2007-02-04 21:27:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
This song was written to help children associate wool with the animal that produces it, and also the sound that a sheep would make. Baa Baa Black Sheep was first published in 1744. It probably dates back to the Middle Ages, possibly to the 13th Century, and relates to a tax imposed by the king on wool. One-third went to the local lord (the 'master'), one-third to the church (referred to as the 'dame') and about a third was for the farmer (the 'little boy who lives down the lane').
2007-02-04 21:50:53 · answer #1 · answered by desiree60411 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nursery Rhyme
Baa Baa, Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, Sir, yes, Sir, three bags full.
One for the Master, one for the Dame—
None for the Little Boy that cries down the lane.
Teachers at nursery schools in Oxfordshire have asked children to change the words of "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" to "Baa, Baa Rainbow Sheep" to avoid the possibility of offending ... anyone.
The nursery rhyme dates back to the mid-1700s and is related to a tax imposed on wool by the king […]. Black wool was apparently taxed at a lower rate than white wool.
The words to "Baa Baa Black Sheep" were included in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book with a different melody in 1744 in London. The same lyrics showed up set to this music in the U.S. in A.H. Rosewig's Illustrated National Nursery Songs and Games in 1879. Nobody knows who originally wrote the French melody.
I believe this nursery rhymes is racist because it has the words "Black and Master". Whoever wrote the nursery rhyme I believe was thinking of black people or ni**ers. A lot of things done back in the day were racist, mean and cruel. I think it’s a great idea for schools today to change the word “black” to "rainbow” so no child or black children would feel inferior or different because of their skin color. Maybe it shouldn't be taught in schools.
2007-02-06 07:40:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because it has the word black in it,
doesn't mean it's actually racist.
2007-02-05 05:50:25 · answer #3 · answered by Draxx Mew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to know - but I tend to forget stuff. I do recall that there was nothing racist in it though.
2007-02-05 05:47:15 · answer #4 · answered by Angelpaws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
17th century England. No.
2007-02-05 05:31:32 · answer #5 · answered by David B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not everything is racist.
2007-02-05 05:32:53 · answer #6 · answered by adriannamarie19 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh you look like a black sheep.......
2007-02-05 05:31:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