Is The Caribbean Game Song "Brown Girl In The Ring" Racist?

JAFS Project,  Dec 15, 2018

18,759 views • Dec 15, 2018

Traditional Jamaica ring game called Brown Girl In the Ring, performed in Westmoreland Jamaica.

****

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision : January 12, 2023

This  pancocojams post showcases several YouTube videos of  the Jamaican circle game "Brown Girl In The Ring" with selected comments from some of these videos' discussion threads.

This post also includes an example of a 1904 version of this song and includes my editorial comments about whether "Brown Girl In The Ring" is racist.
.
The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song. Thanks to all those who are featured in these showcase videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to he publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
This post has been extensively revised since its initial publication on pancocojams in 2017.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/01/theres-brown-girl-in-ring-youtube.html. . Most of the YouTube examples, lyrics, and comments in that post were included in the original 2017 post.

Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/boney-m-brown-girl-in-ring-video-lyrics.html Boney M - Brown Girl In The Ring (Video, Lyrics, & Comments) for another pancocojams post about the song "Brown Girl In The Ring". That post showcases a different Boney M clip of this song than the clip that is shown in this post.

This pancocojams post showcases YouTube examples of the Jamaican circle song "There's A Brown Girl in The Ring".  Information about an 1904 version of this song is included in this post along with some lyric examples of this song.

This post also includes my opinion about whether "Brown Girl In The Ring" is racist as well as selected comments on this subject from a YouTube discussion thread for a Boney M video of this song.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composer/s of this song and thanks to all those who are featured in this showcased YouTube video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This post was originally published in 2017 and has been extensively revised. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/01/theres-brown-girl-in-ring-youtube.html for a closely related pancocojams post that is entitled "There's A Brown Girl In The Ring" (YouTube examples of the children's singing game, play instructions, lyrics, & comments)".

**** 

IS THE CARIBBEAN GAME SONG "BROWN GIRL IN THE RING" RACIST?

My answer- No. maybe, and yes.

A number of people have asked online about whether the Jamaican children's song is racist, including a concerned White parent who wrote on July  7, 2008 on the now deleted blog [blog no longer available] asking whether the game song "Brown Girl In The Ring" is racist. Tami Winfrey Harris, the Black blogger who is/was the editor of that site, concluded that this song isn't racist.

I agree with Tami Winfrey Harris that "Brown Girl In The Ring" isn't intrinsically racist. However, "Brown Girl In The Ring is racial as it refers to the race (skin color) of children who are playing a game.

The earliest example of "Brown Girl In The Ring" game song that I've come across was a 1904 song entitled "There's A Black Boy In The Ring". My guess is that that game song was composed for a monoracial (one racial) population of Black children in Jamaica as a way of helping them boost their self-esteem and group esteem in a world that constantly put them down.

Ironically, one of the problems (or potential problems) with "Brown Girl In The Ring" is that lots of people now live in multicultural societies where de-emphasizing a person's race, ethnicity, and/or skin color is considered to be ideal ("colorblindness"). At the same time, populations in these multicultural societies also struggle with "colorism" (favoring one skin color in a racial population over other skin colors in that same population).

My guess is the reason why people have concerns about the "Brown Girl In The Ring" game song is that there are real (or imagined, and exaggerated) concerns that "Brown Girl In The Ring" promotes and encourages one race and/or one skin color in that race and in other races to be favored over others is 

****
THE COLOR REFERENT "BROWN" IN THIS GAME SONG REPLACED THE EARLIER REFERENT "BLACK
"There's A Brown Girl In The Ring" can be considered to be suspect regarding its use of skin color referents because at least one early example of that song used the word "black" instead of "brown". 

The earliest example of "There's A Brown Girl In The Ring" that I've come across was published in a 1904 collection Jamaican Song and Story: Annancy stories, digging sings, ring tunes, and dancing tunes by Walter Jekyll. The title of that game song was "There's A Black Boy In The Ring".

A digital version of this book can be found at https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35410/35410-h/35410-h.htm#Page_207. [This singing game is actually on page 208] .

Here are the lyrics to that song along with the collector's notes.

There's a black boy in a ring, tra la la la la, There's a black boy in a ring, tra la la la la, There's a black boy in a ring, tra la la la la, He like sugar an' I like plum. Wheel an' take you pardner, jump shamador! Wheel an' take you pardner, jump shamador! Wheel an' take you pardner, jump shamador! For he like sugar an' I like plum.

The boy inside the ring chooses his partner, whom he leaves there after the dance. She obtains release by choosing another partner, whom she leaves behind. So there is alternately a boy and a girl in the ring.

