On May 25, George Floyd, a Black man in the US, died after he was pinned to the ground by a white police officer with his knee. His last words were, "I can't breathe".
The video of Floyd's death went viral and sparked outrage. People in the US as well as many others around the world have taken to the streets to protest against racism and police brutality.
The unrest might feel far away for those of us in Singapore. But racism is not a unique problem that is only happening in the US. It is a global structure that Singapore isn't free from. Just take the recent Covid-19 outbreak amongst our migrant workers for example. What long-simmering societal prejudices were brought to our attention?
Given our relative distance from American society, the Black Lives Matter movement can be hard for us to talk about. But does living in a different political and social context exempt us from doing our part in eradicating racism? At a time like this, we are faced with clear moral indictment. What can we do and how can we position ourselves in this situation?
Stop using racial slurs
How many of us have heard non-Black peers address themselves/friends with the N-word? Or are you a culprit too when you rap along casually to hip hop songs? You might not know the history behind the N-word or understand its full depth. But it's 2020 and we have the world at our fingertips. Our exposure to international media gives us no excuse. It should be clear by now that the word is derogatory, hurtful and offensive. No one – other than someone who is Black – should use the N-word. Why? This video by Ritu Bhasin spells it out for you.
Get educated
We all have an obligation to be anti-racist, but it can feel intimidating to know where to start, and how to educate ourselves so that we can be a better ally. There’s no guidebook for solving racism in 2020, but there are many resources out there that will help us understand the history behind the current movement, as well the roles we can assume moving forward. This collection of resources is a great place to help you get started.
Correct your family and friends
Be mindful of microaggression in the conversations that take place around you (learn more about racial microaggressions in this comic here!) And don't be afraid to call out bad behaviours. Tell your friends why it's not right to use the N-word. Tell your bosses why it's racist to only hire Chinese people. Tell your classmates why it's not right to joke about Sikhs wearing turbans.
Use your platform
Staying silent in times of injustice is privilege. Many Singaporeans are silent and apathetic, seemingly oblivious to the civil unrest, posting their selfies, daily routines and online purchases without seeing that their silence is equivalent to siding with the oppressor. Ignorance makes it worse, and it makes you part of the problem. Don't just stand by comfortably! Learn something. Read something. Repost something. Share something. You might encourage someone else to speak up just because you did!
Sign petitions and make donations
Apart from education and engaging in discussion, contribute to causes associated with the Black Lives Matter movement if you can, because donations are a clear, tangible way to make a difference. CAPE has rounded up some resources for further reading, and also organisations you can donate to and fund in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.