RI principal on 'brownface' photo: Racism of any kind not tolerated, including microaggressions
Raffles Institution (RI) does not tolerate racism of any kind, including microaggressions, said school principal Aaron Loh in a reply to The Straits Times forum on Aug 2.
This comes after a photo of an RI student wearing a mask of black US basketball player LeBron James started circulating online on July 24 when it was first posted by a TikToker named Bluebird Confessions.
The next day, Mr Loh told The Straits Times that the school had taken disciplinary action and counselled the students involved, to remind them of "the importance of being sensitive to the feelings of others, and to be mindful of their actions".
He added that the school had told students they could dress in traditional ethnic attire for its commemoration of Racial Harmony Day, observed here annually on July 21.
"The student who was dressed inappropriately had taken the photo as part of current trends around social media memes involving a basketballer," explained the principal.
"He had no intention to make fun of any group or community."
On July 31, The Straits Times published online a forum letter from ST reader Liew Kai Khiun under the headline "Racist microaggression like blackface no laughing matter."
Mr Liew wrote: "As a father of a girl who has been subjected to racist taunting even in pre-school for having darker skin, I find the official response from RI to the brownface image displayed by one of their students to be disappointingly lukewarm.
"Rather than straight-out disapproving of such behaviour as antisocial and stating the appropriate punishment meted out to the offending students, the principal stated that the students were disciplined and reminded to be sensitive to the feelings of others. Thus, I am unsure that RI and its students appreciated the gravity of the matter.
"What has once been seen as 'harmless fun' by especially the ethnic majority in performatively painting their faces in comically parodying usually ethnic minorities is increasingly regarded in Singapore as offensively racist stereotyping."
Mr Liew wondered if students and schools are aware of the offensiveness of this practice and added: "Therefore, I remain unconvinced by the claims of RI that the offending student, who had carefully prepared this pose with a food deliveryman's shirt and mask supposedly of a basketballer, specifically on Racial Harmony Day, meant no ill intent."
The RI principal's reply was published online by The Straits Times on Aug 2.
Mr Loh, became principal of RI at the beginning of the 2024 school year, wrote that he had addressed all the students earlier to set out clearly the school's position on the matters.
He said: "First, casual racism has no place in our school community and society in general. I made clear to all my students that the school does not tolerate racism of any kind, including microaggressions, and that they should alert us if they are ever subjected to casual racism by their peers. We will investigate and take action if the reports are substantiated.
"Second, there is no dispute that the students' moment of thoughtlessness has caused hurt, even if they did not intend it. The boys ought to have been more sensitive and considerate of others in their actions, which extends to what they publish online. They have been spoken to and disciplined.
"Third, our students should always exercise restraint. As the photo of the two RI boys circulated online, there were many negative comments made about RI and its students. I have urged my students to always maintain civility and decorum when engaging with others, whether online or otherwise."
In 2016, a group of RI students posed in blackface for a photo that went viral on 2020. The former student who posted it on Instagram subsequently apologised and the school addressed the incident on Facebook.
RI posted: "The post was about a private birthday celebration organised by a group of friends for their classmate back in 2016. However, the use of black paint and black face masks was clearly inappropriate and insensitive. We do not condone such cultural insensitivities and regret that their actions have caused distress and hurt to the community. Their teachers would have intervened and counselled them if they had known about their birthday celebration plans."
The post said the students have also contacted the school to apologise.
"We are heartened by our former students' courage and determination in stepping forward to apologise, and to take responsibility for their actions," added RI.
Then Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung also posted on Facebook about the incident, saying: "Such acts of racial insensitivity or micro-aggression against a person of another race, exist in every society, including Singapore. They existed in 2016, and exist today."
Mr Ong wrote that in 2020. And apparently, it still applies in 2024.
