Revisiting the Racism that Inspired One of the World’s Bestselling Crime Novels

The original title of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” is a stark reminder of ‘yesterday’s’ white supremacism.

Introduction

That original title, as published in 1939, was “Ten Little Niggers.”

This is well known in literary circles, and not news. I do believe the source material for Christie’s most-lauded novel deserves a revisit, however, and I apologize in advance if this article serves as a trigger for some.

Why this? Why now?

Shouldn’t we be healing? Why am I reopening old wounds?

Because if white supremacism goes unchecked from today forward, what was once acceptable may become acceptable again. I’m one of those people who firmly subscribes to philosopher George Santayana’s adage, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

I do not believe in suppression. I believe we need to understand the underpinnings of racism, and not sweep it under the carpet.

“Ten Little Injuns”

“Ten Little Indians” was a children’s rhyme of indeterminate date of origin. The original verse, along…