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Original poster

H&M mother has said for people to 'get over it'

450 replies

WomanEmpire · 11/01/2018 14:28

Apparently she has said on Facebook it's people 'crying wolf' and to 'get over it'

Wdyt?

I personally think H&M are counting their lucky stars and have sort of preyed on her, (this is very presumptuous, so I am prepared to be shot down) knowing that perhaps as someone who is native Nigerian and moved to Sweden (I think relatively recently, but again pull me up on this if I'm incorrect) might not be quite as aware of the racism that incurs in the US/UK, as those who live in these countries and wouldn't think to second guess in a shoot, because you'd trust such a popular retailer to not have racist slurs put on a jumper and modelled by a child, who could quite possibly still be called this by those idiots. Because I still can't believe that NO ONE along the process picked up on this.

I'm not saying racism doesn't occur in other countries but I have experience of those two countries.

OP posts:
QuizzlyBear · 13/01/2018 18:02

My kids are mixed race - in fact one was called a monkey by other kids in primary school for being hairier than his classmates. I looked at this photo however and it took me a while to see what the problem was - I constantly call my kids cheeky monkeys!

I think racism has to have an element of 'intent' and I honestly don't think H&M meant anything by it. It was clumsy and should have been picked up I guess to avoid inadvertently causing offence, but really? It's hardly what I'd consider actual racism.

bummymummy77 · 13/01/2018 18:09

@Buck3t are you white?

QuizzlyBear · 13/01/2018 18:48

I've RTFT since posting and see that this has genuinely upset many people on a deep level - I want to clarify that though I stand by my opinion that H&M weren't intending to be racist, I'm glad they pulled the advert in deference to their feelings. I honestly had no idea that the word was still commonly used in a racist way - when I think of 'coolest monkeys' I think of my kids (in a positive way!) despite their skin colour.

JAPAB · 13/01/2018 18:54

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 there have been several objections given. Yes some seem to object to just the child in that top in itself. I know there are others who object due to the combination of that child plus the white child in another top that they feel has colonolian connotations. And other who object because it reminds them of racism.

quencher and DreamyMcDreamy, the point of mentioning the same-sex kiss ad was to illustrate that the fact of objecting or being offended in itself is not enough to say that an ad is wrong. I think the reasons are what is important, not just the fact that people "loudly" object. Simple as that really. It was brought up in response to two comments that boiled down to 'if some black people says they find it racist/offensive that should be good enough'.

Buck3t · 13/01/2018 18:54

@bummymummy very why?

Buck3t · 13/01/2018 18:59

Five days later and we still talking about 'cheeky monkeys'? wow, just wow bear

JAPAB · 13/01/2018 19:09

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace Right, so you'd think 'ah yes, I see why you have a problem with this, I'm sorry I should have thought it through'? Or, 'for your own very idiosyncratic reasons you have some kind of problem, and that is your own affair: I shall give the hoody to another black child I know'?

If their reasons are similiar to some of the ones given on this thread, then I would probably think that I do not agree but whatever, their child, up to them. If their reasons were different, such as wanting to avoid drawing the attention of potential racists to their child, well I suppose I might understand that pragmatism. While still taking the overall view that it is up to them not me.

Speaking of pragmatism, maybe I would just give the top to a white child and avoid any such potentials.

I believe the mother in question was OK with the top though.

BatShite · 13/01/2018 19:16

H&M in South Africa has been trashed because of this. Won;t post link as its daily mail but top of story states.

The advert featured a five-year-old black child model wearing the hoodie
Attracted widespread condemnation forcing the company to withdraw it
Members of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters trashed stores in protest
The also staged demonstrations at other branches of the retailer in South Africa

Activists in South Africa have trashed H&M stores in protest at the clothing retailer’s advert for its 'coolest monkey in the jungle' hoodie that featured a black child model.

Violence spilled over in at least six malls as the latest race row to engulf the Swedish brand escalated, forcing the police to fire rubber bullets at protesters.

Innocent shoppers and bystanders were forced to flee as chanting gangs wearing uniforms of the country’s radical opposition party swept through at H&M stores across the city, including Africa’s flagship store in the upmarket suburb of Sandton

GreenRut · 13/01/2018 20:02

Haven't rtft but presume many agree with me : it is a known racial slur. It is also a known colloquial way to refer to any 'spirited' child. One of those references is highly insulting to the recipient. The other isn't. Just don't blur any lines which may draw one into the other. I don't believe it was intentionally racist but I do think it was misjudged to put the model in that top.

