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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Golliwogs...

544 replies

GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 17:44

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?

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 03/09/2018 21:32

Confronting* Grin

Thank you for seeing it my way

tillytrotter1 · 03/09/2018 21:32

Not bothered to trawl through all these posts but as a matter of interest what is considered 'appropriate' for one's work space? Is everyone allowed to take offence to something?

marvellousnightforamooncup · 03/09/2018 21:32

They're highly offensive and I'm not surprised you're unhappy with one on your colleague's desk. She's ridiculously naive, racist or stupid to bring it into a place of work or even think it's acceptable to own one in the first place.

JayDot500 · 03/09/2018 21:32

@Havaina (previous post)

gamerwidow · 03/09/2018 21:33

@romanyroots gyppo like pikey is used to talk negatively about travellers now it;s not some archaic use.
It's nasty hate speech like other racist terms but it's definitely current use not 16th C.

BananaToffo · 03/09/2018 21:33

God, what a fucking offensive thread. NOT YOU, OP...but the people like SoupDragon & Fairenuff doing their best to call you a troll without having the balls to actually say it.

Golliwogs are still out there, dickheads, and black people are still finding ways to cope with their display if they come across it.

The OP was clear that she didn't want to go straight to her bosses & was asking advice on how to deal with it. What's wrong with that? How dare you dismiss and diminish her concerns like that. Only racist people would feel an inclination to do that, by the way.

If you think a post is not on the level, report it instead of trying to be all cuttingly sarcastic and failing (right, Soupdragon?)

You don't know who is on the other end of an OP & it's not your fucking business to "call anyone out".

Fucks sake.

JacquesHammer · 03/09/2018 21:34

what is considered 'appropriate' for one's work space?

Something that isn’t widely understood to be offensive?

Is everyone allowed to take offence to something?

Hmm
HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 03/09/2018 21:35

You definitely shouldn't have to work looking at a golliwog. Raise it with her manager.

I'm amazed by her reaction to you - if a colleague explained you were doing something offensive, wouldn't most people listen and reflect, rather than dismissing it?

My family had a golliwog when I was a child, I definitely don't have it now, you really can leave childhood toys in the past rather than be racist.

Do these people who insist on displaying their "it's just a harmless childhood toy" also display all their other childhood toys, or just the Gollywog? Funny that....

A weird "it's PC gone mad" brigade has sprung up around Golliwogs. I hope you get it ejected from the office soon op.

Not sure why all the troll comments, this doesn't seem improbable (sadly).

MNHQ
HebeMumsnet · 03/09/2018 21:35

Evening, everyone. Just popping by with a reminder to please not troll hunt on threads. If you've any concerns, please report them to us. Troll hunting only ever makes things worse. If you're right it feeds the trolls and if someone isn't a troll it is upsetting and turns into a bunfight. As far as we can see the OP is genuine, so we'd really like to get the thread back on track if we can. Thanks!

gamerwidow · 03/09/2018 21:37

@tillytrotter Not bothered to trawl through all these posts but as a matter of interest what is considered 'appropriate' for one's work space? Is everyone allowed to take offence to something?

I don't think many people have to worry about their desktop causing offence if your someone who does it might be time to have a little think about your choices.

GreenMeerkat · 03/09/2018 21:40

I'm just going to bypass some of the ridiculous "before we knew about black people" comments on this thread and just answer the OPs question....

It's a tough one because The lady in question probably doesn't mean to be racist and probably sees it as a harmless little doll, guilty of ignorance more than anything else. I would speak to her personally and explain why you find it offensive and ask her to remove it. I bet she'd be mortified and removes it!

Tigger001 · 03/09/2018 21:40

What did she say when you asked her to remove it ? Sorry if I have missed this

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 21:41

Thank you @HebeMumsnet - I'm really not a troll!

