Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this product at The Range/Wilko is just plain racist?

230 replies

GardenNope · 19/11/2024 09:57

I've been complaining about this range of products since I saw them in my local store a few weeks ago.

I keep getting fobbed off with no response, or 'we aim to provide products for all tastes'.

This just seems to me like a blatant racist stereotype of Polynesian culture. But the company doesn't seem to agree at all. Am I losing my mind here because it seems very blatantly wrong to me?

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/single-solar-tiki-water-sports-ornament-in-assorted-styles/p/8087004

Single Solar Tiki Water Sports Ornament in Assorted styles | Wilko

Shop for Single Solar Tiki Water Sports Ornament in Assorted styles at wilko - where we offer a range of home and leisure goods at great prices.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/single-solar-tiki-water-sports-ornament-in-assorted-styles/p/8087004

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Nothatgingerpirate · 19/11/2024 11:24

UpUpUpU · 19/11/2024 10:07

I cannot say it provokes anything in me.

Just don't buy one and move on with your life?

Yep.
Don't be angry, it's nothing personal.

Mipil · 19/11/2024 11:24

TulipTuesday · 19/11/2024 10:36

Assuming you’re in the UK, which part of the country still commonly ‘blacks up’?!

Show quote history

Cornwall maybe? Morris dancers painting their faces black on Mummers day is a pagan winter solstice tradition. It had nothing to do with racism. The tradition comes from disguising your face by painting it black, the colour associated with the winter festivals. They were not dressing up as black people. However, singing spirituals and “ministrel” songs instead of Cornish folk songs while “blacked up” became part of the celebrations in the 19th century, which obviously is racist. Mummers Day was also known as Darking Day, which became contracted to “Darkie Day”, which also obviously has another racist meaning.

I believe there is still a Mummers Day festival in Padstow but the racist songs and name have gone. The tradition of camouflaging your face with black make up continues though. It’s controversial because although the original tradition has nothing to do with racism, the celebration became associated with racism.

Wishfives · 19/11/2024 11:23

Ooral · 19/11/2024 11:22

It's an ornament / toy. Give your head a wobble.
What do you have planned to be offended about tomorrow?

The local Morris dancers?! By most of her replies!

Original poster
GardenNope · 19/11/2024 11:23

Well I'm glad for all the discussion and I'm grateful for the different viewpoints! (Not sure all of the FFS type responses are wholly helpful.)

OP posts:
Ooral · 19/11/2024 11:22

It's an ornament / toy. Give your head a wobble.
What do you have planned to be offended about tomorrow?

BIossomtoes · 19/11/2024 11:17

TulipTuesday · 19/11/2024 10:36

Assuming you’re in the UK, which part of the country still commonly ‘blacks up’?!

Show quote history

I imagine she means dark Morris dancers which have roots in ancient pagan tradition.

Manxexile · 19/11/2024 11:15

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 19/11/2024 11:00

I'm with you on this... If I saw this in someone's house I would assume they were racist.

Why would you think 2 + 2 = 5?

Wishfives · 19/11/2024 11:14

@backinthebox so easily found at least four other people beat you to it........

backinthebox · 19/11/2024 11:13

GardenNope · 19/11/2024 10:39

To me it's just turning those statues into a racist stereotype.

(Re. blacking up: one example is that the local Morris dancers still do this locally, but it's actually very common in local carnivals and festivals too.)

Show quote history

Firstly, I think the ornament is tacky and I wouldn’t want it in my garden because of the tackiness, but it is not racist.

Secondly, I was curious about your statement about ‘blacking up’ being common, and in particular your reference to Morris dancers. I had always thought that the Morris dancing tradition of blacking their faces was not related to race so I had a quick check online, and found that it is thought that it began as a way of disguising dancers in a time before most British people would be aware that there were other races in the world. However in recent years it has been seen as problematic as the world is a smaller place and it cannot be claimed that Morris dancers are unaware of the likelihood of being accused of offensive behaviour. As a result of this the organisations that run Morris dancing in the U.K. have banned black disguises some years ago and any Morris troupe which still does it is banned from the organisations. There is a news article about this here: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/03/morris-dancing-groups-ban-blackening-faces/

This information, which is easily found online, leads me to suspect that you might be making that up.

