For generations, children have chanted songs, recited rhymes, and consumed entertainment without ever knowing the histories embedded within them. In his new book “Eeny, Meeny, Miny – No!: The History of Racism in Children’s Music and Entertainment“, author Devin Walker pulls back the curtain on these seemingly innocent cultural artifacts to reveal a hidden legacy of racism woven into the foundations of American children’s media. Drawing on decades of research, investigative expertise, and his work as a teaching artist, Devin traces how minstrel traditions, segregation-era narratives, and racially coded imagery shaped playground games, nursery rhymes, and beloved television shows.
The Institute for Policy Studies, in partnership with Sankofa Videos Books & Cafe, will host Devin for this Black History Month talk and book signing for adults that examines children’s music and entertainment that can help parents, educators, and caregivers better shape children’s environments. At the event the book Eeny, Meeny, Miny – No! will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
Devin Walker, a.k.a., “Uncle Devin, the Children’s Drum cussionist,” is a national leader in the children’s music industry and an award-winning drummer and percussionist specializing in Family Funk. He owns The Uncle Devin Show®, an interactive musical experience for children that uses percussion instruments to cultivate their minds- a dynamic cross between DC’s Trouble Funk and Schoolhouse Rock.
Uncle Devin and 25 other artists are members of the 1 Tribe Collective, whose album “All One Tribe” was GRAMMY-nominated for Best Children’s Music Album in 2022.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ips-dc.org ’
