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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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conniedescending · 21/08/2015 08:02

Good lord or course you can't give this as a present- particularly to a black woman! Am amazed so many people don't understand or haven't heard this term....where have you all been living?

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Vixxfacee · 21/08/2015 08:05

This must be a mumsnet thing where golliwogs are not seen as offensive, but a sweet toy that children play with.

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NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 21/08/2015 08:06

Horsey am I understanding you correctly - you think it's PC gone mad to object to golliwogs? Really?

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conniedescending · 21/08/2015 08:10

And as for golliwogs.....why anyone would want to collect and brag about owning racist symbols is mind boggling!

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BertrandRussell · 21/08/2015 08:11

No- plenty of people in real life think that about gollywogs. They are universally horrible and have other dodgy views too.

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PolterGoose · 21/08/2015 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

abbieanders · 21/08/2015 08:54

I always enjoy the way the gollywog owing community feign amazement that anyone could find them offensive but no matter what the toy or representations of toys under discussion, they pop up to proudly tell the world that they own gollywogs and that they're brilliant, can't see the fuss etc. If it was merely innocent owing of a toy, I wonder why they need to make such a pained point about it and preemptively respond to the criticism? It's almost like they're tedious bores who try to turn all conversations around to their pet topic, that they're not racist, they just want to say racist things, discriminate against people on the basis of race and own racially offensive paraphernalia.

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Vixxfacee · 21/08/2015 09:04

I agree with the last few posters.

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WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 21/08/2015 09:14

I also think it's a good idea to change it op.

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Itsmine · 21/08/2015 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bumbleymummy · 21/08/2015 09:43

In this context I would have thought it was the name of the bear. I wonder does that company maybe need to rethink its branding. They might not be aware that it could cause offence.

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paulapompom · 21/08/2015 09:51

I would have thought it was to do with the brown bear, but I think if a gift worries you, just swop it. Not worth having stress over doing a nice thing. Hope the colleague enjoys her gifts xx

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DoreenLethal · 21/08/2015 09:54

We are certainly not racist.

Think again love.

They might not be aware that it could cause offence.

You would have to have been living on another planet for the last 50 years if you weren't aware that could be racist. Or be a racist.

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bumbleymummy · 21/08/2015 10:05

So you think the company are being deliberately racist by calling their teddy range brown sugar?

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BertrandRussell · 21/08/2015 10:13

"You would have to have been living on another planet for the last 50 years if you weren't aware that could be racist. Or be a racist."

Actually, I wasn't. And I am neither a racist nor an extra terrestrial.

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joia · 21/08/2015 10:18

Bame/bme was on our 'should avoid using' list recently. It is too vague, for the very diverse people it can refer to, and we've been advised to be more specific instead.

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MokunMokun · 21/08/2015 10:20

I don't think the company are racist but it's context isn't it. If your boss is a black man then it would be inappropriate to drink your tea out of a "I

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joia · 21/08/2015 10:21

I'd replace the gift, OP, but thankfully it sounds like you've already decided to do that.

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Itsmine · 21/08/2015 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 21/08/2015 10:27

"I don't think the company are racist but it's context isn't it. If your boss is a black man then it would be inappropriate to drink your tea out of a "I

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Dawndonnaagain · 21/08/2015 10:31

Is this a pissing competition? I've got a better and bigger collection of racist memorabilia than you? Or is it just let's get together and be racist in public because it's oh so funny and oh so pc gorn wrong?

History lesson, again

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EcclefechanTart · 21/08/2015 10:39

I have a lovely collection of swastikas that my children like to play with. Can't see anything wrong with it myself - they play with squares, circles and stars as well. PC gone mad, innit?

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EcclefechanTart · 21/08/2015 10:43

Hang on what? A cup with "I love chocolate" is inappropriate? Is it?? I haven't heard this used as a slang term for anything and I've seen plenty of items on with slogans about chocolate. I can't believe it has a well-known racist meaning like "brown sugar".

OP you are doing the right thing. You can't give the wash bag to a Black woman as a gift. I would be offended.

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Goshthatsspicy · 21/08/2015 10:47

This is a funny thread.
I lived in the US ages...
Racist words/phases mentioned today, don't work there either.
I can only assume that poster lives below ground.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 21/08/2015 10:51

Every day is a learning day on Mumsnet.

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