It is common knowledge that racism is acquired through socialisation and is not innate, which is why children are sometimes considered society’s best hope against racism.
Bridge Music Academy and Culture Fox together have devised an ingenious method to instil an anti-racist sentiment in children. By making them play popular songs without using the black keys, the thought that black matters as much as white is driven home in a simple but effective manner.
In the video, a piano class, comprising solely of children, is asked to play a popular song with the ebony notes missing altogether.
The students do as they are old, but are visibly puzzled since it’s hard to tell what song it is with so many missing notes.
On being asked if they can identify the song, the young children say they cannot, with some even asking for hints.
The second time around, the piano class is asked to play the song using both sets of keys, and the identity of the song – Michael Jackson’s Black or White – becomes clear immediately.
If you play using only the white keys, it is not a song, and if you play using only black keys, it is not a song.
After a series of very insightful comments by the children – in which they point out that excluding one set of the population can result in problems – viewers are urged to raise their voice against racism by sharing a cover of a song without using the black keys, and with the hashtag #THERACISTCOVER.
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