As a Singaporean, I grew up thousands of miles away from America and do not possess first hand experience of what constitutes the American identity. However, I believe that despite the geographical distance, the American identity is in many ways similar to what makes up a Singaporean. Just like how the American identity is a melting pot encompassing the blending of different races, cultures and practices, Singapore is a multi-racial country with many different colored skins from all over, choosing to set up a home in Singapore. Both countries promise great opportunities and equality, with the outward proclamation that no one solid individual race totally constitutes this nation and none should thus be privileged over the other. Despite this, we all know the ugly truth that has failed to be kept behind closed doors.
In terms of America, the many poems, documentaries and stories I’ve came across during previous literature classes, tells me for a sure fact that the much celebrated American identity (equality, freedom, and power), is but a mere dream to the minorities. They yearn for this attainment of independence and meritocracy, for America to “be the dream the dreamers dreamed” (Hughes, 6), but the harsh truth is that they are often sidelined and are never really held in high regards, to be a true blue American. I thus concede that America “never was America to [the minorities] (Hughes, 5), as till today, there is still this struggle to assume a proper identity in this society, whereby the socially constructed notion of an American, is someone with white skin and gold hair. Till today, I honestly have yet to come across a novel that portrays its American protagonist as someone who departs from the conventional American. The statue of liberty may thus be portrayed as a symbol that offers “world-wide welcome” (Lazarus 7), but can it guarantee that one will not be regarded as a “menace alien to [American] air” (Lazarus 29)?
Just like Singapore, the minorities often assume job positions that are overlooked by the masses. They live out their life over in Singapore, just like many of us- but at the end of the day, can all Singaporeans really say that we regard these minorities as a part of the Singapore identity?
