Is Ms Rachel right to call for an end to 'racist' nursery rhymes?
The popular children’s entertainer singled out Jimmy Crack Corn, Oh! Susanna and Eeny, meeny, miny, moe as songs that contain problematic lyrics.
Both Jimmy Crack Corn and Oh! Susanna date back to the 19th century and mock African American people and culture.
Traditionally, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe contains the ‘n’ word, although most children today sing about use the word ‘tiger’ instead.
On Lunchtime Live, Sarina Bellisimo argued that Ms Rachel is not saying anything “radical”.
“I think it's just common sense,” she said.
“Eenie Meenie Miney Moe, we had already changed the word anyway when we were playing that here.
“All three of these nursery rhymes that she's talking about have racial and racist undertones.
“These nursery rhymes were written in the 1800s; times have changed, so I'm shocked that we're still singing them.”
Alternatively, Ms Bellisimo said people should change the lyrics.
“I have a 10-year-old son,” she said.
“My son still sings it with his friends, but they sing a different word; they sing catch a ‘tiger’.
“But the other two, Andrea, I haven't heard them and I think people are probably singing them, not even because usually it's the melody.”
Main image: Children singing. Picture by: Alamy.com.
