Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
TooTrueToBeGood · 03/09/2018 22:28

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

That should be obvious to anyone with an IQ in double figures. Please don't let the bigots and fuckwits get to you OP.

Feefeetrixabelle · 03/09/2018 22:29

Please don’t go OP. Some people just hide their racism so well say to say that it spews out of them when they are being a keyboard warrior

Feefeetrixabelle · 03/09/2018 22:30

And as a white woman I don’t want to see golliwog shite either. The worlds moved on from days when golliwogs were ok.

Sparklesocks · 03/09/2018 22:32

Sorry op that all the racist bastards are grinding you down

Benjaminbuttonschild · 03/09/2018 22:37

It's mumsnet. Sometimes the goody fuckers come out to play OP. But they are just daft twats, ignore them.

Don't feel like you should leave an otherwise brilliant forum on account of some silly cunts

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 22:38

@Benjaminbuttonschild you're right. Ignorant racism really is soul destroying though. It's so, so soul destroying.

OP posts:
CoolCarrie · 03/09/2018 22:39

They are not called by that offensive name anymore. I asked someone who works at a museum of childhood, what they call them as they have a few, they are known as jolly gollies now and that’s where they belong, in a museum.

Benjaminbuttonschild · 03/09/2018 22:40

I hear you @GoodNewsTwo

WhataLovelyPear · 03/09/2018 22:40

I'm glad you've posted OP, and for all those querying the existence of "pockets of racism" I live in a small town in the East Midlands and live and work alongside a small but noticeable minority of bigoted people who would, like the OP's colleague, see nothing wrong in a golliwog, especially if they remembered to refer to it as a golly. They have strongly held opinions about a range of issues, but are uninformed, uneducated and uncurious about the world more than 5 miles from their home. They live and work with the people they went school with and basically live in a bubble where anybody different is slightly disconcerting. The next town is an adventure and London is a world away. I am not sure of the reasons for this phenomenon but I assure you it is real.

RomanyRoots · 03/09/2018 22:46

*gamer8

my love, you have every right as a human being to be offended by racist terms, it shows you care Thanks
i'm sorry if I came across as a twat, I really do find them offensive and think anyone who makes excuses is naive at most. Apart from standing up for those who really didn't see it all those years ago.
i wrote about him before but my dad bought me a black and a white doll after enoch Powell's speech, I was only a toddler. He was so anti racism but he encouraged me to collect golliwogs, he had no idea bless him.
We do know now and there are no excuses for present day usage.

ElizaBenson · 03/09/2018 22:48

Op im genuinely shocked by this thread ive never seen such a large, blatant display of rasism on mumsnet as I have on this thread. Please dont take it to heart, although i know thats easy for me to say. Your colleague is absolutely in the wrong! People go to work to work, not to be distressed by rasist paraphernalia lying around, whats next swastika screensavers?
Have a quiet word with your manager, I know if you were on my team I would be mortified to find put you had been put into this position, this is absolutely not appropriate. I would also seriously be considering what light this threw your colleague in as well and probably consulting with HR. This is not right!

cathcath2 · 03/09/2018 22:51

Hi OP, I'm sorry you've had such a rough time. Please speak to your manager or HR. It is definitely not appropriate to have a golliwog on your desk. You've explained to her why it's offensive and she has not removed it. I hope (probably vainly) she hasn't realised the connotations, reflects on what you have said, discusses it with others, and removes it in the morning, but if she doesn't then report her. She's continuing to do something that is racist and upsets you. It also wouldn't look good for the company if you had any visitors (if they are at all unwilling to act, remind them of this. Though I would be Angry if they are at all unwilling).
I am actually Shock at how many golliwogs are for sale on Amazon and Ebay.

Veterinari · 03/09/2018 22:52

For the those of you that think Racism like this doesn't Exist, read this review if a Hebridean cafe I visited recently - it had golliwogs for sale Hmm
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g676656-d3187281-r527420372-Lobster_Pot_Tearoom-North_Uist_Outer_Hebrides_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html

Aintnothingbutaheartache · 03/09/2018 22:56

I would suggest that the colleague with a ‘golliwog’ on her desk is either
A- as thick as pig shit
B- small minded and racist as all hell
C- a combination of the two

Can’t see any other reason for such blatant ignorance.

