Jamelia exposes racism on train service

MOBO Award winner and former BRIT Awards nominee Jamelia has recently revealed that she was challenged whilst sitting in the first-class section of a train for being “young and black”.

The singer boarded the train with her daughter, aged 11, and claims to have immediately been asked to present her ticket to another passenger that was due to sit next to the pair.

After the interaction, Jamelia went to Twitter to detail the whole experience and even started that her daughter began calling out the other passenger on her prejudices. Read the interaction below.

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…

— #Яebel (@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?”

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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?”

— #Яebel (@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

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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”

— #Яebel (@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.

— #Яebel (@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.

— #Яebel (@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

— #Яebel (@Jamelia) January 12, 2017