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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
April229 · 09/01/2018 23:11

Thanks @cherry.

When people stop doing monkey chants and jungle jokes, and everyone forgets that black were called monkeys, then it maybe fine to sell 'the coolest monkey in the jungle' hoodies. - I’m really sorry to say that I thought we were there. It’s not that I had never heard the reference before in some dated 70s sitcom alongside all manner of other sexist, homophobic ridiculousness, but genuinely not beyond that. Other terms yes, but not that, which is why viewing this advert as racist wouldn’t have been my view, and that’s what the post asked.

Completely agree, in the UK white people are the majority. And there are hardly any negative slurs against White People and certainly none that I can think of that would be considered common parlance. I worked with a mixed race boy who was autistic and had Tourette’s once , who used to refer to the white members of staff who worked with him as “crackers” and me and another lady “ honky’s” and occisaionally a “honky white bitch. Not phrases I imagine being bandied about at a local primary school in reference to my DD in 2018! I think the point I was making was that I would just really hope that race wouldn’t be a thing that would define my daughter if that’s what made her different in a context, I wouldn’t want her sex, or region, or sexual orientation (when one emerges) to define her in a situation where that ever made her stand out either. And that’s how I would like her to behave with others around her, if that make sense. I acknowledge that if I was writing this as mother of a DD who was black that the prospect of this pidgeon holing happening would unfortunately be more real than if my white daughter was to attend a magority non-white school in the uk, or propbably else where.

Zarathrustra · 09/01/2018 23:14

Ta for edited post quencher.

Tbf I (and others) use terms like ‘shouty’ to denote a particular style of politics - often that of white students - rather than an ethnic group.

Buck3t · 09/01/2018 23:14

@Faceoddity

My mum is black. She has experienced racism. She always called me cheeky monkey when I was young. Maybe I should have pointed out her blatant racism...

And in the 1980s I was called "tarbaby" by relatives. So yeah you should have pointed out her blatant racism.

Literally cannot believe what you are spouting on here.

Zarathrustra · 09/01/2018 23:15

You ‘literally’ can’t believe them...

spiritofadventure · 09/01/2018 23:16

Ghanagirl don't be so quick to make assumptions. I'm a dark skinned mixed race woman who grew up in a smaller fishing village in Yorkshire - trust me, I've had my fair share of racism.

Still, I cannot bring myself to get worked up over this advert.

Zarathrustra · 09/01/2018 23:18

I’ve no desire to ‘save you’ ponder, but I’d like you to point out where I said I ‘volunteer in Mental Health’

Gilead · 09/01/2018 23:19

That's a shame Spirit, the more of us that get worked up, the less likely it is to continue.

PonderWoman · 09/01/2018 23:21

Zara, so you worked with a MH charity and didnt volunteer. Still attention seeking I see. This will be my last post to you.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 09/01/2018 23:22

I’d like you to point out where I said I ‘volunteer in Mental Health’

Zara You referred to having having worked for a MH charity. I suspect that is possibly what a PP was referring to.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 09/01/2018 23:23

x-post with PonderWoman

Zarathrustra · 09/01/2018 23:24

Yeh Ponder, accuracy = attention seeking.

this will be my last post to you

Well thank fuck for that Smile

Zarathrustra · 09/01/2018 23:25

Her ‘volunteer’ remark was part of her screed about my (white) ‘privilege’. ‘Coz whitey doesn’t do minimum wage care work. Obvs.

quencher · 09/01/2018 23:29

What is people's obsession with bloody "cheeky monkey". No on one is bloody taking that term away. THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Can I shout this any louder for the people in the back and all the late comers. I see a brick wall in front of me. Hmm CHEEKY MONKEY IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Stating it agin.

Can some one repeat it to all the parents and ralatives on here please that checkey monkey is not the problem.

Did you here what I have just said. Cheeky monkey is not the problem.
I don't think you heard me. Cheeky monkey is not the problem.

After saying cheeky monkey so many times, I think I need a record deal to make sure it plays on the radio to say that cheeky mo key is not the problem. I will repeat it again before I get bored. Cheeky monkey is not the problem.

Don't be afraid, the precious cheeky monkey is not the problem.

Any questions on why it's the cheeky monkey is not the problem?

Don't be afraid to ask why the cheeky monkey is jot the problem

I will answer, this though, look at the bloody slogan. I will whisper, cheeky monkey is not the slogan and tell you what. IT'S NOT THE BLOODY PROBLEM!