"Shamador" is possibly a corruption of "camerado."
-end of quote-
"Camerado" is probably a variant spelling of "comrade" (friend).

Presumably, as is the case for contemporary versions of this song, while playing this game, the gender referent "boy" was changed to "girl" when it was (is) a boy's turn to be in the middle of the circle. The use of "boy"  instead of "girl" in that 1904 example could reflect the early 20th century's preference for boys over girls. And, the use of "girl" instead of "boy" in later versions of that game song could reflect the fact that circle singing games came to be considered as recreational activities mostly for girls rather than as co-ed activities. (The recent de-emphasizing gender because of the LTBGQ movement didn't affect the historical use of gender terms in this song, but certainly could be a reason why some people nowadays frown upon this song.)

**
I don't know when or why the color referent in this game song changed from "Black" to "Brown"

Did people change the color referent in this song from "Black" to "Brown" because "black" was considered a pejorative racial and/or skin color referent that no one playing that game wanted to be associated with? Said differently, did a growing number of Jamaicans where this song was composed favor being brown skinned (lighter) than being darker skinned?

And/or was a version of this song that used the "brown girl" rather than the "black boy" words so popular that people sang those words and by force of repetition, that wording became the standard?
 

By 1946/1947 the eminent Trinidadian Calypsonian Lord Invader wrote his version of this game song with the and title "Brown Girl In A Ring". 

Here's Lord Invader's Calypso version of that game song:

Yes sir

Very often i am left amazed

when i remember my childhood days

when me and my girlfriend used to play about together

and sing the song of hug and kiss your partner

There's a brown girl in the ring

Traala lala la

There's a brown girl in the ring

Trala lala lala

Brown girl in the ring

Trala lala la

And She looks like a sugar on a plum (plum, plum)

You'll show me your motion

Trala lala la

You'll show me your motion

Trala lala lala

Show me your motion

Traala lala la

And She looks like a sugar on a plum (plum, plum)

You'll hug and kiss your partner

Traala lala la

You'll hug and kiss your partner

Traala lala lala

hug and kiss your partner

Traala lala la

And She looks like a sugar on a plum (plum, plum)

But now that i reached to maturity

I know how happy my childhood days used to be

But now the kids haven't got no responsibility

They are taken care of by their families

Anything they need, they just have to say

And after school at home all day will go and play

There's a brown girl in the ring...

Now if i happen to be reincarnated

I like to do the same things i did as a kid

when I'm permitted to have my fun at times

With my playmates i'll sing some nursery rhymes

Whether in my backyard, or in the playground

We will join together and sing this song

There's a brown girl in the ring...

And Miss Lilly White looks so fresh and gay

With a bunch of roses by her side

Give her the kisses, one, two  three,

Wonder who shall be her bride.

Show me your motion ...

- posted on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0lp40UnuBM Lord Invader - "There's A Brown Girl In The Ring" by [commenter] SenhorBovinoGadoso, 2015

-end of quote-
Notice the "brown" and "White" color references in Lord Invader's version of "There's A Brown Girl In The Ring". Lord Invader's song could have helped standardize the "brown girl" rather than "black boy" words in that game song. However, it appears the "brown girl" words were used during Lord Invader's childhood. 

***
The next two sections of this pancocojams post provide some historical and current usages of the word "brown" in Jamaica when it is used to refer to certain populations.

****

19th CENTURY MEANINGS OF THE WORD "BROWN" IN JAMICA 
Judging by Jamaican sea chanties, since at least the 19th century in Jamaica, the word "brown" used as a skin color referent means "light skinned" and/or mixed race (i.e. Black mixed with White and/or another race. "Sally Brown" shanties are examples of the 19th century use of "brown" as skin color references in Jamaica and elsewhere.

Here's some information about Sally Brown shanties from my 2012 pancocojams post with that title:
" "Sally Brown" is a Jamaican sea shanty about a mixed race (mulatto; Creole) woman. Like all shanties, there are multiple versions of "Sally Brown". In addition to the song titled "Sally Brown", there are many other shanties that mention "Sally" and "Sally Brown".

The surname (last name) "Brown" may have referred to Sally's mixed race ancestry. Note that the word "shallow" (challow) in the song "Shallow Brown" means a person of mixed race."
-end of quote-
In the Jamaican sea shantie "Roll And Go", Sally Brown is referred to as a "bright mulatto". In those lyrics "bright" very light and "mulatto" is a person who has one Black birth parent and one White birth parent. (The term "mulatto" has been retired from formal usage in the United States since around the mid 1960s). "Bright mulatto" means the same thing as the United States term "high yellow". That term has also been retired from formal usage since at least the mid 20th century.

