How are African Americans treated?

[jadoreviie]

.........

[adino]

I think you should stab or poke those people's eyes with spear for staring too much. there are ignorant fools who are shallow abt colored people . anyway my take is to ignore those ignorant people who live inside their shells.

[frenzal]

I think you should stab or poke those people's eyes with spear for staring too much. there are ignorant fools who are shallow abt colored people . anyway my take is to ignore those ignorant people who live inside their shells.

Or those people are simply curious. If you are used to seeing the status quo, and then something comes along that challenges it, wouldn't you take notice? They don't stare to be rude, they stare because they are interested. If you go to India as a white person, or even many areas of China, people will stare as they have never seen a white person.

[loathed]

totally agree with frenzal. dont get too worked up if you get a few occasional stares, some people are just curious. i would definitely expect myself to attract a few stares if i move to say...india or someplace else. staring doesnt necessarily mean one is racist.

anyway, just to add on...no, i dont think african americans or black people for that matter will find it hard over here. there are a handful of racist idiots here just like everywhere in the world, but youre better off ignoring them really.

dont worry too much!

[georginaleah]

hello, i chanced upon this forum with some people saying that they have contacts for hair-braiding. could you guys pm me the contacts for these hair-dressers? i have been looking for an affordable one for ages but to no avail and you would be helping me so much. hope to hear from someone soon!

[pakjohn]

Racism may not be best described by white people... imho.

Discrimination is pretty common here but not always for racial reasons. Economic, education level and cultural differences will also isolate you from the majority. The discrimination is not especially intolerable and often subtle but it's there. To say there is no racism here is probably naive, if dark skin is a non-issue then why does 90 percent of the beauty products include "whitening" agents?

Do like the rest of us; make as many friends in the expat community as you can and you may also find a few locals to hang out with. (They may feel the need to determine your status by asking how much you make and what school you went to though.) It's not likely you'll ever be completely accepted by the locals, but that's often the case in many countries.

I rarely see African Americans here, moving here from Atlanta was a big adjustment. However, the few I know haven't complained any more than my other expat contacts, their kids like their school and as far as I can tell, they're happy.

As for the U.S. haters... it's normally liberal Europeans whining more than the Asian crowd. Always entertaining to hear people crow about how they "would" have done things. I suppose opinions really are like A-holes, everybody has one. (Not that I disagree with some of what they're saying, just that they're habitually down on the U.S., as if in 230 years there has been nothing good from the Americans?) I'm not sure their parents or grandparents would agree.

Many people are down on the U.S. right now due to the credit crisis, when and if the markets come back they'll likely be right back on the internet trying to get a tug on the cash cow.

Welcome to Singapore! If you have any sense of adventure you'll like it here. And, if you're coming from the South, please bring me some cheese grits??

[nwiggs]

Well to answer your question about finding someone to relax your hair.... Unfortunately, you will have to do it yourself. Before I left the US, I bought a tub of relaxer and neutralizing shampoo. I also brought back some relaxer kits. I have gone to a few salons here just to have my hair washed, blowdryed, and flat ironed and it worked out fine. I have very thick hair, but not super coarse. I am not sure what your hair type is. Also, it is very hot and humid here, so most of the time I wear my hair in pony tails. They do have the Japanese straightening perm here, but just as in the US, most find that it is too harsh and drys out the hair cuticle.

As far as how African Americans are treated here is concerned....I definitely get a lot of stares. Sometimes, well most of the time it makes me uncomfortable. On the days where I am just not in the mood to be stared at, I actually tell them that staring is rude and they should know better as we are not in the mountains of China. I know that's terrible, but its really annoying some times.

There are not many black people here at all. I see Africans every now and again. Sometimes I feel like the only black woman in Singapore. Sometimes it can get quite lonely. So, it is good that you are moving here with your family. I've made many friends with other expats, but they are all white and sometimes cannot relate or understand what I go through being an African American.

Anyway, it is a great experience. Some days I hate it, and other days I love it. Today I hate it, but tomorrow may be better ...Good luck!

[frenzal]

As far as how African Americans are treated here is concerned....I definitely get a lot of stares. Sometimes, well most of the time it makes me uncomfortable. On the days where I am just not in the mood to be stared at, I actually tell them that staring is rude and they should know better as we are not in the mountains of China. I know that's terrible, but its really annoying some times.

hahahhaha thus reinforcing the loudmouthed american stereotype.

I'd like to socialise with some black people from all around the world, though. there's not too many in Australia, and none in my immediate social circle.

[sundaymorningstaple]

As far as how African Americans are treated here is concerned....I definitely get a lot of stares. Sometimes, well most of the time it makes me uncomfortable. On the days where I am just not in the mood to be stared at, I actually tell them that staring is rude and they should know better as we are not in the mountains of China. I know that's terrible, but its really annoying some times.

hahahhaha thus reinforcing the loudmouthed american stereotype.

I'd like to socialise with some black people from all around the world, though. there's not too many in Australia, and none in my immediate social circle.

hahahaha thus reinforcing the belligerent aussie stereotype.

[pakjohn]

hahahaha thus reinforcing the belligerent aussie stereotype.

LOL SMS!

[carolynW]

I read an article some time ago about the discrimination felt by whites and blacks living in Japan, it basically said that white people who are not used to being discriminated against in their own countries felt alot more discriminated against as they had no or little experience of being discriminated. The black people who lived in Japan, who have previously experienced discrimination in their own country had an easier time dealing with the discrimination.

[sundaymorningstaple]

carolynW, very astute observation that I'll agree with. This may even apply here in Singapore as well although on a much more minor scale. It's just like stereotyping of people from various countries based on the expats we meet in our travels. The stereotypes generally only hold true for expats and not for the general peoples who are still in their countries. Expats are not good ambassadors for their countries as expats are not generally equipped with the ability to not put up a facade for protection against our own insecurities while in an unfamiliar element. Yes, the majority race rarely feels discrimination and when they do, it like a cold tight slap in the face.

[Fi]

Hello,
I am female/black and I moved to Singapore about 3 months ago. I DO get a lot of stares from the Aussies, the Chinese, and particularly and ironically from the Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan/Indian community. It's great! I love the fact that people are curious. I feel that I am some kind of education. Look at me! I am black! And I am real, not a character on TV! And I am in Asia! It makes me feel less lonely also. I don't perceive any negativity from these stares, only curiousity. Sometimes, the stares can be lecherous though. I have caught people taking pictures of me with their camera phones on the MRT. Once, I was having dinner with a Chinese friend and some other Singaporean diner randomly dug his camera from his bag and took a blatant picture of me while I was in the middle of stuffing myself with chicken rice. Crazy, hilarious and unbelievable! It definitely makes life more interesting in Singapore.

As for the hair thing, I have an afro and press it sometimes at Tony and Guy. Sometimes for a change I go to gumtree.com for ads on hair braiding. There are a few.

It was nice reading all your messages. As you can see I have time on my hands. If anyone is up for tennis, swimming or anything fun, let me know.

[asandjunk]

As with anything that is new people are curious but try being a extremely tall/black/American/woman. Where most people in Singapore only come to your shoulders. But people always stare even in the US.


FI and Nwiggs - Can you provide suggestions on places (i.e. address) of places to go for hair issues?

[Fi]

I think you should try Esther - 64921072. She always posts on the gumtree. I usually flat-iron at Nono in the Soho@Central mall at Clark Quay. They do a good job.