism and highlighting the book's negative portrayal of Chinese residents.
"What seems like a joke to most people is a slap in the face to me and to many other Asian Amsterdammers. This is not an innocent phrase."
"We want to use this method to unite everyone and make our voices louder," Wei told DW.
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