****
EARLY 20th CENTURY EXAMPLES OF THE WORD "BROWN" IN JAMAICAN SONGS
There are numerous other Jamaican examples of folk songs which feature a person whose last name is "Brown". One example that interested me was  

****
JAMAICAN PATOIS DEFINITIONS FOR "BROWN" AND "BROWNING"

Here's a Jamaican Patois definition for "brown" from https://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Brown-man/1311#.Y8BszHbMK1s

Brown man (Noun)

English Translation

Light skinned black male

Definition

Slang expression used to refer to a light skinned black male

Example Sentences

Patois: Who dah brown man deh ova deh suh?

English: Who’s that light skinned black man over there?"

 posted by anonymous on September 10, 2013

****

Here's a Jamaican Patois definition of the word "browning" from  https://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Browning/928#.Y8BtGXbMK1s

Browning

English Translation

Mixed race

Definition

a person who is mixed race with light skin

Example Sentences

Patois: Look pon dah browning deh!

English: Look at that light skin person

posted by alicia.dean.7940 on March 22, 2017
-snip-
Dancehall star Buju Banton had a smash hit called "Love My Browning" in 1992. In that song he may have been referring to mixed race women or to light skin women whether they be mixed race or not. He later recorded a song about how he loves "all Black women". https://genius.com/Buju-banton-love-black-woman-lyric

****

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT "BROWN GIRL IN THE RING" IS RACIST
1. I believe that some people think that "Brown Girl In The Ring" is racist because they believe that any mention of race or skin color is racist. 

For what it's worth, I don't agree with that. 

Under some circumstances, I believe that it is appropriate and perhaps even necessary to use racial or skin color references- for instance for descriptive purposes that don't have or imply a positive or negative valuation.

I believe that the words "There's a brown girl in the ring" (with its earlier words "There's a Black boy in the ring" was written to describe who was playing that game. Given the oppression and prejudice that children of African descent or some African descent live/d under, my guess is that that skin color reference was purposely used to boost up the self-esteem and the group esteem of those children.

**
2. Some people think that "brown" in the song "Brown Girl In The Ring" means a light skinned Black person, some other light skinned person who isn't White, and/or a mixed race person.

Those people who think that might also believe that the song (or people who play that game)  encourages children to favor light skinned/mixed race people over other people.
Doing so would be an example of colorism. Colorism means the preference of one skin color over others, for instance favoring light skin Black people over dark skin Black people. 

Here's a comment exchange from the discussion thread for the  YouTube video of Jamaican school girls playing "Brown Girl In The Ring" that is embedded at the top of this pancocojams post. That comment exchange includes a comment that I wrote:

(Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)
 

1. Phillip M. Ranglin, 2021
"Did someone stop a girl at the start, saying that she’s not brown?"

**
Reply
2. JAFSProject, 2021
"Yes. Right around 6 seconds. I never noticed it before. I can't say that I'm surprised. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of colorism in the schools, and in society here."

**
Reply
3. Lael Wildgoose, 2021
"I definitely didnt see or hear it...

**
Reply
4. Ms Sophia Ffrench, 2022
"Yes that's what I hear🤣🤣

**
Reply
Azizi Powell, 2023
"@JAFSProject ,I revisited this video because I read a comment in the Wikipedia page about colorism in Jamaica that states that "Colorism in Jamaica was perpetuated through social and cultural institutions such as music, social games, sports, and school [28] For example, in one particular school-yard game, Jamaican children have been heard chanting "Brown girl in the ring." According to Dr. Petra Robinson, in her dissertation, the game promotes a preference for 'brown skin girls' over dark-skinned ones,"

I assume that Dr. Robinson meant "lighter brown skinned girls over "darker" brown skinned girls.  I'd like to read her dissertation to see how she arrived at that conclusion instead of interpreting "brown" as a group referent for all Black people in Jamaica (as well as as a group referent for other non-White girls in that nation).

With regard to this video,  It appears to me that all but one of the girls in this video are the same Brown skin color. The girl who appears to be a little lighter  than the others isn't the one who is addressed (at .06 in this video). I believe that one girl told the other something like "You're not brown". I think this comment might have meant something innocuous like "You already had a turn being the brown girl in the ring" or "It's not your turn to be the brown girl in the ring".

As such, I don't think this video is an example of colorism."

