Racism in Popular Nursery Rhymes

Racism in Popular Nursery Rhymes

While looking at April's edition of School Library Journal I came across an article by Betsy  Bird titled Inescapable History, which focuses on the history of nursery rhymes, specifically their racist roots. While we grew up singing these catchy rhymes, we might want to be wary of the ones we pass on in storytimes. 

Bird states, "some rhymes were originally created with racist verses, those words only changed later to hide their shameful past." The article further discusses whether these rhymes should be saved, or if it's time to move on from them. The ending of the article is a powerful reminder. Bird says, "Institutional racism permeates every aspect of American culture, and our story times - especially our story times - are worth examining more closely." 

Read the complete article here: [Inescapable History: Understanding the racist roots of nursery rhymes can help inform choices about what to share with children - and what to leave behind. Bird, Betsy. School Library Journal, April 2025.]