Abstract: The tension between ethnic group and the nation state, as well as the nation state and the international order, is the core conflict of globalization. From the aspect of visual identification, the article reviews the "Seventeen years" minority film (1949-1966) when China was not involved in globalization in a modern sense. Through a comparison with the U. S. affirmative action which has been commonly adopted by ethnic studies, this article creates a new explanation frame, arguing that such policies in the 1950 s as nationality identification, ethnic equality and ethnic autonomy were a part of the Socialist affirmative action. Based on analysis of some representative films, this article discusses how the logic of "people's sovereignty" shaped the idea of "people", and as the "universal identity", how "people" overcame the specific ethnic identity, which also responds to the "Han centrism" criticism towards this kind of movies. The article attempts to point out that "people's sovereignty" also constructs a "common humanity", and the "seventeen years" minority film reminds us of not sticking to the "particular" to understand the minority movie. "The Chinese nation community" depends on universal equality and participation, and the film is always a part of this historical movement.

Key words: affirmative action, nationality, "Seventeen years", minority films