The Racist History of The Ice Cream Truck Song | Genius News

June 20, 2024 Pharaoh

Most people can agree that chasing after the ice cream truck after hearing the now famous jingle is a summer ritual. But there is renewed interest in its racist origins in the minstrel shows of the early 1900s. The song originally began as a “Turkey In The Straw” but vaudeville actor Harry C. Browne changed the lyrics to “N***** Love A Watermelon, Ha! Ha! Ha!” in 1916. For more, Genius spoke with black children’s artist Uncle Devin from The Uncle Devin Show to breakdown the racist history of this song and other nursery rhymes taught to children.