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AIBU?

not to know if "brown sugar" is offensive.

342 replies

Charis1 · 20/08/2015 23:11

I am taking some gifts from work colleagues to a friend in hospital tomorrow. We had a collection, and one person bought the gifts from us all. We have some nice toiletries and things, but are in a toiletry bag with a picture of a teddy on it and the caption "brown sugar". I thought that term sometimes used in a racist context, so am reluctant to hand this over. but not sure if I am being paranoid and overly politically correct.

Please help!

OP posts:

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TheHouseOnTheLane · 21/08/2015 03:09

It sounds like the bag is one of those cheap Chinese made things where they stick any old English language slogan on it without being sure of it's meaning. It has no context...why put "Brown sugar" on a toiletries bag!

OP...does it have "Made in China" on the label?

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TheHouseOnTheLane · 21/08/2015 03:11

Garrick

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BastardGoDarkly · 21/08/2015 03:15

Agree with your decision to change the bag. And that your present buying colleague should never be in charge again.

I always though brown sugar by the stones was about heroin too.

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BastardGoDarkly · 21/08/2015 03:18

Holy shit, I've just googled the lyrics! That's awful, how the fuck did they get away with that?!

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musicalendorphins2 · 21/08/2015 03:42

My friend uses brown sugar and oil as a body scrub. You can buy toiltries that have brown sugar in the ingredients and name. [http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bath-Body-/11838/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=brown+sugar]]. I would check the ingredients ect before returning it.
[http://www.urtekram.com/products/body-care/body--face/brown-sugar-body-scrub-organic-380-g]]
Sephora [http://m.sephora.com/shop/search/fresh%20%20brown%20sugar]]

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Optimist1 · 21/08/2015 06:05

Personally I'd be very, very offended to be given anything with a teddy bear on it. Just saying ...

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LaContessaDiPlump · 21/08/2015 06:17

The lyrics, just in case you were all wondering:

"Brown Sugar"

Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
Sold in a market down in New Orleans
Scarred old slaver knows he's doing alright
Hear him whip the women just around midnight

Brown sugar how come you taste so good?
Brown sugar just like a young girl should

Drums beating, cold English blood runs hot
Lady of the house wonderin' where it's gonna stop
House boy knows that he's doing alright
You shoulda heard him just around midnight

Brown sugar how come you taste so good, now?
Brown sugar just like a young girl should, now

Ah, get along, brown sugar how come you taste so good, baby?
Ah, got me feelin' now, brown sugar just like a black girl should

I bet your mama was a tent show queen
And all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen
I'm no schoolboy but I know what I like
You shoulda heard me just around midnight

Brown sugar how come you taste so good, baby?
Ah, brown sugar just like a young girl should, yeah

I said yeah, yeah, yeah, woo
How come you... how come you taste so good?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo
Just like a... just like a black girl should
Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo

As others have said - cripes!

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VashtaNerada · 21/08/2015 06:41

Oh god I wouldn't give that to someone BME unless I knew their sense of humour really well and that they'd see the funny side. Unless they would laughingly refer to themselves as brown sugar it is massively innappropriate! (Can't believe the ppl on this thread who think it's political correctness gone mad - you may not have heard the term before but it is most definitely a thing!)

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siblingrevelryagain · 21/08/2015 06:59

I also can't believe the high-fiving over who has the biggest collection of now-known-to-be-offensive memorabilia. Strange thing to be proud of.

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NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 21/08/2015 07:02

Yeah, I'm in the UK and immediately thought of it as meaning 'sexually attractive black woman, in a kind of objectifying way'.

I get that you can argue the toss as to whether this is always and everywhere offensive (not when its actual brown sugar in the cupboard, obviously - are people really this ignorant?), but it seems definitely best avoided in the context you've given. Glad you're replacing.

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NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 21/08/2015 07:03

Agreed sibling.

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Reubs15 · 21/08/2015 07:41

Hmmm on the one hand it looks like it's the name of the bear. On the other hand it does have racial connotations. I've heard it being used as a term of endearment towards black women.
If you're unsure just swap it, get down to boots :)

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Reubs15 · 21/08/2015 07:44

LaContessa - thank you so much for using the word cripes! It's made my morning!
What an awful song!

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MsJuniper · 21/08/2015 07:45

I would have made the association too and would choose an alternative bag.

Yes the RS lyrics are - for some reason though I find it more whenever I read a thread with a question about race and there are always (educated?) adult women popping up to talk about golliwogs and baa baa green sheep type hysteria. Weird, embarrassing and one more reason to be extra careful not to get mistaken for one of them.

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ThursdayLastWeek · 21/08/2015 07:48

Those lyrics written down like that show me how little attention i pay to lyrics. Shit. That song is grim.

I would happily change the bag too OP.

Can I ask what BME stands for please?

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WitchOfAlba · 21/08/2015 07:51

On the mug it looks like it's the name of the bear. I wouldn't take offence, in fact it wouldn't have occurred to me that some might.

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Optimist1 · 21/08/2015 07:51

Black and Minority Ethnic, Thursday .

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Optimist1 · 21/08/2015 07:51

Black and Minority Ethnic, Thursday .

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Bakeoffcake · 21/08/2015 07:52

Agree with you sibling, very odd behaviour.

Those lyrics are shocking.

I'm glad you are changing the bag OP.

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ThursdayLastWeek · 21/08/2015 07:53

Thank you Optimist!

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StanSmithsChin · 21/08/2015 07:54

Sorry all I can see is that it is the name of the bear/brand like forever friends stuff. Would it be better if it was called brown bear?

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RoboticSealpup · 21/08/2015 07:59

Boots has some really glam looking wash bags at the moment. I think they're Ted Baker. And of course you're right to exchange this one, OP. And to wonder what the hell your colleague who bought it was thinking.

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horseygeorgie · 21/08/2015 08:00

I do think it is a bit close to the wire.
Not sure about the shock over Gollys, my DD has one. She also has white dolls and blue ones, purple bear, ones with spots etc. I think that really is PC going mad. We are certainly not racist.

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horseygeorgie · 21/08/2015 08:00

I do think it is a bit close to the wire.
Not sure about the shock over Gollys, my DD has one. She also has white dolls and blue ones, purple bear, ones with spots etc. I think that really is PC going mad. We are certainly not racist.

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BertrandRussell · 21/08/2015 08:01

"Well, it's not offensive here in the US anymore than referring to a black guy as dark chocolate."

Which of course happens all the time

Bloody hell- I've never read the lyrics of that song before- I'm shocked!

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Flip

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