Jeg har set en rigtig negermand
| "Jeg har set en rigtig negermand" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by the Andersen Family | |
| B-side | "Den Lille Fyr" |
| Released | 1970 |
| Format | 7" single |
| Genre | Children |
| Length | 2:55 |
| Label | Polydor Records |
| Writer(s) | Niels C. Andersen |
| Certification | Platinum (Denmark) |
"Jeg har set en rigtig negermand" (English: I have seen a real negro man) is a Danish children's song, popular in the 1970s, which carries a strong message of racial equality. It was first sung by four-year-old Bo Andersen with the Andersen Family in 1970,[1] and quickly gained platinum status in Denmark, selling 165,000 copies.[1]
In 1970, the Andersen Family won the "best Danish band" competition sponsored by the newspaper Ekstra Bladet.[1] As a result, the family won a recording contract with Polydor Records, and released "Jeg har set en rigtig negermand" as its first single.[1] At the same time, the family was performing under contract at Tivoli Gardens, increasing the family's popularity, especially that of "Little Bo."[1]
The song describes different people of varying colors: "en negermand...sort...som en tjærespand" (a negro man, black as a bucket of tar), "en indianermand...rød...som en ildebrand" (an Indian, red as a fire), and "en kinesermand...gul...som en sodavand" (a Chinese man, yellow as a soft drink").[2] The song's message of equality, told in simplistic terms by the young boy, asks for "all people [to] be painted blue, to be funnier to look at, and then black and red and yellow and white live together in a world without strife.". The song continues into even greater messages of equality, the last two lines being: "Let not the colour of skin be a factor. We must meet with wholesome and honest minds." [2]
The song, while using acceptable terminology for 1970, has fallen into varying degrees of disfavor as the lyrics use terms and similes considered incorrect in Denmark today as the society is becoming more multicultural. However, it is still a recognizable song learned by children even now.
The song is sung in Thomas Vinterberg's 1998 film The Celebration. In one scene, the character singing the song intends to hurl racial abuse at a black party guest with whom he has just had a quarrel, so he stands up and calls for every party guest to join him in singing the song. The singer's sister, who happens to be the black man's girlfriend, then tells the latter that it is "a racist song". If only the first verse is sung, which is the case in The Celebration, the song appears to be very racist. This has facilitated the misunderstanding that the song is based on racism or xenophobia.
The "racist" miscomprehension comes from cutting off the last and conclusive verse, which begins:
I think all people should be painted blue
they would be much more funny to look at.
Then black and red and yellow and white
could live together in a world without strife
Let not the colour of skin be a factor
We must meet with wholesome and honest minds.