| Both negative and positive images of the Chinese were presented regularly in four of the leading American Protestant missionary periodicals from the early twentieth century, with negative images predominating. This contrasted with the images of the Chinese presented in the popular culture, which were almost always vulgar and mean-spirited. The difference can be attributed to the essential purpose of the periodicals, raising funds for the greatly expanding missionary enterprise.; Negative images helped missionary and board officials paint a picture of the Chinese as being in need of salvation, while positive images suggested they were worthy of being saved. Potential donors must be convinced that the Chinese needed Christ desperately, but were not such a lost cause that their money would be wasted. U.S. Protestant missionary officials attempted to strike that intricate balance through articles and other items that appeared in these missionary periodicals. |
