A white train passenger questioned a Black singer-songwriter over her first-class ticket and she was shut down by not only the star but her daughter as well.
Jamelia, a British R&B star and model, explained what happened after she wrapped up a photo shoot and caught a train at London Euston station with her youngest daughter, Tiani. The 36-year-old posted a series of tweets on the matter Thursday, Jan. 12.
So, I got on the train with my 11 year old daughter…didn't even sit my bum on the seat good & a lady approaches me & asks me if I have…
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
…a 1st class ticket. I look around. My daughter & I r the only black people in the packed carriage. I ask her "why did you ask me that?"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
…she replies "well I've just seen the conductor & he won't let you travel in this carriage" I ask "why?" She says "you need a 1st ticket"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I ask "why have you assumed I don't have a 1st class ticket?" She says "well, have you got one?" I reply "have you?" She says "yes I have"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I ask "what made you ask that question to me and no one else?" She says "it's because I wanted to sit with you, I just need to make sure"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I say "I don't need a ticket for u to sit opposite me, no need to lie, my 11 year old could tell you why you asked, why not just be honest?"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
…The least you could do is admit you were wrong to do so" her "no, I wasn't wrong, what are you implying?" – try flip the script on me 😂😂😂
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I laugh, and say "let's be honest, you've asked me because I look like young black girl & you've allowed your prejudice to speak for you"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
"No, that's not it, I would ask anyone I'm sitting with if they have a 1st class ticket" i burst out laughing she says "don't laugh at me"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I look her dead in the eye & say "let this be a lesson to you, don't you ever make this assumption out loud again, I hope you feel ashamed"
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I then pick up my stuff & move to another table in the carriage with my daughter…a white guy sits down where we were sat…Not. A. Peep.
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
My daughter looks over at the lady and says "Are you not going to ask him for his credentials then?" The lady turned as red as a beetroot.
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
I'm done not calling people out. I am also raising two wonderful young women who will grow up to call you out too…you have been warned 😑😑😑
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
Before anyone asks 🙄😩😂 pic.twitter.com/O0iqhfH77l
— Jamelia 🇯🇲 (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017
Jamelia later explained more about the situation on her blog.
“I need to say, at this point, this situation is far from unique,” the singer wrote. “Most of my train travel is first class, and I would estimate that at least 60 percent of the time, I experience this exchange with either another passenger or someone working for the train company. It’s irritating, embarrassing, but I, like many affluent, Black women, accept it as an annoying part of the space I occupy in society.”
Jamelia went on to explain she and her daughters, Tiani and Teja, recently had a conversation about institutionalized racism and the importance of speaking up about racist treatment.
“We decided that, from now on, we’re going to help people out,” Jamelia said. “We are going to be brave and tell them, ‘I don’t like that you did/said that.’ I was and am so proud of the bravery my daughter displayed. Yes, she is being taught to respect her elders, but she is also being taught to effectively communicate her genuine feelings, no matter who it may be.”
The singer also addressed criticism over her pulling the race card.
“I also received tweets asking why I felt the need to tweet about it, why didn’t I just keep it to myself, I have a chip on my shoulder, I’m attention seeking and [I’m] ‘always playing the race card,'” Jamelia wrote. “If I was to tweet every single racist incident that happened to me as it happened, you would be on the floor.
“The problem is that we don’t tell you, we speak about it amongst ourselves and you get to carry on about your day not realizing you’ve ruined ours,” she continued. “I tweeted because I wanted you to read it. I wanted you to be aware of this happening. I wanted you to know that even if you have these thoughts in your head, it’s not OK to say it aloud.”
The singer concluded that she would not allow her daughters to remain silent on racism in any situation, adding everyone should be “brave enough to put these important conversations on the table now.”
