Alanabit, I appreciate the fact that you sincerely believe that "silly songs" can do no harm, yet as an African American I respectfully submit that they can.

You wrote "Where I live, (Germany) schools and most of the media are particularly careful to give balanced information about any ethnic group."

Media in the United States is one of the worse culprits of producing and disseminating regarding cultural lies and stereotypes. Is the media in Germany so different than the US? Who determines that the information about ethnic groups is "carefully balanced"? and what in the world does this mean?

You also wrote that "Nobody grows up with the misapprehension that any of this glibly rhymed nonsense represents history. It's a silly song, which children like singing and doing the actions to. They then go on to learn more."

I would respectfully submit that "NOBODY" is a big word. Little "silly" songs and stories and jokes and sayings and pictures leave more lasting impressions than you think.

And it is not just people of color who are negatively impacted by these types of songs. The entire world is wounded.

You wrote that "when I meet people of any ethnic group, I try to be respectful without being patronising."

In that same spirit, I am writing to you.

Peace,
Azizi