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Black History Year

Here's The Sinister Secret Behind This Universal Nursery Rhyme

Black History Year

PushBlack

History

4.62.2K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2025

⏱️ 3 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ah, the classic childhood game of eenie meanie miney moe -- a seemingly innocent rhyme used to make decisions and choose between options. But how innocent is it?
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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 and Len Webb. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Lilly Workneh serves as executive producer.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Why are businesses like HelloVet choosing Apple products and services?

0:04.8

So we started the business two years ago.

0:07.2

We had a few people who were used to PCs and this was their first foray into Macs.

0:12.5

But it's been super smooth getting everyone onto those devices and everyone seems really, really happy.

0:18.0

Find out how Mac can help you run and grow your business at apple.com forward slash hello vet.

0:29.2

Ah, the classic childhood game of any, meeny, mine, mo.

0:33.7

A seemingly innocent rhyme used to make decisions and choose between options.

0:39.3

But how innocent is it?

0:41.3

I'm Len from Push Black, and this is Two-Minute Black History,

0:46.3

What You Didn't Learn in School.

0:53.3

The roots of this catchy rhyme intertwined with a less than fun history.

1:01.8

The phrase wasn't originally Catch a Tiger by the toe.

1:05.6

Tiger was a belated replacement for a much more offensive term.

1:16.6

The innocent sounding rhyme has a shadowy past that can make even the most carefree playground feel like a history lesson gone awry.

1:20.6

The original version contained the N-word.

1:23.6

Though experts think that versions of the song existed long before 1820, white school children who had learned it from their parents used the rhyme with gusto.

1:35.2

Its derivative came from the slave trade and the threats made should one of the enslaved try to escape.

1:43.3

The song wasn't limited to the United States either.

1:46.4

It was heard around the globe with each version substituting Tiger for something else that

1:52.2

local people loathe.

1:54.2

Everybody's so darn creative. Decolonizing ourselves and the world is worth examining the playful verses we pass down.

2:12.7

So next time you hear, Eni, Meeny, Mony Mo, consider using something else.

...

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