CBC objects to classic children’s songs as ‘racist’ and ‘harmful’

Janet French published an article in which she asserted that "1 in 5 songs has 'racially-charged content.'" She later took to Twitter to defend her position that songs such as "Jingle Bells," "I've Been Working on the Railroad," and "Do Your Ears Hang Low" are "Eurocentric, exclude other cultures, sexist, outdated, and divorced from research."

The journalist even expressed that the song "Kumbaya," a song originating from enslaved African-Americans in the antebellum South about God's salvation, may "sound harmless now" but "can be potentially harmful."

French suggested that "I've Been Working on the Railroad" should be removed from the curriculum due to its association with minstrel performances, whereby white actors would dress up in blackface to mock African-Americans, over 120 years ago.

She cited an article from self-posting blog site Medium which explains that the original lyrics of the song were making fun of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) at a time when African-Americans lacked basic rights.

The article also asserts that African-Americans "arguably still lack basic rights as Americans today." The lyrics have changed since the song's original composition, and all Americans are equal under the law.

French asserted that the song "Do Your Ears Hang Low" is also racist because it's melody, although not the lyrics, originates from the 1838 minstrel song "Zip Coon." She also claimed the nursery rhyme "A Tisket, A Tasket" is racist because one early iteration of the song included a reference to a "little darky," a derogatory reference to African-Americans.

Similar to "I've Been Working on the Railroad," the racially charged lyrics are not used in modern iterations of the song. Lastly she claimed that the song "Clementine" is racist, citing a Blogspot post which alleges that it has origins in minstrel music.

The CBC journalist praised the government's removal of the song "Dixie," which she falsely described as the "anthem of the Confederacy." The Confederate States of America had no official national anthem, and the song Dixie was a popular tune on both sides of the battlefield. The song, in fact, was a favourite of President Abraham Lincoln, who played it at political events as well as at the official surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

It is unclear why French took issue with the songs "Jingle Bells" and "Kumbaya" as "potentially harmful," although it may have to do with their religious themes.

Matt Wolf, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's Executive Director of Issues Management, said of the accusations that "[those] looking to be perpetually offended will of course be perpetually offended."

French also complained that most of the songs are English and American in origin, and that there are no Indigenous songs on the curriculum list.