Is it racist to sing a song in a Carabean type accent

[SunnyDayToday]

My 10 year old has just been told by friends that she is being racist by singing a song she heard that uses the words banara arama (or something similar) sung in a Carabean type accent.
My initial reaction was that it is no worse than singing 'Donald, where's your troosers' in a fake scottish accent, but now I'm thinking about it, is it racist, as traditionally Carabean people have been oppressed in a way the Scottish haven't?
And if so, how do i explain this to a 10 yr old? She is sensitive to the fact that it would be racist to assume all black people are accented in a particular way, and that it is wrong to sing that type of song (words or accent) in a mocking way.

My reply wasn't based in a hypothetical thought experiment. It was more widely based in the power dynamics and structures that still exist inherently in societies which are predominantly non-white.

But yes, if person A owned a shop in, let's say, Oxford Circus, and refused to sell anything to person B because person B is white and that was categorically the only reason then yes - it is of course racist and discriminative. As I said, in thought experiments you can more or less confirm a hypothesis about anything.

Correct... in most non western european countries there is a higher value placed on being lighter skinned if not white. You only have to look at the multi billion skin lightening industries in those countries. My argument was a hypothetical one. In that it could only ever be understood in that reverse context if it were to exist.

The reality is white is seen as superior (wrongly as we are all the same or should be) because of western Europe's colonial history. Again... learn history people and you might get an inkling of why us brown/black folk get full of rage and hurt when told to fuck off back to our own countries.

And I say this as someone married to a very English man.

Going back to the OP no the child wasn’t being racist.

I'm Dominican and used to get sung to and spoken to in a 'Caribbean' accent, I didn't like it. Also, the Dominican Republic is in the Caribbean and doesn't even have the accent you're referring to.

This thread has taken the turn I think most people knew it would- lot's of white people deciding what is and what is not racist.

OP, you're DD was clearly not being racist but I would say not to sing in that accent because for example if my DC heard, they wouldn't like it.

*YOUR! (damnit!)

Thank you to all those who replied. So on balance, the general feeling is that she wasn't being racist (phew!), but in case she should cause offence, probably best to avoid singing songs in accents. I will have a chat with her.

Beer can (It's bacon in Jamaican, say it out loud!)

I always wonder if what Adam sandler does it racist? Either way sometimes it makes me feel dead uncomfortable

@NKFell - agree 100% with what she said.

Obviously your daughter wasn't intending to be racist but it could sound like was mocking Caribbean accents and good for her to understand this in case she did it to someone Caribbean and they were upset.

you're DD was clearly not being racist but I would say not to sing in that accent because for example if my DC heard, they wouldn't like it.

That makes no sense. On you one hand you state that in your opinion it's not racist but on the other hand it shouldn't be done because your children wouldn't like it. The definition of racism should not be "that which any person, no matter how sensitive or irrational, might not like". There has to be a degree of reasonableness otherwise we decend into absolute nonsense.

I think people need to stop being so offended all the time. Otherwise half of the English language will disappear. People find offence everywhere everyday. I am from Salford. My accent is mocked all the time (my name was mocked mocked and mocked some more in a very famous comedy sketch). Did I find it offensive or funny as it was comedy?

Caribbean haven't been depressed like the Scots? Have you read about any British history?

Otherwise half of the English language will disappear.

Is it not just changing rather than disappearing? The English language changes all the time and mostly in areas that are unrelated to race. Should we be stopping that too? Perhaps continuing to use the N word?

Believe it or not, some comedy can be offensive even if some people find it funny.

I think the OP has done a good thing in asking the question here. There's nothing wrong with having a conversation about these things. It really sounds like the child wasn't being racist, but is there anything wrong with her having a bit more awareness of the issue? Her daughter could come across a situation where she sees another child mocking and bullying, whilst singing in the same way - it's good that she may now be able to see the difference in the situations.

I think that it's a case of the listener interprets one way when the speaker means something else. Sometimes people say things that another person doesn't like. So what. Move on. Especially if it's a little girl putting on an accent and singing a song. I love a bit of early Rihanna, when I sing I mimic her accent (because I think it's beautiful) and when I sing along I'm doing it because I'm singing like I just don't care!

I think it's good to have these discussions. I admit my perspective of this thread has changed. I initially thought FFS! Of course your dd was not being racist and anyone who deems her racist based on her singing a song in a caribbean accent is really not helping the cause.

However, I do think it's important to have these discussions. It was on a thread a while ago that I discovered the idiom 'Beyond the pale' was offensive - to the uninitiated it just means that you find something reprehensible but it's origins are far more sinister.

I think people need to stop being so offended all the time. Otherwise half of the English language will disappear.

And this wonderful tip is exactly why racists and other assorted miscreants are allowed to continue mouthing off all manner of offensive, racist and discriminatory statements coz like ya know... it's free speech ain't it and society's gone PC-mad.

I'm from New Zealand originally and I am very very used to everyone butchering my accent in an attempt to parrot it back to me. I think it's funny.

There are some locals who still insist on peonouncing basic Maaori words wrong by REFUSING to attempt to imitate the sounds and I find that a lot less pleasant.

I'm half Caribbean and as long as she genuinely likes the song, it's not racist at all.

I would sing a Scottish/American song with an English accent!

I think if we all just enjoyed other cultures without 'idiot over there' saying it's racist then the world would be a better place dreams

I wouldn't! Not 'I would'

Scots have been quite oppressed in the past. We've moved on though and don't need to be positively discriminated against.

Mock my accent and I will laugh with you.

What @ghanagirl has said in all her posts. On repeat. Forver.

As a white mother to a black child I’m beyond angry about white mothers falling all over themselves explaining why their kids aren’t racist. ITS NOT FOR YOU TO DECIDE YOU FOOL.

The other issue about not using an accent when reading is that as a white teacher with a Standard English accent, should I avoid all literature and music in my classroom that isn’t written in my accent?
Have it on bookshelves for certain children to access, but never read it aloud or allow anyone of the incorrect ethnicity to have it?

I agree that it’s not for white people to decide what is and isn’t racist, although listening to, and supporting those who feel discriminated against is probably useful. Just as being a woman, I don’t feel that males can understand the impact of sexism. As a parent to two on the autistic spectrum, I have a second-hand understanding of disablism.

Don’t worry OP. It’s not racist.

The other issue about not using an accent when reading is that as a white teacher with a Standard English accent, should I avoid all literature and music in my classroom that isn’t written in my accent?
Have it on bookshelves for certain children to access, but never read it aloud or allow anyone of the incorrect ethnicity to have it

Treading if you would read aloud to children in a faux Caribbean, or mock Asian etc accent then yes, best leave the books on the shelf.

I've never heard a teacher reading in a faux accent and imagine they'd only try a mock Caribbean if there were no Caribbean children in the classroom and/or they wanted to take the p. Or where other teachers couldn't hear them.