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 03/09/2018 21:44

@MyLearnedFriend

The chocolate had already been distributed. This was their boss. That team is mostly black (except one person at the time but that person was sort of senior to the rest). Negro might mean nothing to you, but here, again, is my original point. The lady who bought it is White British and perfectly with her senses. I had to stop the team she managed from revolting against her. HR? Direct confrontation? She would have faced it all and I wonder how she would have felt. They were so hurt and thought she had bought it as a joke. Haha, Negroes, have a Negro chocolate. Funny.

And she specifically bought it for them. I (who have had many an argument about this word and context) had to defend her because I knew she must have just picked it up and thought nothing of it. So when the OP is faced with a lady and her Golliwog, it's not always as simple as going to HR or directly contfronting her. As a black person, you ask yourself many questions, go through so many courses of action in your own head, but usually end up doing nothing.

RomanyRoots · 03/09/2018 21:47

gamer

Is it not important to understand the origins of the racist terms?
I can tell you it was important to me.
There has never been a time without racism and that's a fact.
But we evolve and golliwogs didn't used to be offensive, neither did wearing real furs, or hunting for ivory.
I'm not suggesting the OP should put up with this, it's unacceptable today, the reason I couldn't display my band. They have childhood memories, but they sit in a box hidden away in a drawer.

Moussemoose · 03/09/2018 21:50

I find threads like this really useful. I work somewhere where a 'golly' would be treated with horror we would all be appalled.

I think it is worth reminding people like me who live and work in an ethnically diverse and supportive environment that this kind of racism still exists.

I know racism is out there and alive and well it does me good to be reminded how insidious it is.

JemIsMyNameNooneElseIsTheSame · 03/09/2018 21:51

Golliwogs are still sold in many shops in rural Norfolk. My neighbour even has a 'scarecrow' one in his garden. My (not racist in the slightest) DM gave me a hideous one that was her childhood toy for my DS. I binned it and explained why. I can entirely believe the OP's situation. I hope it's through sheer ignorance, rather than racial hatred, but either way it needs to be called out immediately.

Pornstarlips · 03/09/2018 21:55

Im British pakistani, and the racism in the Uk is shocking but no matter what comes my way I will always be proud of my heritage.

gamerwidow · 03/09/2018 22:01

@romanyroots Is it not important to understand the origins of the racist terms?

Yes it is and also I apologise for getting over involved in the debate and thinking I should lecture on what terms to be offended by.

Twatty behaviour on my part!

Silentnighttwo · 03/09/2018 22:06

but there are pockets of ignorance in this country, especially where it's nearly 100% white and rural, where people don't travel much (I know it sounds mad)- and in these places such things still happen

No prejudice and stereotyping there!

@newtlover Not everyone is metropolitan or wealthy enough to travel. Doesn’t make them ignorant or racist FFS! You on the other hand...

Feefeetrixabelle · 03/09/2018 22:07

Report the bitch to HR. Gollywogs have no place in civilised society. How you didn’t ram the fucker up her arse I’ll never know- your a better person than me for not.

Hertha · 03/09/2018 22:11

there are pockets of ignorance in this country
Regrettably I think we’re posting on one.

KnotsInMay · 03/09/2018 22:21

“Not bothered to trawl through all these posts but as a matter of interest what is considered 'appropriate' for one's work space? Is everyone allowed to take offence to something?”

If you ‘bothered’ to read even some posts you might get an answer. And a bit of education for yourself. But your sneery time suggests you don’t want answers.

Why should anyone anyone answer someone who can’t be bothered to read anyone ekse’s posts?

KnotsInMay · 03/09/2018 22:23

“there are pockets of ignorance in this country”

There are currently 19 Golli related items on eBay, and over 700 on Amazon.

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 22:25

I can't believe this post. As quite a new member of mn I really didn't expect this, having never read a post about golliwogs before. I appreciate that most people on this thread are sensible but actually, a high proportion show some pretty ignorant/racist views. I must be so naive. Not sure I want to be a member of mn anymore. I think I actually preferred being ignorant myself, as conflicting as that sounds...

OP posts: