Lingnan University (Hong Kong) Assistant Professor Roberto Castillo is widely regarded to be among the world’s foremost scholars on Africa-China race relations. With his students all stuck at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Professor Castillo decided to try something different than the usual Zoom calls that he uses to engage his students and instead posted a lecture on YouTube for his students that serves as a master class in contemporary issues related to race and racism in Africa-China relations.

In particular, Professor Castillo spends a lot of time reviewing the dramatic events that unfolded in April in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou when dozens, possibly hundreds of black and African residents were evicted from their homes and hotels, sparking a widespread outcry. The incident remains highly contentious within large swathes of African civil society.