ToffeeUp · 13/01/2018 20:03

BBC report about the above
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42675665

DreamyMcDreamy · 13/01/2018 20:03

See, I hear Bear, and know where she's coming from. Some people do say cheeky monkey to their children.
It's not something you automatically think about if you have never come across it as a derogatory term. If you're white, saying it to your kids is just "monkey" as in the being cheeky sense.
What I don't get though is people who don't see that to black people it's not light hearted in the slightest, as they've spent their whole life with it being an insult, called monkey in the jungle etc.
Absolutely disgusting behaviour.
To know that it's still common insult, to know about the forced slave trade, and still not see a problem or justify or minimise it takes a special kind of wilful ignorance or place of privilege and no desire to educate themselves.

My kids are mixed race - in fact one was called a monkey by other kids in primary school for being hairier than his classmates.
OK, apologies if this comes out clumsily - but are you the white partner? Just wondering as if you were would explain your stance more.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 13/01/2018 20:06

japab

I thought you were good with words

I know some people have a problem with THAT child in the top (as bless his heart he is the one in the advert)

But you said A child in the top

I took that to mean that you were saying that posters have a problem with A (any random child not in an advert) not THAT (the child in the advert) in the top

So as has been said many times...i dont think any posters have a problem with a random child at playgroup in that top

But they do have a problem with a child at the 'forefront' of an ad campaign by a major retailer

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 13/01/2018 20:11

Probably a misunderstanding though japab

I took your post as literal whereas you obviously meant the child in the advert

Hence the cross post

Smile
ToffeeUp · 13/01/2018 20:14

Bear did say in her second post that she hadn't RTFT when she first posted and seems to have actually listened to posters explaining the issue.

Maybe GreenRut can do the same.

PonderWoman · 14/01/2018 20:35

UKIP leader's girlfriend has made awfully racist remarks about Meghan Markle. It has become very acceptable to be racist again. We know that racism is a reality for so many POC today. A strong reaction is needed so this cannot become the norm again, like 70's style and beyond.

Notreallyarsed · 14/01/2018 20:48

Please tell me that dreadful woman’s views aren’t considered mainstream? I was so shocked when I read her comments, actually stunned. She’s horrid.

Ohgodohgodohgod14 · 14/01/2018 20:52

Ridiculous. It's like saying a black child cannot wear black

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 14/01/2018 20:55

ohgod

Amazed that you read the thread and took that message away

Notreallyarsed · 14/01/2018 20:55

@Ohgodohgodohgod14 no, it’s not like that at all. Do try and RTFT before you come on and comment such utter nonsense.

BIWI · 14/01/2018 21:48

Sadly it would appear that you can’t argue with stupid. Or ignorant.

DreamyMcDreamy · 14/01/2018 22:39

Sadly it would appear that you can’t argue with stupid. Or ignorant.

Yep to this. Not sure who originally said it but I always keep in mind "you can't argue with stupid. They'll grind you down to their level and then beat you with years of experience."
This thread certainly shows that.

DreamyMcDreamy · 14/01/2018 22:43

UKIP leader's girlfriend has made awfully racist remarks about Meghan Markle. It has become very acceptable to be racist again. We know that racism is a reality for so many POC today. A strong reaction is needed so this cannot become the norm again, like 70's style and beyond

Felt utterly sickened when I read those comments earlier, the fuck is WRONG with some people. Sad
Proof why we really should be having a strong reaction to racism, as you say should never be allowed to be just accepted and ignored like some seem to want.

Gilead · 14/01/2018 22:45

Ridiculous. It's like saying a black child cannot wear black
Are you really that hard of thinking? Good grief! Read the thread, learn something.

DreamyMcDreamy · 14/01/2018 23:55

Ridiculous. It's like saying a black child cannot wear black

Just.....I can't even....just.... no words.
Just... erm....
Going to assume you've just read the OP, and nothing else of this thread or the other one explaining.
If you have, and you're ignoring, well, stew in your hatred and little bubble or educate yourself a little bit towards the points raised.

Buck3t · 15/01/2018 07:28

@bummymummy77
@Buck3t are you white?

I missed off a word from my answer. Very black, why?

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