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Original poster

Would you consider this racist? H&M advert

999 replies

BornInSydneyy · 08/01/2018 21:12

A young black boy wearing a jumper that says -

“Coolest monkey in the jungle”

I genuinely can’t understand how anyone thought that was acceptable.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:06

I don't find it racist at all. But then it wouldn't even occur to me to make the connection between black child and monkey. I call my small child a monkey all the time. I sort of think the people who make that connection to racism are a bit racist actually.

justicewomen · 09/01/2018 19:06

It is quite obvious that the person who earlier said that it is the intention of the act that is important not the impact knows nothing about hate crime, the law on racial harassment or even just common empathy

Badeyes77 · 09/01/2018 19:07

Why would you call them anything other than their name. If you want to use a term of endearment, just find one that's suitable across the board rather than one that's offensive to a section of society.

It's just something I hear children called a lot, "so and so's a cheeky monkey". That's where I got it from.

Weebo · 09/01/2018 19:08

A lot of racist shite usually begins with someone saying 'I'm not being racist but...'

But it's OK but they don't mean to be racist, yeah?

justicewomen · 09/01/2018 19:09

Mistress Page and all you others claiming to not see racism. Who made you chief arbiters? Get off your high horse and listen to those who have lived experience (and thus more expertise and credibility) of the impact of racism. Talk about privilege and lack of empathy!

Wishiwasholsk · 09/01/2018 19:09

All this crap of "cheeky monkey" .., so do you usually say "you cheeky monkey from the jungle" ... no I doubt you do.

How can people not register it's BOTH words used together.

CherryMaDeara · 09/01/2018 19:10

Most racists don't think they're racists. They think they're right.

Bimbler · 09/01/2018 19:11

I sort of think the people who make that connection to racism are a bit racist actually.

You sort of sound a bit dense.

How many dimwits is it now on this thread who have said that only racist people are aware of racism?

Badeyes77 · 09/01/2018 19:14

All this crap of "cheeky monkey" .., so do you usually say "you cheeky monkey from the jungle" ... no I doubt you do.

If this was a response to my comment, I was taking about cheeky monkey on its own, not the t-shirt.

BakedBeans47 · 09/01/2018 19:14

I sort of think the people who make that connection to racism are a bit racist actually.

Does that include the black people on the thread who have been called monkeys as a racially abusive term?

Badeyes77 · 09/01/2018 19:14

And I wasn't defending the usage of it, I asked a question about it in a previous post.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:15

Wow, some really rude people around tonight! I am mixed race by the way. Not offended by the monkey thing. Sorry if that offends the professionally offended and incredibly rude keyboard warriors on here!

Coconutspongexo · 09/01/2018 19:16

Please notice the banana being thrown at John Barnes. Maybe a visualisation of racism can help some people.

Would you consider this racist? H&M advert
IMightMentionGriddlebone · 09/01/2018 19:16

I don't find it racist at all. But then it wouldn't even occur to me to make the connection between black child and monkey. I call my small child a monkey all the time. I sort of think the people who make that connection to racism are a bit racist actually.

People are not manufacturing a connection. People are horrified by this hoodie, because they, their children and/or their friends have been called monkeys as part of racial verbal abuse.

If you are white, have white family, and white friends, you might be unaware of this. But even though you've never witnessed it, black men, women and children have been subjected to racist abuse.

Weebo · 09/01/2018 19:19

Mistress your not being offended by it isn't the problem.

It's your suggestion that those who are are somehow racist.

Bimbler · 09/01/2018 19:20

Please notice the banana being thrown at John Barnes. Maybe a visualisation of racism can help some people.

Plenty of the determinedly dim on this thread will probably say it's just a loving fan who wants to ensure he reaches his 5 fruit and veg a day.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2018 19:22

Mistress-earlier I mentioned my son, who is a football referee. I said that last November he sent off a plYwr who was making monkey noises at a player on the other team. Do you think he was wrong and there was no racism involved?

AppleTrayBake · 09/01/2018 19:23

Plenty of the determinedly dim on this thread will probably say it's just a loving fan who wants to ensure he reaches his 5 fruit and veg a day.

Grin

I was going to write something similar, but you've put it beautifully!

These posters are just not aware of the connection, apparently Hmm

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:24

Weebo but I AM black and I'm sort of offended by people making the connection instead of just going 'oh look a cute kid in a sweatshirt, cheeky little monkey' The people who have made the blackness into an issue. It might be a different viewpoint to the one that fits your narrative but I am allowed to have and express that viewpoint.

Gilead · 09/01/2018 19:24

Mistress, just because you'r not offended by it doesn't mean others aren't. Because you're not hurt by it, doesn't mean others aren't, my dd is. Because you don't consider it racist, doesn't mean it isn't. People aren't being keyboard warriors, they're being distressed.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:25

Bertrand that's clearly a VERY different scenario and yes that I would find offensive.

Weebo · 09/01/2018 19:25

Bim. :o

There are quite a few of people pretzeling themselves in order to make everyone else seem PO.

Ljlsmum · 09/01/2018 19:25

I don't think it's racist- I think it's a phrase that lots of parents or adults say about children. What if you saw a black family buying the top for their son or daughter- would you put your seemingly racist thoughts onto the parents and say " oh I don't think you should buy that" ? I think you'd look like the racist for making the connection that the family had not. I bet most of the people shouting it's racist are white.

glitterglitters · 09/01/2018 19:26

Nope. I think it's just people reading too deeply into stuff tbh. Surely they're the ones making assumptions Sad

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:26

Well i assume mistress thinks that if John Barnes is at all offended by that then he is obviously a racist

I will give my uncle a ring...he will be delighted to know that because he was a bit upset at people yelling that he is a monkey and should go back to the jungle that he is a bit racist

Naughty naughty uncle

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