How This Racist Phrase Became A Nursery Rhyme

Black History Year

PushBlack

History, Society & Culture

4.3 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2024

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It’s an everyday phrase you’ve probably heard used to describe warm feelings or used as harmless “baby talk.” But its real meaning has hideous racist origins. _____________ 2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith, Len Webb, and Lilly Workneh. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Julian Walker serves as executive producer." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's an everyday phrase you've probably heard used to describe warm feelings or used as harmless baby talk.
0:09.7	But its real meaning has hideous racist origins.
0:14.0	This is two-minute black history.
0:16.2	What you didn't learn in school.
0:21.6	Many have heard the phrase Fuzzy Wasn't, whether describing warm feelings, a furry texture, or baby talk.
0:28.6	It's seemingly harmless, but its origins are anti-black.
0:32.6	In the late 1800s, British colonists used the term as a derogatory reference to the natural hair textures of members of the East African Hidendoa tribe.
0:44.4	The term entered everyday speech when an English author wrote a poem called Fuzzy Wuzzy about the Hidendoa in Sudan.
0:53.7	Like other racist words and phrases, it appears in the media today without us knowing its true origins.
1:01.3	Fuzzy Wuzzy has ironically become a popular nursery rhyme about a bear with no hair.
1:08.3	No matter how innocent they might seem, words are powerful.
1:12.9	When we know better, we do better. Let's refuse to participate in anything that mocks our beautiful blackness.
1:31.5	In order to move towards the future, you've got to look to the past. This has been two-minute
1:36.5	Black History, a podcast by Push Black. If you enjoyed this episode and want to show your support,
1:42.3	please rate and subscribe to our podcast.
1:45.5	Together, let's celebrate and honor the legacy of Black history. You know,

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