Bruneians need to re-examine our own anti-blackness in society. Not only with the N-word but the appropriation of black culture and colloquiums as well. It is not just about speaking up against the west’s obvious racism. We have to look inwardly in our society too.

Bruneians has always had implicit bias towards Malay Muslims and devalue other races - black people included. Arguments whether we can say the n-word in songs is futile if we don’t take it at a closer look of why we want to. We want to because we think we can. But we shouldn’t.

I’m all for Bruneians speaking up on Justice for George and Black Lives Matter. In fact, I’m proud - because we as allies should bring out black voices and do everything in our privilege to never silence and always listen. It is the least we can do online and in our real lives.

Speak up and call out the people around you and your own actions. Do not be performative and surfaced-level as so many discussions can be. Do not appropriate black people’s struggles as if it were our own. It’s not. Be allies in the fight but do not pretend it is ours.

To the Bruneians on my feed who have used black imagery, black slang, black fashion and black bodies for their own personhood. Acknowledge and evaluate your problematic behaviour first before performing your wokeness.

You know who you are.