The following old German poem is about three boys who make fun of the skin colour of a black boy.

This original poem by Heinrich Hoffmann from 1845 shows that at that time, 177 years ago, it was socially not at all okay to make fun of other skin colours.


This poem was meant to encourage and educate children to be sensible and tolerant of foreign guests.

I find it very interesting, whereas at the same time in some parts of the USA it was going strongly in the other direction…

The poem has since been translated many times into other languages, especially English, but not literally. It has been translated so that it rhymes again, but I find that this has created a whole new sense!

Let’s take a closer look at the poem now, I will translate it exactly into English piece by piece here.

The 4 matching images, please open them in a new browser window and keep them handy so that you can quickly view them at the right places in the text!


Die Geschichte von den schwarzen BubenThe Story of the Inky Boys
Es ging spazieren vor dem Tor ein kohlpechrabenschwarzer Mohr.A coal-black Moor was walking in front of the gate.
Die Sonne schien ihm aufs Gehirn,da nahm er seinen Sonnenschirm.The sun was shining on his brain,so he took his parasol.
Da kam der Ludwig hergerannt und trug sein Fähnchen in der Hand.Then Ludwig came running here, carrying his little flag in his hand.
Der Kaspar kam mit schnellem Schrittund brachte seine Brezel mit;Kaspar came with a quick stepand brought his pretzel with him
und auch der Wilhelm war nicht steifund brachte seinen runden Reif.and Wilhelm was not stiff eitherand brought his round hoop.
Die schrien und lachten alle drei,als dort das Mohrchen ging vorbei,weil es so schwarz wie Tinte sei!They all three screamed and laughed,when the little moor went by,because it was as black as ink!
Da kam der groĂźe Nikolausmit seinem groĂźen TintenfaĂź.Then the great St. Nicholas camewith his big inkwell.
Der sprach:”Ihr Kinder, hört mir zu,und laĂźt den Mohren hĂĽbsch in Ruh!He said: “You children, listen to me,and leave the Moor alone!
Was kann denn dieser Mohr dafĂĽr,daĂź er so weiĂź nicht ist wie ihr?”What can this Moor do about it,that he is not as white as you?”
Die Buben aber folgten nicht,und lachten ihm ins Angesichtund lachten ärger als zuvorüber den armen schwarzen Moor.But the boys did not follow,and laughed in his faceand laughed harder than beforeat the poor black moor.
Der Niklas wurde bös und wild,- du siehst es hier auf diesem Bild!Niklas got angry and wild,- you can see it here in this picture!
Er packte gleich die Buben fest,beim Arm, beim Kopf, bei Rock und West`.He immediately grabbed the boys,by the arm, by the head, by the skirt and the waistcoat.
Den Wilhelm und den Ludewig,den Kaspar auch, der wehrte sich.Wilhelm and Ludewig,Kaspar too, he resisted.
Er tunkt sie in die Tinte tief,wie auch der Kaspar: “Feuer!” rief.He dips them deep into the ink,just as Kaspar shouted: “Fire!”.
Bis ĂĽbern Kopf ins TintenfaĂźtunkt sie der groĂźe Nikolas.Up to his head in the inkpotthe great Nikolas dips them.
Du siehst hier, wie schwarz sie sind,viel schwärzer als das Mohrenkind.You see here how black they are,much blacker than the Moorish child.
Der Mohr voraus im Sonnenschein,die Tintenbuben hintendrein;und hätten sie nicht so gelacht,hätt´ Niklas sie nicht schwarz gemacht.The Moor ahead in the sunshine,the ink boys behind;and had they not laughed so,Niklas would not have made them black.

Did you already know this poem or a similar translation?
What do you think about this poem?
Has it changed your view of German history?