Racist Or Just Nostalgic?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10435381/Councillor-denies-golliwog-dolls-are-racist-as-she-believes-they-have-smiling-little-faces.html

[youngmafbog]

Are Golliwogs illegal?

If so then all of this is fair enough, if not why is she dragged up in front of a disciplinary PANEL?

[pixie373]

I remember having one when i was young- i called it Peter. I'm sure the word "golliwog" was changed to "golly" at the time, too. I think if they called them something else, it would be less of a problem. Is there anything wrong with having a black icon?

[jno]

ah, those happy, smiling little picaninnies singing as dey pick de cotton!

[woofgang]

I wouldn't say "racist" but certainly these days they seem to be offensive...I mean its not a massive heritage landmark, can we not just let them go?

[dave50]

No, it's a doll for goodness sake. I used to collect them from the jam labels and it never entered my head that they might be connected in any way with black people. It's only since mainly white do-gooders have taken it upon themselves that certain sections of society need someone to be offended on their behalf.

[jno]

it never entered my head that they might be connected in any way with black people

You never actually looked at them, then?

[Zeuhl]

/Racist Or Just Nostalgic?/

Both probably

They are clearly a grotesque depiction of a Black stereotype

They also remind me of a beloved childhood toy that had been my mother's in the 1930s

So whilst I remember that fondly in its own context, I can't imagine any circumstances in which I would want one anywhere near me now

[Bazile]

//ah, those happy, smiling little picaninnies singing as dey pick de cotton //

jno - That should be pitnies

[jno]

ah, the pitnies, they sang "24 Hours from Tulsa".

[Bazile]

jno - ' pitnies' is also jamaican slang for children

[Old_Geezer]

Another attempt to just cause a fuss. Neither racist nor necessarily nostalgic, save that one sees fewer reference to golliwogs these days because of those who can't help themselves causing issues/trouble. They should let it go and get a grip on reality. I'd like to call for idiot campaigners to be banned.

[Zeuhl]

/those who can't help themselves causing issues/trouble. They should let it go and get a grip on reality/

I know OG

there were even some Jewish people who objected to those 'Auschwitz Dolls' - why couldn't they just appreciate their cute little gaunt faces and stripey pyjamas?

Some people eh?

[anotheoldgit]

What was the name of that black woman housekeeper who was always beating Sylvester the cat with her broom, she seems to have been censored out of the cast.

I ask because in Cuba I once bought a doll similar to that person, a black female doll of handsome proportions, with white turban and pinny, this was sold to me by a black Cuban, no problem at all.

[Zeuhl]

/ in Cuba I once bought a doll similar to that person, a black female doll of handsome proportions, with white turban and pinny/

And was it easy to inflate?