The head of a tuition center in Singapore reportedly chased out a Singaporean Chinese parent and a student after the woman complained that she did not want her child to be taught by an Indian tutor. The story, shared on social media recently, has gone viral, with many young Singaporeans responding to the incident.
The episode was shared by Twitter user @abnorxmal or Sinsemilla, an Indian woman whose sister works at the tuition center as a tutor. The Singaporean Chinese mother was referring to another Indian who taught at the center.
The other tutor is a “well-qualified Indian lady who taught her child science and math,” the post said. The child reportedly took out his/her body spray and sprayed it in the classroom complaining that it was “smelly because of the Indian.”
The tweet added: “My sister is good friends with this fellow Indian tutor and this may sound stupid but she can legitimately assure me that she does not have B.O or anything that would justify this reaction,” the Twitter user said. The parent of the child went to the head of the tuition center, who is Chinese, to complain about the tutor. However, the head of the institution instead chased out the woman and her child with a broom and told them to never return.
We need more allies to combat the systemic racism left behind by the older, backward-thinking Singaporeans before it gets perpetuated down the generations, the Twitter user said.
The head of the tuition centre then proceeded to chase this racist Chinese mum and her kid out of the centre with a broom and telling them he never wants to see them step in his tuition centre ever again AHAHGSJAJAHAHAJA
— sinsemilla (@abnorxmal) February 23, 2018
Others responded to her tweets sharing their experiences with racism in Singapore.
“I’m glad the tuition center head spoke up!! this happens too often it’s become a norm. Especially omg if you’re indian why u so fair shouldn’t all indians be dark like black black that kind if you know what I’m talking abt. Microaggressions and comments as such need to stop,” another Twitter user said.
I used to be friends with someone who refused to room with an Indian because ‘they smell’. I don’t know why I didn’t cut off my relationship with him before that. He did a lot of unacceptable shit. I’m disgusted by myself for befriending him. https://t.co/PREjFn5CBA
— kyde. exolympics 🐏 (@abbykch) February 25, 2018
The story shared on Twitter opened up a conversation about racism faced by Indians in the city state, where 7.4 per cent of the population is ethnic Indian.
Racism exists in Singapore , yes. But it’s most definitely not systematic racism 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ https://t.co/fxV2jIJdi7
— ray luo (@rayluohaha) February 24, 2018
I’ve had this conversation with you before mate. You’re not from an oppressed race group in Singapore so you don’t get to decide how the rest of us feel. https://t.co/7ihMZet82D
— sinsemilla (@abnorxmal) February 24, 2018