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?

I do think some people are totally unaware of the racial connotations the gollie dolls. How they don't know I have no idea, but they are genuinely unaware. Also, there are some arseholes like those who Trying met on a stag do that use the doll to carry on being racist, anti-social thugs. Or possibly there are those that know the gollie has racist connotations but they were so attached to theirs as a doll and didn't think about this at all when they were children (innocent to it I guess) that now they don't think of the gollie as being racist, though they know that it is for others.

So the driver could have been:

1. totally ignorant of the racial connotations
2. aware of the racial connotations but her love of the doll overroad that
3. an anti-social racist

Which one we will never know. I would plump for no.2 - knowing about the history of the gollie to some extent, but having personal connections with that particular doll when they had it in a time when they were mass produced. Trouble is, it is offensive to many so really I would have thought they should keep said doll inside somewhere and not have it on public display.

My grandmother has a couple from her childhood, because 'Golly' is her nickname (a play on her initials).

Personally I hate them. But I know she's not racist - to her they're sentimental trinkets.

But whenever we're at her house I do try and 'move' them out of the view of the DCs.

I utterly refuse to believe that anyone today could be unaware that gollywogs are racist.

My mother explained to me why they were nearly 50 years ago ffs!

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

Possibly, but if they die out, I'll be deprived of one of my few pleasures.

The fact is, you rarely see them anymore. As a parent (father) to ostensibly mixed-race children, I think there are other things (not even related to race) that keep me awake at night.

"Ostensibly mixed race"

This gets better and better!

Oh malice, I get it your one of those...

Oh dear.

"ostensively" mixed race.

sigh

Odd thing to have in a car anyway. I am old enough to remember the labels on the back of the jam jars you could collect and send off for your own doll. My parents never did! I didnt associate it then with anything racist, but i would now there is more publicity about its origins and i am surprised that anyone would have it on display like that if i am honest.
(Sorry if that sounds a bit sniffy! )

My DD had a black doll , not a gollie.

I never had a gollie but did have white and black dolls (1960s).

I personally would not want one but see others do.

I am with those who say why have a row of teddy bears in a car anyway ?

Just going back to the original post it wasn't actually a row there were only 3 teddies so it was hard to miss. It was a man driving but I couldn't see any car seats so I don't know if he had children or not. The only excuse I can see is if he was completely unaware of any negative connotations whatsoever (although it's hard to believe) but as pp mentioned we will never know.

There is no comparison between black dolls and gollywogs.

Possibly, but if they die out, I'll be deprived of one of my few pleasures

Wow, how sad your life must be!! Thats truly pathetic.

Did I say there was BertrandRussell ?? No.

I commented on my opinion of gollies in the post also ,, Is that alright with you ?

I utterly refuse to believe that anyone today could be unaware that gollywogs are racist.

My mother! Who bought one for my DD and gave it straight to her, over the top of my objections. Of course, DD bloody loved it and wouldn't be parted with it. Took it to bed with her, the works. Eventually I managed to consign it to the bottom of the toy box...where it stayed for a few months, only to reappear in its full glory one day that the very nice (black) TV engineer came to fix our TV. I was absolutely mortified! Luckily, he laughed his head off at the story and (I hope!) wasn't offended, but I was cursing my mother royally all day....