Ytcsghisn · 19/11/2024 11:13

Awww OP, have you done your good deed of the day. By posting on social media about you outrage at social injustice. Have you not had enough likes and reposts on X on Facebook, to need to post on here.

Martin Luther King ain’t got nothing on you.

LeaveALittleNote · 19/11/2024 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

This is inappropriate.

ComtesseDeSpair · 19/11/2024 11:12

missymousey · 19/11/2024 11:06

I don't see how it's different to a golly doll. So yes, racist and YANBU.

Golliwogs were invented by white people and were specifically intended to mock and caricature supposed features of black people’s faces which racists thought they had. You wouldn’t ever find a gollywog in a black person’s house. Tiki are not mockery or caricature, they are grotesque carvings, reminiscent of gargoyles, intended to frighten off evil spirits and unnerve the enemy in battle, made by Polynesian people themselves. Whilst you probably wouldn’t find a crap plastic model Tiki from Wilko in a Māori person’s house, you would very possibly find a traditionally made Tiki. That’s how it’s different.

IamAutumn · 19/11/2024 11:11

You should go to Mexico and see some of the local made tat. Day of the deadhideous!

MorettiForMargo · 19/11/2024 11:10

missymousey · 19/11/2024 11:06

I don't see how it's different to a golly doll. So yes, racist and YANBU.

A Golly is the actual face of a black person exaggerated.

This is a Tiki figure wearing a MASK, it's not based on the actual face of a Polynesian person. It's part of an ancient tradition depicting Polynesian deities/scaring away evil spirits. It's not a representation of a person.

That's the difference.

The ignorance of Polynesian culture on here is more racist than the ornament.

KindlyOldGoat · 19/11/2024 11:10

GardenNope · 19/11/2024 10:25

I suspect you are right, and we will basically return to the days when it was absolutely fine to throw around sexist and racist tropes.

I live in a part of the country where 'blacking up' is still very common and I genuinely do find this product offensive.

Show quote history

My god, which part of the country is this?! And in what context?

Wishfives · 19/11/2024 11:09

GardenNope · 19/11/2024 11:08

I barely see a tiki mask in these figures. They are lounging on rubber rings and drinking.

Show quote history

If you can't see the tiki mask..... Then why are you offended?! Bonkers

ThatCoralShark · 19/11/2024 11:09

Is it any god representation you find racist. Or simply Polynesian ones?

Laiste · 19/11/2024 11:09

Would a (crap) statue of Ganesh (Indian god) be racist as well?

nosleepforme · 19/11/2024 11:09

I’m from a different culture and we like when there are products that represent us (obviously in a respectful way). It’s only people from other cultures that complain about it. Of course, like I said it needs to be respectful. I’m really not understanding this product so I’m not sure on this

Original poster
GardenNope · 19/11/2024 11:08

snotathing · 19/11/2024 11:07

So a Tiki figure representing fictional gods is rascist because it's ...made out of wood? I don't know what sort of mind sees a Tiki mask and thinks gollywog.

Edited

I barely see a tiki mask in these figures. They are lounging on rubber rings and drinking.

OP posts:
MrTiddlesTheCat · 19/11/2024 11:07

I was expecting to say you were being OTT but my word, they're bad. They remind me of those awful 'gollies' that plagued us as kids.

snotathing · 19/11/2024 11:07

So a Tiki figure representing fictional gods is rascist because it's ...made out of wood? I don't know what sort of mind sees a Tiki mask and thinks gollywog.

Calliecarpa · 19/11/2024 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wow, talk about a snobbish, prejudiced generalisation.

missymousey · 19/11/2024 11:06

I don't see how it's different to a golly doll. So yes, racist and YANBU.

Laiste · 19/11/2024 11:05

oh god x posted with loads 😂