SINGAPORE: A French-Congolese content creator who has been living and working in Singapore for more than four years said in a video from earlier this week that, in her experience, being a Black woman is easier in many ways in the city-state than elsewhere.
“I think the best way to describe it is that I get to experience life a little more softly here,” the content creator @by_madiness said in a video she posted on Oct 13.
She added that having grown up in France, she had frequently felt that she needed to prove herself more in some situations because of being Black.
“Whether at school or later in my career, I sometimes felt like I had to work harder to prove that I belonged in certain rooms just because of my skin colour,” she said.
However, since she moved to Singapore, she hasn’t felt the same pressure, though she clarified that she works hard at her job in the city-state, something she has said in her other videos as well.
“This is Singapore, we all work hard here!” the content creator added. However, the difference is that she no longer feels like she needs to work harder or question if her hairstyle is professional enough. Furthermore, when she goes somewhere that’s perhaps a little more high-end, she doesn’t feel the need to dress up a little it more “just to be treated like everybody else.”
She clarified, however, that she isn’t saying there is no racism in Singapore. Unfortunately, it’s alive and kicking in most, if not all, places.
“This is just my experience. But living here has made me realise that I don’t want to spend my life proving how much I can endure anymore,” she added at the end of her clip.
Many commenters on her post affirmed her experiences, and a number of local TikTok users underlined that she’s welcome in the city-state.
A netizen told her that Singapore is all about efficiency, and joked, “We don’t care who you are, where you are from, and what you do… as long as you do it well and fast.”
A commenter who worked in Singapore more than two decades ago added, “To say I loved it would be an i understatement. I am Latina and felt so welcomed. It’s a melting pot of backgrounds and just so beautiful. I always tell people if you get a chance to go, please go.”
“I worked in Singapore for a bit back in 2003. To say I loved it would be an i understatement. I am Latina and felt so welcomed. It’s a melting pot of backgrounds and just so beautiful. I always tell people, if you get a chance to go, please go.”
A third weighed in to say, “Singapore doesn’t quite care about race as much. More on culture, whether you are considerate and show kindness. Like giving up your seat, don’t speak loudly, don’t litter and jaywalk, queue patiently, etc.”
“You don’t need to work harder; we are all the same,” another wrote. /TISG
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