Did I break that bloody wall Grin

Ghanagirl · 09/01/2018 23:29

spiritofadventure
Happy for you...

Beansonapost · 09/01/2018 23:30

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CALLED A MONKEY?

And NO not cheeky little monkey.... BUT MONKEY!

and please to read: ||www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/03/why-no-long-talking-white-people-review-race-reni-eddo-lodge-racism||

Maybe some of you can go and explore a few more articles of this nature or even read the book.

Ignorance is not bliss, its 2018! Some of you cannot simply be this dim!

Also, what would your views be if this was a red hair child in a hooded sweater with an orangutang on it?

ToffeeUp · 09/01/2018 23:37

quencher the wall keeps repairing itself, every time you think you get through to people, up pops another cheeky monkey one.

It's been like that from the start of this thread, heads probably break before that bloody wall

quencher · 09/01/2018 23:41

Tbf I (and others) use terms like ‘shouty’ to denote a particular style of politics - often that of white students - rather than an ethnic group. That is why context matters. That is why I said "on a thread like this one". Different aim, different demographic. Words can change completely tone and meaning completely based on history.

quencher · 09/01/2018 23:53

I should have reread my cheeky monkey rant before posting. If anyone is bothered to read through it they will know cheeky monkey is not the problem and it's here to stay.

I shall go and dream about cheeky monkeys. 🐵🙊🙈🐒🙉

Bejazzled · 10/01/2018 00:00

Also, what would your views be if this was a red hair child in a hooded sweater with an orangutang on it?

I would think 'there's a child over there' nothing else.
I didn't see the racism in the H&M photo either but now it's been so volubly pointed out that it upsets people then it's right that they withdrew it. Sad indictment of the world we live in though.

PonderWoman · 10/01/2018 00:02

Quencher Grin

How many posts before someone comes along and tell us how they see no racism in a hoodie with a cute little cheeky monkey slogan!

Lizzie48 · 10/01/2018 00:07

*Quencher

How many posts before someone comes along and tell us how they see no racism in a hoodie with a cute little cheeky monkey slogan!*

I can't believe how many posters have focused on the cheeky monkey slogan. Just shows how many don't read the thread!! Hmm

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 10/01/2018 00:56

"ranga" is not a common term of abuse for a red-haired child in the UK, or it certainly wasn't when I was growing up (as a red-haired child).

It IS a fairly common term in Australia, but even so, abusing someone with red hair is not actually racist. It's not nice, it happens a lot (despite the numerous posters who will come on and say that they've never experienced it, it's "just banter" etc). The roots of hatred of red hair are not well defined, although it seems to be xenophobic against Irish/Scottish peoples - still not racist though.

It's just not comparable with the situation here.

FaceOddity · 10/01/2018 01:26

"What is people's obsession with bloody "cheeky monkey". No on one is bloody taking that term away. THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM! "

"@Faceoddity*

My mum is black. She has experienced racism. She always called me cheeky monkey when I was young. Maybe I should have pointed out her blatant racism...

And in the 1980s I was called "tarbaby" by relatives. So yeah you should have pointed out her blatant racism."

So.... ? To all of you saying cheeky monkey is not the problem here. It clearly is to @Buck3t.

It wasn't used as an identifier to race in the context she said it for gods sake or are you just going to rewrite my life story for me to suit your own agenda @Buck3t??

FYI my mum, nor any of my relatives would ever call anybody a "tarbaby" so don't be so ridiculous to compare the two.

But as we already know the hoody isn't about "cheeky monkey" anyway which isn't a racial slur btw.

Notintheframe · 10/01/2018 01:47

Black people are referred to as monkeys in racial abuse. Sticking a hoodie that says monkey (albeit a cheeky one) can be seen as racist. It was a stupid thing to do. It leaves one wondering whether the person who did this, did so deliberately. The white child wore a different hoodie.

I can see why a black person would be offended and it is not for others to say they should be offended. The word monkey has been and continues to be used as a term of abuse.

verystressedmum · 10/01/2018 02:34

I’ve never heard such shit as some of the comments here. People only see this as being racist because they are racist themselves?? Wtf are you people on.
Saying that you call your kids monkey therefore it’s not racist a racist term is just fucking ridiculous. If your children are white then of course it’s not racist and if your kids aren’t white then it’s still not racist as I assume you don’t racially abuse your own children, but it’s a horrific racist term that’s still used today and to pretend otherwise is beyond stupid.