In 2021 Kristian-Marc James Paul and Mysara Aljaru got together on stage to present a performative lecture titled Brown is Haram: Reconstructing The Brown Narrative. Alfian Sa’at, a playwright known for Szkice malajskie published by Tajfuny, was also a part of this project. The show had a dialogue form, or rather – a form of consecutive monologues – of the two artists who share an experience of the “brown” ethnic minority in Singapore. The Arab Malaysian woman and Indian Malay man find a creative way to tell their life stories.
Brown Is Redacted. Reflecting on Race in Singapore is an extension of what happened on that stage. The anthology is opened by the script of the performative lecture Brown is Haram and the creators’ commentary. Just like in Raffles Renounced: Towards a Merdeka History that includes the play Merdeka (2019) written by Alfian Sa’at and Neo Hai Bin, the theatrical performance was turned into a book to extend its longevity and reach new audiences. And it is so worth it.
Further into Brown Is Redacted, you will find a wide range of texts describing what it feels like to be a brown person in Singapore. Short stories, memoirs, essays, poems and even recipes show the everyday life of those whose skin tone differs from the majority. In a country where the population is described according to the CMIO (Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others) racial classification, the mere fact that somebody has a darker skin already shapes their experience. It’s not a book exclusively about racism, though the title suggests it (haram means “forbidden”). As Alfian said – to create a safe space for ethnic minorities, it’s important to share all kinds of experiences, both positive and traumatic. That’s why there are also happy stories celebrating one’s ethnicity. By using the form of a creative non-fiction book and collecting texts from Malaysian, Indian, Arabic (and more!) Singaporeans, the brown experience is shown in a honest and diverse way.
