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AIBU?

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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
OlennasWimple · 09/01/2018 19:26

Monkey chanting has long been a not-so-subtle form of racist abuse hurled at black footballers. Back in the 70s and 80s, but also more recently

justicewomen · 09/01/2018 19:27

Mistress Page You being mixed race is irrelevant .... if you have never experienced racism you are not an expert. So making judgements and pronouncements on what is and is not racist (dismissing the views of those who have lived experienced) demonstrates arrogance and lack of empathy

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:27

Gilead of course, we are all offended by different things. And we can debate and discuss. I expect to be able to do that without incurring vitriol or being called 'dim'. Manners cost nothing.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:28

I don't remember confirming that I had never experienced racism... that's quite a leap you've made. Just giving my view of this particular scenario.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:28

Its not so much that people aren't offended

Thats fine thats your opinion

Its the complete lack of understanding that someone DOES find it offensive

Weebo · 09/01/2018 19:28

Of course you can express your viewpoint but it's a bit childish to call anyone who challenges it a professionally offended keyboard warrior.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:29

And we are none of us experts

Faking · 09/01/2018 19:29

Stop pretending that you can compare like for like. A white person doesn’t not get to decide over a POC what is offensive and what is not.

This. Again and again.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:30

Weebo as childish as being called dim? Or arrogant? I think we're digressing

Coconutspongexo · 09/01/2018 19:30

Can people fuck off with the if you think it’s racist you’re a racist shout?

ToffeeUp · 09/01/2018 19:31

Once again, the top does not say cheeky little monkey, it says Coolest monkey in the jungle!

AppleTrayBake · 09/01/2018 19:31

Mistress you're the one who started the name calling, don't be ridiculous.

MistressPage · 09/01/2018 19:32

Rufus again you are another poster who has leapt to your own narrative and elaborated my viewpoint to fit it. I'm out on this one now, I'm all for debate but I can't be bothered to try and debate if anything I say is going to be extrapolated!

StripySocksAndDocs · 09/01/2018 19:33

They not want to Wishiwasholsk. As it will make their argument invalid (or maybe just lack strength: can't have Middle England).

"Monkey from the jungle" is a racist insult. It's not a cute comment. Those on this thread who have claimed that monkey has never been used as an insult are deluded.

It's not cheeky monkey or little monkey. It's a racist slur. I'm sorry for all those on this thread that want to pretend it's not. Maybe they want to hide their ignorance?

Having the awareness that monkey from the jungle is insulting doesn't make a person racist. Doesn't mean they think black people are monkeys; means they know it's used as an insult.

When I saw the picture of the boy I didn't think "ha look a monkey in a hoodie".

Whoever thought up the slogan is ignorant of the abusive use of the phrase. Not like it's a well know saying is it about as standard as "most super sausage in the supermarket" (silly sausage being a term some use to children).

The whoever thought it an idea to advertise a hoodie with a common racial slur using a child model who is of a racial background of people regularly subjected to the slur is ignorant too.

Not sure if a 'cheeky monkey' hoodie on a black model would have caused a similar reaction. Less likely I feel.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:34

I didnt see the advert

I wouldnt have connected the two things

I (like many others) have no problem with anyone calling their child a monkey or giving them monkey themed clothes (dinosaurs are better...fact)

Its the 'im not offended so no one should be' or 'if you think this was racist then you must be racist' and the 'monkey hasnt been used as an insult' comments that are making me a bit Shock

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:36

No i havent

I am honestly confused at your stance

Are you saying that its only people who may have connected the advert to racism that are racist

Or anyone who says that 'monkey' has been used as a derogatory term is being racist

NotACleverName · 09/01/2018 19:39

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

Can we just stop with this Hot Take now?

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:40

Well i might have a smidge...

Weebo · 09/01/2018 19:41

Mistress, I think you have unfortunately popped in at the tail end of this thread and people are a little er... exasperated.

I think it's only natural for things to get heated - Racism is such an important issue right now - I wouldn't take anything here personally.

MistressDeeCee · 09/01/2018 19:43

Appletray I was about to call you ridiculous in retaliation, but since you've said nothing of substance at all I find myself compelled not to. 1 sentence empty responses tend to bore me as much as the infinite numbers of ways racists find to state they're not racist, whilst completely denying examples of racism under their nose

I have a metaphorical pic of you all in blackface singing "we are the world" . Dressed as mice, in keeping with your willingness to open your mouth online to black people and deny their experiences, juxtaposed with your reality which is likely curtain-twitching.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:44

Yes you are right weebo

I was just coming back on to apologise

Sorry mistress i should have made my snarky comment and not used your name. That was very unfair of me as you obviously don't believe that and my comment would still have stood for any posters who did believe that

Sorry Thanks

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 09/01/2018 19:45

Sorry that was to mistresspage

Heartoffire · 09/01/2018 19:46

Bito Grin

Er it’s offensive and unpleasant, unnecessary and at best crass and stupid at worse racist and extremely cynical. I think it’s a publicity ploy.

mistress I think those here who are of colour or have children of colour and are telling you it’s offensive and they and their children have been called such terms are the experts.

Heartoffire · 09/01/2018 19:49

sureky it’s only racism if it’s meant to be racist

Yes like ‘show us your tits love’ is just banter!

IMightMentionGriddlebone · 09/01/2018 19:50

MistressDeeCee I think AppleTray was talking to MistressPage, not you.

MistressPage I can see you're offended, but how is it reasonable to say that only racists would have a problem with this?

As far as I can see, you just need a bit of experience of it being used as a vile term of racist abuse, and Bob's your uncle, you don't like black children being called monkeys.