Racism is a very serious accusation

Local playwright Alfian Sa’at has expressed revulsion at a photo of Raffles Institution (RI) donning blackface and mocking their schoolmate for his complexion. Mr Alfian, who is perhaps most well-known for his plays ‘Cooling Off Day’ and ‘Cook a Pot of Curry’, is an RI alumnus himself.

The group blackface photo, which was taken in 2016, shows a student who is believed to be of Sri Lankan descent squatting in front of a paper bag that bears his name and the words “whitening kit”. About 10 schoolmates wearing black facial masks can be seen surrounding him, holding various items like a bottle of Nivea whitening lotion, deodorant, fake cash and a photo shopped poster of the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Above was posted in www.theindependent.sg.

George Floyd and many black Americans and coloured people were victims of extreme racism in the USA and some European countries, including UK, France and Australia. Racism in these countries are very real and can cost lives or being beaten up, not just for fun. They don't poke fun at the colour of a person's skin, but will beat up the person or abuse and kill him/her.

In Singapore we often heard of racism being used when things like the above photo is shown.  A fancy dress nite at a Dinner and Dance when participants put up brown faces was also attacked as racism.  A promotional ad when a person of a different race dressed up as different races was also deemed as racism. I can understand the sensitivity of people who perceived that their colour has become the brunt of a joke. But in many of these cases in Singapore, racism was the furthest in the thoughts of the people involved, like the photo above. Many of the Chinese Singaporeans are oblivious of race. To them they have no race except a nationality, Singaporean. They have accepted the four official racial groups as part and parcel of life here and never think anything more than to it.

Look at the above photo again. These are young innocent youths were just having a little fun among themselves. Racism was the furthest thing in their minds. There was no intent to hurt, to belittle their friend or to be racist. To flag this up as racism is going a bit too far. It is mischief. Do not be consumed by fakery and false accusation. Racism is hate, intentional hate. There must be the element of intent to be labelled as racism. Grow up.

Many of the young Chinese here do not identify themselves as Chinese. They have no race in their vocabulary or in their lives.  They only see themselves as Singaporeans. How can such people with no race be racist? Please do not demonise these youths as racists. Using whitening cream is not racist. Women of all colours use them. Many Chinese women use them to be fairer in the name of vanity.

While we should be sensitive to the feelings of the minorities, the minorities must also be sensitive to the majority and should not abuse the race label to smear or attack the majority when there was no intent to be racist or to cause hurt. Does anyone hear the statement, 'Black is beautiful'? Would the blacks be offended by this term? They coined it themselves.

Every colour is beautiful in its own way. Every colour is ugly when the intent is mischievous. Yellow has also been used as a racist term against the Chinese. But the Chinese would not react every time the word yellow is used. Everyone should be proud of his own ethnic and racial identity and colour. One should only be offended when there is intent to offend by referring to one's ethnicity, culture, religion or colour in acrimonious ways.

It is equally dangerous to live in a society where there is intolerance and people screaming racism at the slightest reference to race and colour. Often the people screaming racism are the real racists themselves and playing victims to attract attention. If the slightest reference to colour is offensive, then no one should be allowed to mention black, brown, yellow, white or use such colours to represent anything in life as they are offensive to sensitive people.

Be sensitive yes, but it is equally important to note the intent. Colour is about everything in life. Colour makes life interesting and provides varieties for expression. Colour itself is never meant to be offensive. It is only offensive when a mischievous person is using it with the intent to hurt. Stop being ultra sensitive when it is unnecessary and unintentional. Face racism when it is real and speak up against it. Do not misuse or abuse the term racism as a weapon to stir shit.

PS. If one does not understand the meaning of racism, look at the USA, Australia, look at Malaysia and Indonesia, where one can be beaten up or killed because of the colour of his skin, where racism is institutionalised, sanctioned by law in govt policies. Do not go and pick on the young having a little fun among themselves and called that racism. It is irresponsible and dangerous.