Golliwogs...

[GoodNewsTwo]

A colleague of mine today put a small golliwog figurine on her desk. Said she's always liked them and that she doesn't see an issue. I explained that some people (myself included) find them offensive and dated, and think they are too controversial for a workplace setting. As a black woman, I don't really like to sit and look at it all day. I'm sure many people wouldn't regardless of their ethnicity/race. AIBU to ask her again to remove it? I don't want to be 'that girl' who has an issue with race (I don't) - on this occasion, I just feel extremely uncomfortable.

wwyd?

I'm in my 50s. When I was in my 20s we had this conversation. People my age and older know it's wrong and stupid.
People in their 20s now need to remember that people in their 50s and 60s were having this fight and won many years ago.

I haven’t read all the thread but appalled at many of the responses on the first few pages.

A year ago I started a thread about gollywogs as my new partner had one in his bedroom which I found pretty shocking. He could not see that it was racist and offensive, to him it was a beloved childhood toy. Granted he grew up on a farm, but still.

He could not get where I was coming from so I started a thread to get some back up. I had a similar response to you on that many pp didn’t believe me. A gollywog is an offensive charicature and has no place in modern society. I think some white pp either don’t see it as racism isn’t something that affects them, and think pp are overreacting or they are genuinely racist and don’t care.

I’m sorry that you are having to put up with this, it has absolutely no place in a work environment ( or anywhere really ).

And I’m no longer with my partner as we really didn’t share the same values. Should have dumped his sorry ass as soon as I saw that bloody doll!

Granted he grew up on a farm, but still.

Nice

I'm not defending his stance in regards to these dolls (at all) but seriously?

What does growing up on a farm or being over 60 have to do with it. Or otherwise being "nice". If you don't know that gollywogs offend ...Really offend .. then you have been living under a rock. If you don't think they should offend then you are an idiot.

@bellinisurge
Was this a response to me?

I simply responded to this.
A year ago I started a thread about gollywogs as my new partner had one in his bedroom which I found pretty shocking. He could not see that it was racist and offensive, to him it was a beloved childhood toy. Granted he grew up on a farm, but still.

Because (as you already said) what does growing up on a farm have to do with it?

Granted he grew up on a farm, but still. I grew up on a farm and I'm nearly 60. The stereotyping on here is worse than usual

Not RTFT but YANBU that’s absolutely bloody outrageous

Not to you @pumpkinyael .

It’s very odd. Many mumsnetters seem to think that “older people” occupy a completely different time line. One which does not include the Anti Apartheid Movement, Rock against Racism, The Anti Nazi League, the Civil Rights Marches.............

OP has it been dealt with? Have been following this as best as possible but can't see whether you've been told, or are aware that it's resolved. I do hope so, the whole thing is shockingly disgraceful.

People in their 20s now need to remember that people in their 50s and 60s were having this fight and won many years ago.

And 70s, 80s, and 90s as well.

wrt 'living on a farm' I think people need to be more honest with themselves- many people on this thread have commented that it's in rural, all-white areas that these attitudes persist- either through ignorance, because people just haven't been exposed to a wider variety of people and ideas OR people are just plain racist and have been allowed to get away with it because 'we don't have any problems lie that round here' - for which, read that 'we don't have any of those ethnics round here'
this is NOT the same as saying all people who live inthe country are racist. Just that they are more likely to be. I say this because the most unashamed racism I have ever come across has been in the country.

'living on a farm' I think people need to be more honest with themselves- Oh bog off. We've got much more to worry about than gollywogs. There are idiots everywhere. I really am a farmer and things are fucking awful in farming. Believe me racism is not a subject or a problem.

Re. age; I think it’s possible to acknowledge both that:

(a) based on that YouGov poll, the older someone is the more likely they are to find golliwog’s acceptable; and

(b) a large part of the reason that more younger people find Golliwogs unacceptable is because of social awareness and activism of some members of the preceding generation(s).

People born more recently don’t come into the world innately more or lesss racist than those born before them. That younger people are, on average, less accepting of Golliwogs is a credit to change brought about by some older people.

Hi OP, my opinion is that what you describe is absolutely shocking. It is definitely racist and your colleague should be told that by management and she should have a warning on her employment record. I am really sorry that you are going through this at work. 💐

BertrandRussell, it was more than that. I recorded what I saw and was pondering on what their motive for displaying golliwogs was (ie an upsurge in present day right wing propaganda, as opposed to an historic affection from someone who has avoided education on this subject).

Suddenly I’m ageist, but you hadn’t even read my comment fully in your haste to attack me.

It bothered me that the golliwogs were openly displayed because even though I was brought up by Grandparents who thought the book ‘Little Black Sambo’ was an appropriate bedtime read for a toddler, I’ve since become aware of racism and I deplore it. I also deplore inequality for people with disabilities, homophobia, sexism and ageism, which is why your reading between my lines irked me.

'racism is not a subject or a problem' when you have white privelege