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Of White Privilege and
Racial Tolerance
Local author Neil Humphreys talks about racial bias in Singapore in response to recent racial riots in America.
By Joey Ong
Neil Humphreys is a passionate writer, famous for his witty humor on Singaporean culture. Photo: Neil Humpreys
The death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged because of America’s systemic racial inequality has since triggered a global discussion on racial privilege and racism, including here in Singapore where author Mr Neil Humphreys resides.
The 45 year old Singapore resident and sports columnist says, “I am particularly encouraged that Black Lives Matter has triggered debate worldwide about racial privilege - and what it means to be part of both a majority and a minority...Black Lives Matter has contributed to this discussion, even in Singapore, that’s so important. Actually, it’s priceless.”
Mr Humphreys, born in Dagenham, England, is no stranger to racial inequality in Singapore.
“It’s important, now more than ever, to acknowledge the racial privilege I enjoyed in Singapore,” says Mr Humphreys. “For example, I grew up poor in England, so [I] never felt privileged,” he says. “But when I came to Singapore, I was treated differently, positively, which actually irritated me!”
Mr Humphreys says, “I became an English speech and drama teacher initially, and teachers used to tell me to my face that they only wanted their kids to learn from angmohs!”
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“I often wondered if my skin colour was the reason doors opened,” says Mr Humphreys.
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Mr Humphreys experienced being treated better in Singapore compared to his country of birth. On the other hand, his wife Tracy Humphreys says that it was a conscious effort on Mr Humphreys’ part to fit in. “Neil has integrated very well into Singapore. He makes an effort to get to know local culture, to mix with locals in his work and in his own time, and he will always try to speak Mandarin, even if he does so badly.”
Whether his initial success as a writer was due to his skin color is debatable, Mr Humphreys’ quirky writing style has garnered him a strong local fanbase. Shahira Shahromey, a long-time fan of Mr Humphreys’ books, says, “His skill as a writer and his sense of humour has made him become a very successful writer!”
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Mr Humphreys’ perspective of Singapore as an Englishman who has lived both here and in Australia has had him observing and jotting down his thoughts on Singapore. This led to him writing his famous Notes from Singapore series. His final book, Return to a Sexy Island, was the best-selling book in Singapore for two months when it came out.
Despite Mr Humphreys’ efforts to fit in and the popularity of his books, he still experienced racial inequality firsthand. According to him, white privilege is not the only form of racial privilege in Singapore.
“As a non-Chinese person, I am always aware of how dominant Chinese is in Singapore. We have to pretend otherwise, of course, but political leaders have publicly said that Singapore is not ready for a non-Chinese prime minister. That is a racist statement. That is also racial privilege,” says Mr Humphreys.
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According to an article by TODAY, Finance Minister Heng Swee Kiat said the older generation of Singaporeans are not ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister at a forum at Nanyang Technological University.
“All I can do - and same goes for the Chinese in Singapore, to be very frank - is to acknowledge that racial privilege exists. Denial helps no one, as we’re seeing now in the United States.
Despite not being his birth country, the author has a strong love for Singapore. In 2006, he migrated to Australia from Singapore, only to move back to Singapore five years later.
“I missed Singapore. It was ‘home’. I liked Australia. It’s a truly beautiful country,” he confessed.
“But when I land at Changi Airport, I just feel ‘home’. It’s as simple and profound as that.”
In Mr Humphreys’ final Notes from Singapore book, Return to a Sexy Island, he says, “No country is perfect, and I’ve lived in a few, but Singapore does a [really] decent impression. So allow me to momentarily lift my arm sling, rip my heart from my chest and unashamedly say that I love this country. Australia is known affectionately as the ‘lucky country’, but there is nothing lucky about Singapore, nothing at all. Its success derives wholly from human endeavour, resourcefulness, productivity and knowledge.”
Despite Singapore’s racial bias, Mr Humphreys believes Singapore is still a paragon of racial tolerance.
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“I’m not sure if racial harmony is possible, anywhere in the world. Our natural state is to be tribal, to group in our tribes and protect ourselves against other tribes,” says Mr Humphreys.“So I think racial tolerance is the best that any modern society can hope for. In this regard, Singapore is a true trailblazer, a country to be proud of.”
13 July 2020
About the Author
Joey Ong
Joey is an easy-going person with a penchant for goofy humour. He’s always ready to help out a friend, and never hesitates to compliment someone when he sees the opportunity to.
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