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).

We sang:
eeny meeny miney Moe
Catch a baby by the toe
If he screams let him go
eeny meeny miney moe

We also sang
Ip dip dog shit
Fucking bastard
silly git

And
Olly Olly Olly
Tits in the trolley
Balls in the biscuit tin
Laying on the grass
With a finger up your arse
Singing Olly Olly Olly
Who's all in

Kids songs are just nonsense

I would put in a complaint of the two women and the HR person not creating a safe and inclusive workplace. The women for making unfair and unsubstantiated allegations and HR for acting on potentially malicious gossip.

I'm 38 and it was sang in playgroup and primary school using the 'n' word. I can distinctly remember wondering to myself when I was about 5, what a 'n' was and deciding that as the song talks about 'catching' one, that it must be some kind of fish. But then also being confused because fish don't have toes! Race never came into it, I didn't know what the 'n' word meant and didn't know what racism was either. My children seem to have been taught the song at preschool and use 'tiger'. It is a rhyme sung to help choosing between two things. Whilst the original version uses a racist term, I do not believe the intention of the rhyme in it's modern form (using 'tiger' or whatever other terms people have mentioned here) is racist. I can't believe you've been reported to HR for simply talking about racism?! Bizarre.

Milk, milk, lemonade
Round the corner, chocolate's made

Does no one do any work in companies now, just spend their working hours getting upset over nothing?

Blimey @OlennasWimple that takes me right back to 1980 in the juniors playground 😂

Hang on

Your crime was to make reference to this racist rhyme. These women and the manager also talked about the rhyme. So they must submit an accusation of racism against themselves. And anyone who reads the complaint will also be aware of it and will then have to add themselves to the charge sheet also.

The company will have to be shut down.

I was once reported to the HR when someone overheard me saying "no, I am not Jewish" over the phone (answering someone who asked me whether I am Jewish or not because of my surname). They launched an "internal investigation", found nothing but asked me to apologise, including in writing, just in case. The person who took offence is not Jewish.

I bet your colleague thinks that incidents like this should protect her in case of redundancies or other stuff - she's exactly the type everyone is afraid to touch.

N word to fish in my childhood. I never understood it because fish don't have toes but YANBU to have a conversation about someone else's racism and not even using the word. I'd challenge but given you've already resigned I'd probably just shrug it off as you have suggested, apologise and count down the days till you leave such a ludicrous organisation.

I'm in my fifties and when I was growing up oops north it was eeny meeny miny mo put the baby on the po' when it's done wipe it's bum. EMMM. How is that a racist

What absolute and utter nonsense. I hope these people aren't employed to do anything that MATTERS because the whole bunch of them sound like idiots.

It was definitely the 'n' word for me growing up (1960s UK). I didn't know or care what an 'n' was, the rhyme meant absolutely nothing to a small child.

Sorry posted too soon: rhyme?

I thought we were all saying nicker - I thought it was about catching robbers.

How horrible to have women like them snooping around.

We sang “catch a baby by its toe”.

I think they’ve overreacted

40-ish American here. Was taught the rhyme with "tiger", too, so no, it's not automatically considered racist in the US, either.

...Or wasn't, at least, back in those days. Today, who knows?! So many people are stupidly sensitive over absolutely nothing!

cheesemongery I am so glad someone else thought that. I also am sure we sang catch a nicker (as in robber) by his toe. I was shocked when I discovered what it really should be (I am early 40’s). I definitely never had the ‘g’ sound in it.

It’s not like you were sat there singing the song in any format. You were discussing a fact....that JC got into some bother about it. I would be really angry with the girl who reported you. She sounds like nasty bit of work.

This is literally unbelievable.

OlennasWimple Thu 08-Nov-18 22:33:12
Milk, milk, lemonade
Round the corner, chocolate's made

Omg I remember that one now!

I wonder whether this one could be considered racist:

I don't want to go to Mexico
no more, more, more
There's a big fat policeman
on the door, door, door
He caught me by the collar
just to earn another dollar
I don't want to go to Mexico
No more, more, more

I'm sure there was another verse but I can't remember it.

How ridiculous- you were not singing the song you were discussing it and the fact that it can be interpreted as racist.
Your colleague has over reacted but your HR manager shouldn't have let it get so far. A waste of everyone's time and energy. Time better spent actually getting on with your jobs I expect, which if I was your HR manager I'd be pointing out to everyone involved.

Surely this is bollocks? Reported.

@DustyCropHopper - I'm early 40's too, maybe we were playing together

I had to think about it last night as I'm sure we weren't saying or even thinking of the dreadful connotations.

We also did Ibble obble black bobble, ibble obble out, turn the dirty dishcloth inside out...

I apologise in advance if that has racist leanings, I think it's just nonsense though especially as the rhyme would change to suit the counter...

if you do you (add an extra 'll if it will save you) catch the flu, and that will be the end of - YOU! Run!!!!!!

If this really happened then I would be looking for another job to be honest. I couldn’t work with people like that. I would be paranoid that they would be waiting for any opportunity to go running to HR again.