Op you are absolutely right to be offended. Speak to someone who has the authority to tell this ridiculous woman that she is being offensive.
I’d tell her to get it shifted

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 22:58

I think I'm actually more concerned about what I've seen on this thread than my thick colleague's golliwog figurine! I've almost forgotten about the issue that made me post in the first place!

OP posts:
BananaToffo · 03/09/2018 23:05

The thing is GoodNewsToo, there's a group of people on here who bizarrely seem to pride themselves on "spotting trolls". They are often wrong - as your thread has shown - but still they continue. It's usually the same old people....familiar names because they appear to live here and post on nearly all threads (it seems) & fucking irritating they are.

It's them, not you, I promise.

You are entitled to feel unsettled & offended by the golliwog - every rational adult knows their history, and you are equally entitled to ask others for advice on dealing with it. So don't feel you have to disappear.

CoughLaughFart · 03/09/2018 23:09

*Oh it's obvious is it? So basically I'm now the lady with the Golliwog who actually didn't intend offence but it was taken.

Things getting switched up nicely.*

You’re deliberately taking offence a thing nothing now. If you’re going to use terms like ‘you lot on MN’, you know how people are going to take it.

I also think there’s a MASSIVE difference between refusing to remove an item from your desk that is widely considered offensive (and which a colleague has specifically told you she finds offensive) and buying chocolate with Spanish writing on it.

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 23:21

@BananaToffo I can assure you I am not a troll. I don't know why I am still defending myself. Mn moderators can see all of my previous posts. They're pretty boring actually. Pregnancy stuff mostly! And they've confirmed that I am genuine.

I thank everyone for their support however. I didn't think a thread could go this badly wrong! I expected people to state that they aren't offended by golliwogs which is an opinion people are entitled to. I didn't expect to experience the racism and nastiness that I have though. This has opened my eyes to say the least...

OP posts:
JayDot500 · 03/09/2018 23:28

@CoughLaughFart I know what I meant and stand by it. And if that reads as offence then okay. I now don't care what you think.

And well done for your measuring skills. My main point was that both scenarios involve white women who had offended black people, but their ignorance does not make them racist.

Aintnothingbutaheartache · 03/09/2018 23:36

Surely there’s a big difference between offering dark chocolate to office colleagues and putting a ‘golliwog’ on your desk!?
I offered my 94 yo mother in law a pickled walnut last Christmas,
What does that make me?

BananaToffo · 03/09/2018 23:37

Yes...I said you were not a troll. I said that the troll hunters are often wrong...as YOUR THREAD HAS SHOWN.

Sorry if I wasn't clear....although I think I was.

JayDot500 · 03/09/2018 23:39

@GoodNewsTwo

You sound really down about this thread. If it's any consolation I've been around longer and only ever seen one other Golliwog thread and I think I just glazed over it so I don't even remember what was said.

Don't be down when there is much to be elated about. You have had support, but you've also been misunderstood. Plenty to think about and learn from. Concerning black issues, your tribe is not here. But there is plenty else to gain from MN, no need to go.

thegardenfairy · 03/09/2018 23:41

I have unfriended people from facebook recently. Those who are intent on posting on the frequent, nauseating posts about their love of golliwogs and their experiences of owning the golliwog badges from jam jars. Most state "I love my golliwog. My parents bought him as my first toy. I love him I do and I still have him. He is my most favourite toy from my childhood".

Meh... Some people need to get an education. But these are the people who are happy with their lot and dont give a crap about anyone else.

How would anyone hold a golly in such high regard?? What happened to the other childhood toys? All in the bin I guess because they are insignificant! Some people are just out to hurt others. Shame on them!

Original poster
GoodNewsTwo · 03/09/2018 23:41

Oh @BananaToffo I worded my post really badly! I wasn't referring to you. When I said I don't know why I'm still defending myself it was a general comment regarding the fact that I shouldn't have to. I was just explaining and unnecessarily trying to prove myself. It wasn't aimed at you. Your post was most comforting - thank you! Sorry for being confusing!

OP posts:
BananaToffo · 03/09/2018 23:42

Think we've been confusing each other Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread