To assume someone who has a gollywog from childhood is racist?

[InigoTaran]

Me and my partner are currently having a discussion about this and he wants to know whether it's true that black people associate gollywogs with racism...?

It always astounds me when people take great offence at being called racist yet don't stop to consider any behaviour they might've exhibited to provoke that conclusion. It's almost like being labelled a racist is worse than being a racist.

As for golliwogs, it isn't hard to look into the history behind them and realise why they're offensive. Instead people go "OMG THEY'RE JUST TOYS" and refuse to analyse any further than that.

I've got one, it's in a box in the loft with other old toys. It was my mothers and is about 80 years old. I won't be getting rid of it.

I like to display characatures of black people all over my home. Yes I've read the link about the history of golliwogs , yes I am told many black people consider them racist, but no, I am not racist in any way.

Naturally my opinion on my lack of being racist is more reliable than historical evidence, or the opinions of black people or anyone else on these matters.

So there!

Getting rid of someone you love because you have discovered they are a negro seems to me the very definition of racism

You might want to re- think using "negro"

www.independent.co.uk/voices/barack-obama-oriental-negro-removed-offensive-terms-us-law-alien-a7052546.html

TestTube

I like to display characatures of black people all over my home

Why?

Because you objectify them that's why.

Because you think they're "exotic" or something equally offensive?

You're racist.

The whole shocked outrage shite coupled with, "I love my Golly! That doesn't mean I'm racist!"

Is BULLSHIT.

Person 1: That Golly offends me.

Person 2": Why?

Person 1: Because they're associated with the black and white minstrel show which objectified and ridiculed black people.

Person 2: But I'm not racist!

Person 1: Yes...you are...because you're not LISTENING. That Golly is offensive.

Person: 2: But it's just a toy!

Person 1: NO it fucking isn't...it's a symbol of hate.

On and fucking on.

Dimwits.

Mrs, I think Testtube was taking the piss. Or at least I hope she was!

Testtube's posts are parodies of the I love my golly but I'm not a racist posts

Getting rid of someone you love because you have discovered they are a negro seems to me the very definition of racism

That's not why people get rid of gollywogs

Oh shit! Sorry TestTube I've had an irony failure! I imagined you had all those tacky statuettes of black musicians etc...and African art figures!

Getting rid of someone you love because you have discovered they are a negro seems to me the very definition of racism

The parodies continue.

Hopefully.

But I feel sorry for all the unloved gollywogs who have been rejected and isolated for reasons they cannot understand.
'why won't Jimmy play with me?'
Because Jimmy's mother has decided that for historical and political reasons, your appearance brings shame on the family'
Very sad.

It says a lot that it is difficult to tell parody from genuine...........

If we are going to have to take into account the feelings of some bits of wool, I fear we shall get nowhere.

But hey, I'll play along: So, little gollywog, Jimmy's mother feels profoundly comfortable with her son playing with a toy that was specifically designed to mock and ridicule black people. Jimmy's mother does realise that her own mother collected you for the jam or whatever, and she isn't condemning her mother for her ignorance, but she has opened her eyes and mind a little bit, and as a consequence cannot really feel okay about you being on show now she knows what she does.

The OP asked do black people equate gollies with racism?

The answer is that yes, they do.

The parodies continue

Hopefully

No , I don't think that last one is a parody if you look at the whole post it was part of.

Getting rid of someone you love because you have discovered they are a negro seems to me the very definition of racism. Having a black doll, characterisation or not, and not playing with it or throwing it away because you have been woken up to the fact it's black, and therefore shameful, doesn't sound like positively addressing racism to me. 😂 I don't know what to say. If I was in movie I would be walking round the room slowing with my blood boiling while thinking about out how idiotic this comment is, and whether it deserved a response or not. I just can't take this. 😂

I really can't take this! This serves a meme of its own. I thought some of the post was bad but this takes then biscuit

scaryclown

Getting rid of someone you love because you have discovered they are a negro seems to me the very definition of racism. Having a black doll, characterisation or not, and not playing with it or throwing it away because you have been woken up to the fact it's black, and therefore shameful, doesn't sound like positively addressing racism to me

I'm sure the poster will correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is intended to be taken at face value; including the non-ironic use of "negro".

My golliwog was given to me by my grandmother in the 1940 era., I had never seen a black toy boy before ! she told me then,, that this is what little boys in Africa looked like, I perhaps didn't even know where Africa was in those days. But really loved little golly,, I called him Sooty, as always associated black with coal and soot in the fire grate, simple things, simple life, just a toy. And you don't see what is wrong with your comment? Are people being serious? . has this turned into a joke? What you said here was the premise of the toy. The last sentence says it all. You don't see it.

'this is what little boys in Africa look like'

Where to start .....

Some of the people posting are not different to Rachel dolezal way of thinking and how she explain her love for black people. All based on fantasies they have created as children from information fed to them and they all think it's normal and ok to spout out. We should all applaud their effort in loving the black idea they fed and this makes it all alright.

I don't think you can all say it's sarcasm I am not get it, because if it is, then it's of poor taste and the only people laughing are those telling the jokes.

I think I am going to assume that all the pro gollywog posts are parody. It's the only way I can maintain any sort of peace of mind.

@BertrandRussell I doubt it because I don't see how anyone would make light of such a subject to such an extent with those details. Anyone who can do has an evil mind and I truly don't see the funny side of it.

My DH had one as a child, it now lives at my MIL's house. He can be a bit UKIP, but he's not racist, it's just a toy he was given by his own grandma as a baby. MIL tried to bequeath it to us "for the baby", which I had to put my foot down about...

Quencher- you do know that a lot of the posts are parody, don't you?