****

****

SOME CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE "BROWN GIRL IN THE RING" COULD BE PROBLEMATIC 
The singing game "Brown Girl In The Ring" could be problematic if children sing this song in a majority White setting where there is only one or only a few children of color (meaning "children of some black African descent and/or other children whose skin complexion is brown). I've read comments about brown skinned girls who were given “the honor” or the responsibility of playing the role of the "brown girl in the ring". Even if other people thought/think that this is an honor, it may not be considered that way by those "brown skinned girls" or "brown skinned boys" (when the song is sung to reflect the gender of the child who happens to be in the middle).

Read the comments that are quoted in the Addendum below. 

The "Brown Girl In A Ring" game song can be problematic if the words are adapted to reflect the races/ethnicities of children playing that game. People usually use visual clues such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture to guess what race/ethnicity a person is part of. Those visual clues may be wrong, the person could be of ambiguous ethnicity, and/or the person may consider themselves to be a member of more than one racial/ethnic group. 

I cringe at the thought of children changing the words to "Brown Girl In The Ring" when a girl who looks "White" is in the middle of the ring or when a girl who is Asian in the middle of the ring: i. e, "There's a White girl in the ring tra la la la la" and "There's an Asian girl in the ring tra la la la la." And what of children who are first generation mixed race? Having other people decide which race/ethnicity a mixed racial person is a part of can exacerbate the issues many mixed race people have with the racial identity.

I also cringe at the thought of children changing the words to "Brown Girl In The Ring" using other skin color references such as "yellow" for Asians and "red" for Native Americans, etc..

****
MY RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THE GAME SONG "THERE'S A BROWN GIRL IN THE RING"
Despite what I consider its pleasant, catchy tune, and its creative lyrics, and more positive attributes, given the racial (and sometimes racist) environment that children still have to navigate in the 2000s, my recommendation is to err on the side of caution and NOT include this song in children's music curriculum, unless it is for older children who are studying the history of folk songs.

****
ADDENDUM: SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A BONEY M VIDEO OF "BROWN GIRL IN THE RING"

Here are some comments from a Boney M video's discussion thread in which the commenters mention racism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1So7q6IfJ4&feature=emb_logo

(Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)   

1. mr y mysterious video, 2009

"true story....

when i was about 6, there was only one black girl in our whole school in wales.

they played this song at our xmas party, we all sat in a circle while she danced for our entertainment - it wasn't a racist thing though - we were being literal and she seemed to enjoy herself."

**

2. Becca Secret, 2009
"funny, my aunt thought this song was rascist xxx"

 11. mr y mysterious video

"i was 7, at school in ely, cardiff, wales.

it was christmas, the entire school gathered in a big circle while the sole black girl in school stood in the middle and danced with all her heart to this song - a true story.

and yet... it was all so innocent, nobody had any malice but they wouldn't try that these days!"

**
3. mr y mysterious video, 2012

"i was 7, at school in ely, cardiff, wales.

it was christmas, the entire school gathered in a big circle while the sole black girl in school stood in the middle and danced with all her heart to this song - a true story.

and yet... it was all so innocent, nobody had any malice but they wouldn't try that these days!"  

**
4. RichXboxOne, 2015
"This is an excellent song, but if it was released now, the PC Brigade and the Loony left would complain about it being racist. "

**
5. Francisco Castillo Mata,2017 
"Qué bonitas son las pieles morenas, y cuanto han sido maltratadas por el " hombre blanco" ( y lo siguen siendo, más sutilmente, tal vez ). En un tiempo lejano, todos fuimos negros, o de un color oscuro. Son los orígenes de toda la humanidad. En EEUU, por ejemplo, todavía hay muchísimo racismo, y a veces no se molestan ni en disimularlo ( también en España, por supuesto). Bueno, el vídeo es encantador, y la música muy contagiosa. Solo espero que no me fusilen por haber expresado ciertas ideas, y que la USA Air Forcé no me bombardee."

Google translate from Spanish to English:

"How beautiful are the brown skins, and how much they have been battered by the "white man" (and they are still, more subtly, perhaps). In a distant time, we were all black, or a dark color. They are the origins of all humanity. In the US, for example, there is still a lot of racism, and sometimes they do not bother or disguise it (also in Spain, of course). Well, the video is charming, and the music very contagious. I just hope they do not shoot me for expressing certain ideas, and that the USA Air Force did not bomb me."

**
6. Ravneet Bains, 2018
"My mum just told me thought this song was about Asian girls back in the 1980's and she felt very offended at the time because she thought they where being racist. Now she has got over once I told her that the song is light skin black women."

****

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.