Jungle drums?

[Fatasfook]

I have heard this term used all of my life and have used it myself, I take it to refer to gossip and grapevine talk, however I was speaking to someone today and they said it is racist to use it? They couldn’t explain why. Is it racist? And if so, why?

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There was a fairly high profile incident a few years ago when someone complained of the term jungle drums being used in a meeting as the complaint thought it was racist.

Iirc most people didn't think it was an issue.

I would hazard that the person you were speaking to was vaguely aware of that case.

It could depend on the context. If referring to the spread of news in a general way, then fine. Shouldn't be used if referring to spread of news within a specific community.

At work recently we sent an important email that didn't go, as the system went down at the time. I moaned about modern technology and said we'd have been better off sending him the details by smoke signal. I will go in tomorrow and resign immediately, for insulting Native Americans.

On a serious note, surely the use of "jungle drums" is a compliment to the tribes that used it. It's a genius idea for transmitting information in difficult environments , and it works. Hence "I see the jungle drums have been out" when you think someone has been gossiping about you.

It's often used in a context of 'them and their jungle drums'. Meaning black people.

Probably best to use another phrase that hasn't been coopted by racists.

Everything is ‘racist’ nowadays, id ignore.

It's often used in a context of 'them and their jungle drums'. Meaning black people.

No it isn't.

If you think it is going to cause offence then don’t use it. It is offensive ..

I'd use it in the same way as Smoke signals and Carrier pigeon, maybe you could say that was racist against native Americans and northerners.

Surely as long as there is no malice it's just words 🤷🏻‍♀️

tell that to the Chairman who was fired for using it ...
or H&M who put a black child model in a ‘cheeky monkey’ sweatshirt ..

It's not offensive or racist. (unless you're using it specifically in connection with a particular ethnicity. Which you're not. And neither is anyone else.)

I don't think it's offensive? it's a means of communications used in the ....jungle?

Why have you asked the question here, where you'll have answers from mostly white people as you well know, who will say 'No it isn't racist', then chat some fraff about 'context'.

Racism is cowardly and sly here, people will say anything to defend racism.

I don't like the term jungle drums at all because of course I've heard it being used in derogatory fashion. I don't give a shit about 'context'. White people have nothing to do with jungle drums, its not part of western culture and we aren't in Africa. So there's no reason for it to be voiced is there. It was ever a positive phrase over here.

But no doubt some ignoramus/faux SJW would feel it's their place to tell me that I should or must like it on their say so

Oh Lord, this is going to be a rerun of the bloody Tiger Lily costume thread, isn't it?

Definitely outdated and racist. What or where exactly is the 'jungle'?

They play that bloody jungle music all night!

I've truly never heard this phrase in 37 years of living. I need to leave the Midlands more.

it is just casual racism if the term

sorry of not if

@Biker47 Really? I've seen and heard it - complete with impersonations of monkey sounds and African accents and the old faithful J-Bunny term of abuse.

I'd say it's more of an old school racist/1970s National Front/Alf Garnett just said wot we fink type person's statement, but it was very prevalent in London as I grew up, also frequently yelled up at windows where teenagers were listening to music such as Bob Marley 'Turn those fucking jungle drums off!'. The problem in the minds of the shouters wasn't so much the volume as the fact the music was unmistakably black/Jamaican in origin.

This is so interesting, I’ve never even considered there would be racist connotations attached to this phrase, certainly in my experience of it it has only been used to mean the rapid spread of gossip.