Pictorial depictions of racial discrimination against Asians

21-year-old Daniel Adams captures the experiences of discrimination against Malaysians

A 21-year-old Conceptual Fashion photographer who graduated from Falmouth University, UK, recently launched a collection called, "Why Is Your English So Good?" Daniel Adams, the photographer, grew up in Malaysia and his work is centred around complex ideas of identity, nationality, culture, and topics of gender, race and sexuality.

His Malaysian background explains the idea behind his latest collection. The entire project is based on racial discrimination that Asians, and in particular Malaysians, face in the United Kingdom and Ireland.



The collection contains 15 eye-openers with captions that explain why they had been taken a certain way and the experience of the subject. The pictures experiment with light, colours, and make use of different types of props in an attempt to accentuate the experience of discrimination.

The prologue to the collection explains Adams' intent:

"Racism in the United Kingdom & Ireland is a widespread problem. This series is based upon fellow Malaysians experiences with racism and ignorance who are either living or studying in the United Kingdom & Ireland."



You wouldn't have got into this university if it wasn't for colonialism. PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

This guy was telling me how great colonialism was – ‘We gave you justice, railroads, your country wouldn’t be progressive if it wasn’t for us’ – and then he told me: ‘You wouldn’t have gotten into uni if it wasn’t for colonialism’. Izyan Hay, London.

 

The bouncer looked at my ID and said 'shit airline, shit country PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

I’ve had comments like ‘Ching Chong Ching’, ‘Go back to China’, and ‘Konnichiwa’ shouted at me across the street. And, once, a bouncer looked at my Malaysian ID and said: ‘Shit airline, shit country.’” Aryssa Chai, Dublin



 

That's cheating, I thought I was sleeping with a full Asian chick" he said as he proceeded to get dressed and leave. PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

When he asked where I was from, I naturally said Malaysia, as that is my country of origin. We spent the night together. But the next morning he asked why I could speak English so well since I was Malaysian. I told him I was half English. To which he replied. ‘That’s cheating, I thought I was sleeping with a full Asian chick.’ And he got dressed and left. Evelyn Bee, Wadebridge



Why Is Your English So Good? PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

A guy came up to us to ask for a filter paper and stayed to chat. We then told him that a few of us were from Malaysia: Shaz, Shaun and I. He said, ‘How come your English is so good though?’ Jason Vincent, Bristol



Well, I'm sure you guys enjoyed the slavery PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

A group of us were discussing why so many Asians are intimidated by white people. I reminded my English housemate that many of us are still aware of the power that the UK holds over its former colonies. To this, he said, “Well, I’m sure you guys enjoyed the slavery.” He thought it was appropriate to joke about slavery to a table of Asian and Jamaicans. He didn’t apologise and assured us that it was a joke. Tasnem Aljoffery, London

Can you speak Asian? PHOTO: DANIEL ADAMS

I was on my way into town on the bus, chatting with a girl. ‘Can you speak Asian?’ she asked. Mitch Hermens, Nottingham



The pictures above highlight some of the main problems that Adams is trying to explore through this specific collection; language. The fascination that white people show towards people of colour who can speak fluent English has been of an interest to many scholars and researchers.

Daniel Adams' collection attempts to uncover the struggles of Asians living in white-dominated societies and to show his audience these experiences.