Singaporean rapper Subhas Nair recently found himself in a confronting situation at Bugis Junction when a woman made a racist remark towards him. Rather than receiving an apology from the woman herself, Nair was grateful to receive one from her son. The incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media, sheds light on the prevalence of racial discrimination that individuals in Singapore continue to face.
Upon entering a store in Bugis Junction, Nair overheard the woman referring to him as a “ghost” in Mandarin. Despite initially thinking she was addressing the sales staff, Nair quickly realized she was talking about him when she repeated the phrase. The woman’s evasiveness when confronted about her racist remark was evident as she tried to walk away and avoid engaging with Nair.
In an attempt to hold her accountable for her actions, Nair recorded the incident and pointed out the racist nature of her words. Despite his efforts to elicit a response from her, the woman remained unapologetic and dismissive. However, her son stepped in and apologized on her behalf, acknowledging the wrongfulness of the situation. He expressed remorse, stating, “I’m sorry that happened to you. It’s actually not right.”
The son further revealed his struggles with racial biases, emphasizing that it was a “mentality” that “cannot change.” Despite his young age of 20, he acknowledged the severity of the issue and appreciated Nair for speaking up against his mother’s discriminatory behavior. This was seen as a significant moment for him, as he admitted, “This is the first time that someone has actually spoken up to her.”
Reflecting on the incident, Nair shared how encounters with racial discrimination were not new to him as an Indian individual in Singapore. He referenced a previous incident involving actor and DJ Dennis Chew portraying characters in an advertisement using “brownface.” Nair opted not to involve the police in this instance, believing that such issues could be resolved within the community.
Acknowledging the silver lining in the situation, Nair expressed gratitude towards the son for taking responsibility and demonstrating the courage to address his mother’s actions. While such incidents continue to occur, Nair remains hopeful that raising awareness and having conversations at a community level can lead to positive change in addressing racism in society.
