To think this is a racist expression?

[Mrsknackered]

'One cotton picking minute'. My GM uses it A LOT especially when dealing with our DC (who are mixed race, although this is irrelevant)
DP has already pulled her up on the amount of gollys displayed around the house (in paintings, cards, china ornomants) he explained the history of them too her, she seemed to understand, then the next time she had put them back up!
I told her I think the expression has racist/slavery roots and showed her the google result for the phrase (which the top post describes it as an awful racist phrase) she seemed upset and said that it definitely isn't, and she's sure it is said in an episode of Vicar of Dibley ()
Whilst I was packing the car to leave this morning, I heard her use it twice! I spoke to my mum who said that 'I shouldn't be too upset, as she honestly isn't doing it with bad intentions' but it's really grating on me.
AIBU? Everyone seems to think I'm being over the top! It is racist isn't it?!

Frankly the PC brigade, and the pearl clutchers make me sick.

^Racist, bigoted people make me sick

My DP is black, he has racism thrown at him a lot. this could be outing but my child appeared briefly on television, racist comments were thrown at him. In fact 'X Channel is encouraging the breeding of half castes' so no you don't have to worry about how I would react when I am actually confronted with racism, because this is something we deal with a lot more than I thought I would ever have to.

I knew things were racist but it wasn't until I met my DP and saw it firsthand, including him once kissing me goodbye to get on a coach when we first started dating and the coach driver saying 'n word lover'

I really think it is incredible that people don't see racism for what it is.

I know my DGM isn't 'trying' to be racist, but I think if she can be corrected why shouldn't I? I don't want her feelings to be hurt, but SIL was very shocked when she came to her house and saw a picture of a golli framed. How is she supposed to just naturally assume that it wasn't met with racist intent?

I'm American. "cotton-picking"is not racist to me. Southern yes. Poor whites and native Americans in south people had to pick their own cotton, too. I guess it's all done by machine now.

My grandfather was ripped from his home stripped beaten and forced to work on a farm as a slave. He was white. This was in world war 2.

My eldest often tells me cleaning his room or polishing his school shoes is slave labour. Bugs bunny and the vicar of dibley clearly need to be banned so no one else is offended.

She's 70 btw, for those who asked. And it's not only been white people I've corrected. I can't shelter DC from everything, but if I can put people right just to save them some discrimination, I will.

@greendale17

Racist, bigoted people make me sick

SLOW.

HAND.

CLAP.

Here have a medal.......... for your uber political correctness. 🎖️

And have a carrot too. 🥕

And don't forget to pat yourself on the back........

Me of course, I just LOVE racism and bigotry. 🙄

Good for you for picking up on that and telling me how much you hate it. 😴😴😴💤💤💤

Can someone précis for me WHY "cotton picking minute" is racist? Obviously cotton picking was hard work commonly done by alaves and the poor, in the old south where cotton was big business, but where does the racism come in? I only have one hand available.

I really hope "knackered" isn't a coat either not least because I'll struggle to rid mys le of that one

I've heard the phrase often on US TV and films - YY to Deputy Dawg and didn't Laurel and Hardy or someone say it a bit too? Had never thought about the origin before. I took it as a silly nonsense term to use instead of "damn" or something more offensive. A bit like when I say flipping heck instead of fucking hell.

So "wait a cotton picking minute love," instead of "wait a fucking minute love."

The racial overtones was completely lost on me but thanks all this has been very enlightening.

my child appeared briefly on television, racist comments were thrown at him. In fact 'X Channel is encouraging the breeding of half castes'

What?

That sounds appalling but I can't even begin to picture the attitudes or events behind it.

If an old lady has a golly toy or says 'cotton-picking minute' or 'half-caste' (purely and old fashioned term,) so WHAT?

Well you put the golly away out of the sight of children, certainly, for the same reason you hide page 3 calendars or nazi memorabilia.

"Half-caste" is a good deal worse than than merely old-fashioned. Have a good think about it.

Cotton-picking minute I'm reserving judgement on until someone explains or I get my arm back to Google.

Battleax Im guessing that it being a substitute for or a pretend swear word might explain the racist element? So implying that the work of black slaves is the same as "damn"

They are a pain in the fucking arse.

As are you @oliveinacampervan

💤💤😴

Surely it references speed though? Presumably because cotton picking was hard fast-paced work.

So I'm guessing that if the phrase IS dodgy it's because it's featured in an unpleasant stage act or impersonation in the past (?)

I don't really understand the substitute swearing theory if I'm honest.

I need to know, though, because I do use the expression a lot

I think if.u know she doesn't mean it in a racist way then it's fine. I have mixed raced kids and tgeir daddy my partner got our little boy a gollie. People now days see racism sometimes where there isn't any

Battleax I can PM you the site it was written on if you are interested. It wasn't the only one we saw, and we weren't actively looking!

Yes please. I'm curious now, but I'm holding an unfamiliar baby who was hard to settle

it is not racist- YABU.

I also used it Battleax until I met DP and he had his reservations about it.

I guess it's what you take from it, he was under the impression it was used as a term towards black slaves, and therefore was offensive to carry it on and use it in replacement of swear words.

I guess no one can provide the right or wrong answer, it's a decision you have to make for yourself.

It’s fairly easy to swap a phrase that might be considered offensive for another one.

I’m always surprised by the number of people who bend over backwards to find some tenuous link to something proving it’s not racist when usually, the most Logical conclusion - that it has its roots in slavery - is the likely one.

Golly defender to me = Wanker.

I have mixed raced kids and tgeir daddy my partner got our little boy a gollie

Seems a curious choice of toy out of the 100,000s of much nicer soft toys/ cuddly toys available.

I had a golly when I was little and loved it. At no point did I see it as a representation of black people but a toy that was black and had a flat face.I think some people look for racist meaning when there is none.

I had a golly when I was little and loved it. At no point did I see it as a representation of black people but a toy that was black and had a flat face.I think some people look for racist meaning when there is none.

But in the case of gollies there IS a racist undertone, it was just that you as a child (and many people for a long time) didn't see it.

goose1964 Well you are all grown-up now so presumably the penny has dropped.