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"The Ten Little Niggers" was originally written by Septimus Winner in 1868 as a song and was originally called "Ten Little Injuns." This song was performed for "minstrel shows - a form of American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music" (Jennings, 2012).
Ten little Injuns standin’ in a line, One toddled home and then there were nine; Nine little Injuns swingin’ on a gate, One tumbled off and then there were eight. One little, two little, three little, four little, five little Injun boys, Six little, seven little, eight little, nine little, ten little Injun boys. Eight little Injuns gayest under heav’n. One went to sleep and then there were seven; Seven little Injuns cuttin' up their tricks, One broke his neck and then there were six. Six little Injuns all alive, One kicked the bucket and then there were five; Five little Injuns on a cellar door, One tumbled in and then there were four. Four little Injuns up on a spree, One got fuddled and then there were three; Three little Injuns out on a canoe, One tumbled overboard and then there were two. Two little Injuns foolin’ with a gun, One shot t’other and then there was one; One little Injun livin’ all alone, He got married and then there were none.
According to Jennings (2012) "Frank J. Green changed the song to "Ten Little Niggers" in 1869 and it became a standard of the black face minstrel shows, especially after the Civil War and later into the 1920's lampooning black people as dim-witted, lazy, buffoonish, and musical. Eventually the song became widely known in Europe, where it was used by Agatha Christie. The song was included in the first film version of And Then There Were None (1945), which largely took Green's lyrics and replaced the already sensitive word "nigger" with "Indian" as African Americans began to score legal and social victories at the turn of the 20th century" (Jennings, 2012).
Original Lyrics by Frank Green:
Ten little nigger boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little nigger boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little nigger boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little nigger boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little nigger boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little nigger boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little nigger boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little nigger boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little nigger boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.
This book is about 10 black boys that when left to do what they want to do, each do something wrong and are "killed" off. It counts down from 10 until there were none.
In the "Ten Little Niggers" song turned nursery rhyme stereotypes were used to perpetuate racism. During the time of publication the United States was in great upheaval. The Civil War and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves was not the ideal situation for the white confederates. They felt blacks were inferior and not equal to white men. The author was white and shared these views. In the first publication of 1875 (could not find illustrator) the black boys are caricatures that all look alike, are not shown as individuals and do not show a variety of physical attributes. The illustrations do not show correct facial expressions for the trouble each boy finds himself in, they look like they are happy about it. The story is an inappropriate portrayal of the minority characters. These boys are late, stupid, get in trouble with the law, have no common sense, and each runs into trouble unable to help themselves. They do not have power and face grave consequences from their actions. There voices are not heard, just the narrator (white man). The words are written to a catchy tune easy for children to read. It even helps children count. I would not recommend this book. It is racist. It will have a negative affect on a black child's self-image and provide the wrong message to all children. This story was written to serve an agenda for the time it was written. It's message was wrong then and it still does not apply today.
Anderson (2009) writes a compelling analysis explaining what each stanza truly means in "Ten little Niggers: The Making of a Black Man's Consciousness." For example she writes:
Eight little nigger boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.
The character’s status changes from tourist to immigrant within the two lines dedicated to his journey. The character’s resolution to stay in the English county alarmed the contemporary listeners of the song: the decision marks an invasion by black people of white land. The former slaves’ freedom to travel and freedom to choose threatened the white audiences’ comfort zone. Migration of black males was acceptable if for the sake of slavery, but the migration of black freed males suggested equality that white people of this time were not prepared to face.
The rest of her article can be found at http://folkloreforum.net/2009/05/01/“ten-little-niggers”-the-making-of-a-black-man’s-consciousness/
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Anderson, T. (2009, May). Ten Little Niggers: The Making of a Black Man's Consciousness. Retrieved March 22, 2013, from http://folkloreforum.net/2009/05/01/“ten-little-niggers”-the-making-of-a-black-man’s-consciousness/
Jennings, J. (2012, October). The History of Ten Little Indians. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/opinion/the-history-of-ten-little-indians-138993
