Book Talk - Eeny, Meeny, Miny – No!: The History of Racism in Children's Music and Entertainment by Devin Walker

For generations, children have chanted songs, recited rhymes, and consumed entertainment without ever knowing the histories embedded within them. In this book, I pull 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 my work as a teaching artist, I trace how minstrel traditions, segregation-era narratives, and racially coded imagery shaped playground games, nursery rhymes, and beloved television shows.

Note: While this book examines children’s music and entertainment, it is written for adults—particularly parents, educators, and caregivers who shape children’s environments.

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…