If I were a racist...
- Nate Holder
- Jul 8, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 16, 2024
If I were a racist,
I'd teach children that talking about music means,
Texture, timbre and tempo.
If you can't use these words,you're not a musician.
If I were a racist,
I'd teach reggae music and Bob Marley,
'Stir It Up', but never 'War'.
I might even mention marijuana.
If I were a racist,
I'd insist that all music was taught from notation,
Removing all the nuances
That paper could ever express.
If I were a racist,
I'd teach 'African' drumming.
Because of course,
Africa is a country.
If I were a racist,
I'd teach that the Great Composers were
Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Bach, Not Miles Davis, Florence Price, Alice Coltrane and J Dilla.
If I were a racist,
I'd make sure that Gospel, Blues and Jazz,
Were always taught,
As music created by slaves.
If I were a racist,
I'd call all non-white music
'World Music'
After all, it's them and us.
If I were a racist,
I'd ignore that Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Bach
And the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Happened at the same time.
If I were a racist,
I'd make sure that violins and pianos
Were seen as more important,
Than Steel pans, tablas and digeridoos.
If I were a racist,
I'd teach 'African' songs,
Without knowing what they mean,
Or where they were really from.
If I were a racist,
I'd standardise everything –
You're either in tune,
Or you're out. Literally.
If I were a racist,
I'd have posters of me on the walls and in the books.
No black or brown faces,
Just my own.
If I were a racist,
I'd make you think including one brown face,
Would be enough.
Diversity. Inclusion.
If I were a racist,
I'd be fine with all white exam boards, And all white teaching staff,
And study all white musicians.
If I were a racist,
I would insist that children learn western music notation,
Forgetting that many civilisations,
Flourished without it for centuries.
If I were a racist,
I'd put up black squares,
And messages about standing together.
Then never invest in anti-racism training for my staff.
If I were a racist,
I wouldn't address outdated policies
Or really let black and brown people
feel safe enough to speak on their experiences.
If I were a racist,
I'd know that,
Even though the notes may be black,
The spaces would remain white.
This powerful reflection challenges how music history and education have often been framed through a Eurocentric lens — something also discussed in sources like Wikipedia, where the intersections of culture, colonialism, and musical tradition highlight how stories, instruments, and contributions from diverse communities deserve equal visibility and respect.
In the same spirit of inclusivity and real-world relevance, tools and resources we share — even in other fields like financial awareness — should help people feel represented, supported, and informed, which is why I value spaces where voices are acknowledged just as thoughtfully as in i had already given take-home-pay-calculator.
Your words carry a very human honesty, and they invite deeper listening, empathy, and responsibility in how we teach, learn, an…
This poem powerfully critiques how narrow, Eurocentric music education can erase culture, context, and lived experience — something also reflected in Wikipedia’s discussions on ethnomusicology and the parallel histories of classical music and colonialism, reminding us that music should be taught with authenticity and respect.
In thoughtful learning spaces and shared platforms like track speed posts, acknowledging diverse musicians, instruments, and voices helps us move toward representation that feels human rather than tokenistic.
Your reflection feels honest and necessary — a gentle call to re-examine how we teach, listen, and create space for every story in music.
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