To think this was inappropriate?

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

I was driving this morning and I ended up waiting behind a car that had a few teddies on the parcel shelf, facing outwards. At first thought that was quite cute but I noticed the one on the right was a golliwog doll. As from as I was aware these dolls were designed as a racist insult? I was a bit shocked but I don't know if I am behind the times on this?

Manu I fear you're not well.

I'm not defending the word WOG. I was merely pointing out where it comes from. Or where I believed it to have come from. It's not a word I use often unless I'm talking to a sibling

Also, I don't seek out displays. I'm really not that motivated.

I do buy golly-related stuff. Mainly though because I thrive on the social awkwardness that accompanies the transaction.

BoffinMum it's more about challenging what is seen as everyday 'acceptable' racism. Unless people stop seeing the little things as OK, how do you expect to change the bigger things?

We played with them when we were kids, lots of kids of all backgrounds and races, we didn't have toys of our own, (childrens home) we had all different sorts of dolls to play with and they were just dolls, simply dolls with absolutely nothing to do with race, we associated them more with jam than anything else. I still think jam when I see them now

I wouldn't buy one and I do think they are offensive but I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion that someone was racist for owning one. That said I find Barbie dolls pretty offensive too

'Pointing out where it comes from' doesn't make it less offensive. Can you see that?

Why do you feel the need to keep repeating it in capitals?

Crystal I seem to read a thread on this subject once or twice a year. You've just given me the horrible thought that -of course - there must be much more

I didn't say that it did (though it can in some instances be useful by way of an explanation)

I believe it to be a mneumonic/acronym. that's why I write it in capitals.

I wonder if racism isn't largely connected to societies in which there are at least two fairly large groups. I'm thinking of the Southern states in the USA, for example. The BNP seem to thrive in areas with significant BME communities. Where the population is pretty much all white, racism isn't an issue.

I'm thinking of a friend's sister who married an African in their tiny Scottish village back in the 1970s. Everyone who wasn't actually invited was hanging about outside the church to watch the wedding party arrive. The groom was very well received. People said he was a fine figure of a man, and that he carried himself like royalty. To them he was a novelty, and nobody thought of racism. The bride had met him in London and apparently him being from there was just as intriguing as his colour.

The nursery rhyme 'ten little n..... or 'ten little indians', pick your title, was not written by Enid Blyton as a couple of poster have said. It was around long, long before she was born.

I do buy golly-related stuff. Mainly though because I thrive on the social awkwardness that accompanies the transaction

You thrive on people judging you to be racist, or at least be too stupid to know how racist they are? You have a collection of golliwog things just because you knwo them to be unacceptable?
There is so much wrong with that I don't know where to begin.

Hereward - the song is in a 1944 book of short stories "The 3 Golliwogs"

The nursery rhyme 'ten little n..... or 'ten little indians', pick your title, was not written by Enid Blyton as a couple of poster have said. It was around long, long before she was born

Nope, Written in 1868 for a minstrel show by Septimus Winner. Agatha Christie was born in 1860. So she was older than the song.

Long befor Enid Blyton was born, I think she meant.

No, User Enid Blyton was born in 1897.

Nope, september 15th 1890, in Torquay.
www.agathachristie.com/about-christie#christies-life

so we were both wrong, but your assertion that the rhyme was "long long before she was born" is also wrong!

Ah, I'm confusing myself. Point still stands, its not long long before either of them were born, since they were contemporaries!

You thrive on people judging you to be racist, or at least be too stupid to know how racist they are? You have a collection of golliwog things just because you knwo them to be unacceptable?
There is so much wrong with that I don't know where to begin.

I am not white. That's where the social awkwardness arises.

I can't help it. It's like an illness!

I find Golliwogs very racist and very offensive and I think it's small minded at best for anyone to think that just because you grew up playing innocent dollies with them that they are OK.

Someone I know was chased down the street by racists chanting "get the wog" apparently that was common when he was growing up in the 80s.

More recently I was in Blackpool walking on my own and was surrounded by a stag do all wearing golliwog masks while doing monkey impressions.

MaliceInWonderland78
I can't believe the rubbish your posting you are obviously racist and unhinged!

1. Obviously you are not unreasonable- they should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

2)You are being incredibly unreasonable, they are just cute dollies that have nothing at all to do with black people and it's fine now we call them gollies not golliwogs

3. All my black friends laugh at "professionally offended" white people getting upset on their behalf- they all love gollies

4. I am black and I collect gollies.

5. I have one my dear old granny gave me- how dare you say she was a racist?

Have I missed anything?

Growing up, I never realised that a golliwog was meant to be a black person, they are such an absurd caricature. I can though see why they could be offensive, and this offensiveness is pretty well known. It's not as though there is no alternative toy, so I think anyone firmly sticking to their right to display a golly is probably trying to make a racist point. There is a difference between owning one since childhood, and openly displaying a symbol you know may be offensive.

Merely a Contrarian Ghanagirl

I'm certainly not racist. My STBXW is white. My children are 'part white'

I do not discriminate in my discrimination......

Malice is not white. That means her purchasing golliwogs for lols is a bit different to a white person doing it - and fair enough. Black people, being individuals, may or may not be bothered by someone owning, displaying or buying a golly, and that's up to them.

Well, apart from the fact that she is validating their existence every time she buys one.