Almost none of the uses of the word black are directly racist. What a lot of us recognised when we taught in classrooms where the faces of our children and young people ranged from pinky brown to very dark brown was that language matters quite a lot.

Many of the uses of the word black were negative, 'my name has been blackened' etc and white was much more often positive 'a reputaion as white as snow'.

How much does this matter? Not a lot but a bit.

On Thursday some of The Beech Band will play at a Manchester school's multicultural evening along with a Cajun Band, a Jamaican singer, an Indian dancer, Somali musicians and some of the staff. We are more than a bit proud of the fact that we have been invited, for the fourth time, as a bit of English culture - multicultural as is the cherubs who attend this amazing school.

In this situation, where we are welcome and enjoyed, do we want to find ourselves singing something that contains the negative use of the word black? Who would?


How much does this matter? Not a lot but a bit.

Interesting that nobody has brought up the negative attitude to his wife in the song?

Best wishes

L in C#