SINGAPORE – Does Singapore have institutionalised racism? Yes it does, albeit subtly, says an undergraduate foreign student studying at Yale-NUS College.

Iwani Zoë, a student from Zimbabwe, blogged about her observations of Singapore in an April 10 entry, noting that while there is a “social stratification of race that is perpetuated by the system”, it is not necessarily “oppressive or harmful”.

In her 1,639-word blog post, Iwani said that while black people are not disadvantaged by the system, there is prejudice towards black people in Singapore.

“Living in Singapore has been very difficult, and more so because when prejudice is not outright and overt, it is ignored and never addressed,” Iwani wrote.

“Your feelings are invalidated by even the most well-meaning people.”

She cited examples of prejudice such as:

– When little children stare at you in fear, whilst their parents pretend like they don’t notice, and say nothing.

– When people marvel at how clean and pretty your hair is, because their expectation is for it to be dirty and ugly.

– When the only attention or recognition you get from a person of the opposite sex is when you serve to fulfil a fetish, otherwise you are undateable and unwanted.

– When one too many Chinese uncles change their cab sign and drives off the moment they see you signalling.

– When old men think it’s appropriate to ask if you’re a ‘negro like Michelle Obama.’

– When you realise that the grumpy and rude auntie serving you is perfectly pleasant to everyone else before and after you.

– When complete strangers see you as a novelty, and poke you and prod you and pull your hair on the MRT without ever asking.

– When ‘You’re not that type of black ah. You’re the good kind of black,’ is meant as a compliment.

– When you get turned down from countless agencies in a supposedly cosmopolitan city because they ‘cannot market your image,’ i.e. they may use white or even mixed race girls, but they will not use a darker-skinned black girl to sell their product.

Iwani admitted that she nearly left Singapore because of these experiences.

“I nearly broke down and transferred school,” she wrote.

Comparatively, Singapore fares well, especially when persecution of black people is common in other countries, Iwani noted.

Her experience in Singapore has made her a stronger person, and she has learnt to have a ‘thicker skin’.

“I really do enjoy living in Singapore, and being pushed to the edge and having to confront my ‘blackness’ has made me learn to love my skin even more,” Iwani concluded.

“I think I really needed this, and I think I’m here to stay.”

grongloh@sph.com.sg

Caught on camera: Old man hurls racist rant on train and assaults passenger

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