Accused of racism

[Worried2987]

I was called into hr this afternoon and told that a couple of women 9n another team had heard me discussing something with colleagues that they have said was racist and made them uncomfortable.

This was to do with someone say8ng they liked Jeremy Clarkson and I said he got in trouble for saying the eeny meany miny moe song and instead of froggy (as I had learnt it) had used the n word. A girl on my team didn't know what I meant. I said I'm not saying the word but it was racist term.
They have reported me because they said the whole song is racist regardless of whether the word is changed.
I was mortified. I said I was ignorant to the whole song being racist. I apologised and have offered to apologise to them in person. I said I appreciated that it wasn't being formally reported as I realise that would be career ending and it was an honest error. My hr director said he'd taken this approach as he knows me. That I'm not racist and he was telling me for my own benefit. That the song is connected with the slave trade in USA.

I went home in tears. I'm totally shaken and scared.

I've since been looking on the internet and am totally confused the rhyme with an animal name seems to be common usage. It's a kids cartoon on you tube. Wiki says it's common for children's rhymes and even a us website said it's taught in schools with the animal word tiger or frog.
So can you say it or not?
(I'm still going to apologise as I think there will be a on awkward tension in the office).

This is where cultural nuances need to be taken into consideration. In the UK, that rhyme has ‘tiger’ instead of the n word. It’s not a racist rhyme here. In the US it’s different but I presume you are here in the UK. If I were you I would have refused to apologise and let it progress— the HR director should never have let it progress this far.

I have to admit I Didnt know that the origins of the rhyme were racist.
I feel for you OP, as you didn’t mean to cause offence and I think that it is worth clearing the air with the women who reported you. I hope things turn out okay.

Are you all millennials? What a massive overreaction by absolutely everyone involved. It’s so absurd I can help but wonder whether it’s made up,

It really, genuinely sounds like you didn’t know the context and didn’t intend to be at all racist, and it’s good your HR director recognises that. I agree an apology might make you and everyone feel better but then reallt try to move past it. Everyone makes mistakes and gets things wrong sometimes, absolutely everyone.

It was the n word when I was a kid... I’m not that old tbh.

And yes they do teach it to children with tiger.

But, you were talking about someone else being racist, not just reeling it off, so I’m not entirely sure why that’s an issue...

In the UK, that rhyme has ‘tiger’ instead of the n word. It’s not a racist rhyme here

Is that a typo? I’m in the UK and it was always “trigger” that we sang. Didn’t know it had ever been anything else until Jezza.

And I didn’t know the origins of the song were racist either so there but for the grace of God, OP...

Do the women who reported you dislike you, OP?

You’ve been disciplined for not saying something racist, but referencing that it exists and that you consider it racist? This seems extraordinary.

I was tiger not trigger.

This is where context is everything!! You were saying why someone was sacked - not just singing the song randomly! Which also wouldn’t be racist! How ridiculous that you were called into HR in the first place.
Sorry they’ve made you feel like this, you clearly work with morons!

Everyone has totally overreacted. It's not considered racist here if the n word is not used. Your colleagues were being rediculously precious. Sorry you are so upset. I would be too at their immature reaction.

When I was a child it was tigger (like in whinnie the Pooh). I always used to find that confusing.

When I was a kid it was Tigger. I always assumed that was related to winnie the Pooh’s Tigger.. who is a tiger.

Had no idea of the history of the rhyme. I'm 32 and it was always tiger in my childhood. I wouldn't have apologised, I think it was a complete over reaction. Try to put it behind you and not worry over it, it's done now.

I'm 42 so no millennial. The others are similar ages but apparently one of them is from USA (I don't know her and didn't know this) I'm guessing this is what's driven it. For the record I was speaking with my team which included a Malaysian, lady from the philippines and a man who is french/African. I've sense checked with a couple of them and they seemed oblivious to this meaning also.
I'm going to try and move on its been a stressful year for me in this job anyway and have resigned as a result of workplace stress. I am looking forward to the new year more than ever now.

What a total over reaction

Check out wiki en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe

Basically Op’s HR director and the women involved are horribly wrong if they are in the UK and I would personally try to raise a case of bullying.

I can't remember what we used to say, except that I always thought it was a strange song because it didn't make any sense. All became clear when I found out the original lyrics!

Baffled that this complaint is even being entertained though OP. You weren't even singing the song (which I also wouldn't consider to be racist anyway given it's a common kid's rhyme in this country).

The original rhyme is British not American.

It was definitely catch a tiger when I was younger, never knew it could've been perceived as racist until just now.

What a huge overreaction.

I had no idea the whole rhyme was considered racist! My dcs learnt it at school with the word pigeon instead of the n word

I'm American from the (racist) south and I've literally NEVER heard the song the way he sang it. We say "catch a tiger by the toe". The first I heard of it being racist was when I moved to the U.K. and I was appalled that people here used the N word instead of tiger. It seems bizarre and inappropriate.

BUT I do not think the song is inherently racist. Stick up for yourself OP. Not everyone thinks like that and if you didn't learn it in a negative and racist way then you have nothing to be sorry for.

I was tiger not trigger.

Maybe tRigger was a Scottish thing?

Insertion of that all-important rolling R

I’d never heard about the other version until the Jeremy incident.
To us as kids the rhyme was “eany meany miny mo put the baby on the po, when it’s done wipe its bum with a piece of chewing gum!”
This looks so weird written down

Context is everything. You were making the point that this was racist and explained why. You were not reciting the song to make a racist point.

If this point holds merit then will not be able to discuss any aspect of slavery, the British Empire, the Civil Rights movement in the US or Apartheid.

This is quite clearly ludicrous. A book about Nelson Mandela would be racist because it references racist incidents.

The individual song is irrelevant - you were using the rhyme to explain a point against racism - they other people and your HR should be ashamed. This is exactly why people become scared to mention race in any context and fear can be as damaging as racism.

I’m 48 and yes it was the n word. But I fail to understand how you referencing it (it sounds like with disapproval) is racist.