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).

I would point out that this song (with the tiger in it) is sung by schoolchildren up and down the country. She needs to learn that what may be the case in the US isn’t necessarily so here.

They have disciplined you for pointed out that something is racist? You didn't actually say the word, and you were explaining that the rhyme can be perceived as racist. What the hell is wrong with that?

You don't get to decide what is racist and your white tears are really not necessary.

Where did OP say she was white?

RedPanda sorry nonsense. Completely makes a mockery of genuine racism.

I would not be apologising for that. Mind you I would not be getting into discussions about racism with work colleagues unless I knew them very well. Seems to be a minefield with too many possible holes to fall into.

Red so are all the kids saying this (including black kids in DD’s class) racist too?

RedPanda2 she was explaining to someone else WHY it was racist. FFS.

It was the N word for most people when i was a kid but my mum told me to say catch a baby by the toe instead

This is why I never got on in the corporate world... Or just the world in general..
If someone had called me onto a meeting like that I'd have laughed in his face and told him to please do progress it as far as he likes. I'll happily sue for unfair dismissal or constructive dismissal, whichever came first.

"I got sacked for singing a child's rhyme...I didn't say N word, even if I had, in the context of the conversation, I wouldn't have been being racist anyway."

Well the original version is racist obvs. If that word is substituted i don't see how it's racist though.

your white tears are really not necessary.

A thoroughly offensive comment verging on racism! One assumes that your non-white tears are utterly essential.

What a massive overreaction by absolutely everyone involved

THIS

Blimey. Sounds like they half heard and to be blunt, it sounds like they don't like you.

People give people they like the benefit of the doubt but they have gone to HR with this.

I'm Irish and 48 and I wouldn't have known until an embarrassingly late in life age about 27 that the basis of that rhyme was racist. BUT NOW I KNOW I AVOID IT

The reason I mention being Irish was that I hardly think I met a non white person w

.. until I came to LOndon, so people just weren't as conscious of what they were saying and therefore they weren't as careful. Back then. Different now.

I would consider this bullying too, I lived in Australia where it was tiger no one would have ever been wiser of any racism connected. Filtering out racism which is institutionalization through generations and a open but sensitive discussion should not have been reported.

Blimey. Sounds like they half heard and to be blunt, it sounds like they don't like you.

That was my feeling. Must have been manna from heaven for them if so.

OP, did your manager actually say what they said you said?

What utter pathetic overreactors. I would be considering raising a case of bullying/harassment tbh! What an utter joke.

I’d make a counter claim for malicious allegation.

This is nonsensical. You got disciplined for pointing out a rhyme is racist but not saying the racist word and they reported you! Sounds like they are out to make a case against you or the company for their own benefit.

I have to admit when I was younger I used to sing it with the n word (around 5 yrs old), which I must’ve picked up from my friends, as I had no idea what it meant. I got an absolute bollocking off my mum when she heard me sing it, and I had to say baby instead!

You don't get to decide what is racist and your white tears are really not necessary

You have no idea of the race of OP or other posters.

It was the N word when I was growing up, I'm 51.

Now I associate it with Neegan from the Walking Dead.

If you remember, Primark had to ban a T-shirt with it on accompanied by a picture of 'Lucille' ( a barbed wire club).

The issue is that you get arseholes and bigoted people using these 'stories' to come out with stuff, to intimidate/upset others. So they are against most Firms policies.

It's the same argument put forward by people who collect Gollywogs 'because they're cute' and don't see what the issue is.

They have disciplined you for pointed out that something is racist? You didn't actually say the word, and you were explaining that the rhyme can be perceived as racist. What the hell is wrong with that?

This is the part I would be concerned about.

We used to say "pickle", in Canada.

I'm also 48 and it was known with the n word version in my Primary years. I don't think it would be correct to say that the version in the UK has always been non racist. However, your colleagues are being ridiculous!