Colorism: Discrimination based on skin color, in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to their skin color.
I created this blog to discuss issues in Singapore - specifically, race issues that local Singaporeans choose to ignore. Although I was born in Singapore, I haven't lived there in almost 10 years, making me an outsider. Every time I return "home", I see many patterns that people who have lived there and been ingrained in the culture might not be able to see. The Twitter argument I was involved in (as explained in an earlier blog post) exemplifies the ways in which dark skin has become globally accepted as "bad" and how colorism has come to define the social hierarchy. Singapore is composed of three major racial groups: the Malays (who were the indigenous people of the Southeast Asian region), the Chinese, and the Indians. These racial groups are further divided into the religious groups of Christianity (which is seen as the most "civilized" religion for the upper classes because of the Western elements), Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Of course, people of Caucasian descent reside at the top of the social hierarchy because of Singapore's colonial history with the British empire.
Similarly to how America's social hierarchy is defined by skin color (white at the top, black on the bottom), Singapore's social hierarchy positions the Singaporean Chinese (who mostly have relatively lighter skin tones - not to be confused with the newly arrived Chinese immigrants who are looked down upon) at the top and the Indians (including both the newly immigrated and those who have resided in Singapore for a long time) at the bottom. Much of the argument is based on the premises that dirt is black, and thus black or brown skin is dirty and deemed unworthy.
Singapore prides itself on being "racially harmonious" after the People's Action Party (PAP: Singapore's ruling political party since independence) saved the country from racism and bigotry after the bloody 1964 race riots in Singapore. On Racial Harmony Day (which frankly, in my experience, is bullshit), which was meant to honor peace, harmony and the 1964 race riots, students are encouraged to dress up in traditional costumes such as the Cheongsam (Chinese), the Baju Kurung (Malay) and the Punjabi Suit or Saris (Indian). The logic employed by the PAP here is that if we force the idea that we're a racially tolerant and harmonious society down everyone's throats, we will be a racially tolerant and harmonious society. Young students are even encouraged to culturally appropriate other races by donning their traditional costumes and to "slip on" new customs and traditions through costumes- hooray for racial equality!!
I created this blog to discuss issues in Singapore - specifically, race issues that local Singaporeans choose to ignore. Although I was born in Singapore, I haven't lived there in almost 10 years, making me an outsider. Every time I return "home", I see many patterns that people who have lived there and been ingrained in the culture might not be able to see. The Twitter argument I was involved in (as explained in an earlier blog post) exemplifies the ways in which dark skin has become globally accepted as "bad" and how colorism has come to define the social hierarchy. Singapore is composed of three major racial groups: the Malays (who were the indigenous people of the Southeast Asian region), the Chinese, and the Indians. These racial groups are further divided into the religious groups of Christianity (which is seen as the most "civilized" religion for the upper classes because of the Western elements), Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Of course, people of Caucasian descent reside at the top of the social hierarchy because of Singapore's colonial history with the British empire.
Chinese make up 75% of Singapore's population - meaning that as the majority, they control the majority of the policies the government passes through having an (overwhelming) majority in voting, tend to have more positions in government, and define everyone else as a "minority".
To emphasize the importance of race, Singaporean passports require that parents state the race of their children. Thus, children are automatically labelled as Chinese, Indian, Malay or Other (leaving no room for those of mixed heritage) from the minute they are born.
Similarly to how America's social hierarchy is defined by skin color (white at the top, black on the bottom), Singapore's social hierarchy positions the Singaporean Chinese (who mostly have relatively lighter skin tones - not to be confused with the newly arrived Chinese immigrants who are looked down upon) at the top and the Indians (including both the newly immigrated and those who have resided in Singapore for a long time) at the bottom. Much of the argument is based on the premises that dirt is black, and thus black or brown skin is dirty and deemed unworthy.
Singapore prides itself on being "racially harmonious" after the People's Action Party (PAP: Singapore's ruling political party since independence) saved the country from racism and bigotry after the bloody 1964 race riots in Singapore. On Racial Harmony Day (which frankly, in my experience, is bullshit), which was meant to honor peace, harmony and the 1964 race riots, students are encouraged to dress up in traditional costumes such as the Cheongsam (Chinese), the Baju Kurung (Malay) and the Punjabi Suit or Saris (Indian). The logic employed by the PAP here is that if we force the idea that we're a racially tolerant and harmonious society down everyone's throats, we will be a racially tolerant and harmonious society. Young students are even encouraged to culturally appropriate other races by donning their traditional costumes and to "slip on" new customs and traditions through costumes- hooray for racial equality!!
Here's me at age 7, actively participating in cultural appropriation (yay!):
Just this summer, I was on the bus with my sister when a group of Indian men and women (who were all friends, and obviously on the way to town for a social event and speaking Tamil) got onto the bus. Immediately, I could feel the air change. I literally saw people stiffen. People (mostly Chinese people) moved so that there was no possible way that they could end up sitting next to one of the Indian men and women who had just hopped onto the bus, and were looking for seats. An old Chinese man went as far as to put his bag and his feet on the seat next to him, just to be extra certain that no Indian person would dare to sit next to him.
The Singapore Pledge, which school children are made to recite every day, begins with the verse: "We the citizens of Singapore pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion...". Bullshit.
I am so ashamed of the country I have grown up calling home.
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