To think the Katy Perry shoes are NOT racist? Just fuck ugly?

[hotwing]

How on Earth are they 'racist'

agree LilaJude sum it up perfectly

Maybe they aren't intentional racist but
I thought the minstrels too.
What was she thinking, even if I ignored my first thought, they're bloody awful looking shoes.

They look like old fashioned Golliwogs.
Really don't see how they never made the connection or maybe they did and hoped for publicity

It's racist as hell.

I don't know if they are racist but who the Hell designed them? I can imagine a bunch of preschoolers sitting at the arts and crafts table...

Surely nobody would wear them - apart from a 3 year old?? 😱

But it is exactly the same eyes/nose/lips on the white/beige shoes as the black. So what are the white ones then, other than ugly.

I am assuming everyone would be happy if they were just on white/beige/red/blue etc etc. I think people see what they want to see. Sorry, but I just didn't even consider they looked like anything other than ugly shoes, until someone else said they were racist.

Not sure about applying the word racist but culturally insensitive definitely. They scream golliwog.

And that it seems threat there was no one (or no one with enough clout) to say this isn't a good idea is worrying.

In the 80s, the word 'golliwog' was deemed racist and the word changed to racist. Now people are using it as if there’s not a problem with it.

I would never ever dream of using the n-word, yet I’m hearing the word 'nigger' used more and more.

It’s understandable that there is confusion over what is and isn’t racist. What is and isn’t allowed.

I can’t imagine anyone thought they’d be ok, but I also can’t belive what does seem ok today. It’s hard to know.

Word changed to golly

Ps yes, I think they look racist, but I could imagine someone thinking they are 'challenging the boundaries ', or that it’s ok as long as there’s one of each colour or some such thoughtless thinking.

We can have different opinions and they can be equally valid.

It really depends on what the opinions are about.
We certainly can have equally valid opinions, but not always.

but it is exactly the same eyes/nose/lips on the white/ beige shoes

Surely you can see that is in no way comparable? I mean, the white ones don't have the racial connotations and mimicking of features from the past, for a start.

Stupid idea. She should have made them in non skin colours..... or preferably not at all! Eg electric blue (different colour eyes) and yellow.

My point is I can find them offensive, and I am not wrong for holding that opinion because I'm white.

But offensive to whom?

Are they offensive to you, as a white person? Why?
Or are they offensive to a black person, in which case, why are you speaking for them?

As a white person, I can say that I know that black people consider black face/golliwogs offensive, thus, I can conclude that anything resembling is likely to be considered offensive or racist.

I can certainly identify racism if I perceive a racist intent in other white people and call them on it, regardless of black people perceiving it or not, though.
Example: "black people are less intelligent than white people" is clearly racist.
I'd call it racist because it conveys the perception that one group is superior to the other. It's still not for me to say it's offensive for black people or how black people will perceive it.

Is it just me or does the photo @MissionItsPossible posted make you think of those barbie doll toilet roll covers so beloved by our grandparents?

the white ones don't have the racial connotations and mimicking of features from the past, for a start. No. They have exactly the same decoration on a differenty shaped shoe!

Same blue eyes same triangular nose, same bright red lips. Precisely the same fitting. The only thing that is different is the shape of the bloody shoe! All fugly! But it can hardly be 'mimicking features from the past' if ALL variations have the same 'features'.

Which is why, as a white woman, I find it baffling.

I mean I know what features you mean. I can see that there is a passing resemblance but I wouldn't leap to racist. Just fucking ugly shite peddled by a singer who wants to be more famous and rich.

Which is where the disagreement is based, I imagine!

Please do your research, the gollywog was never and will never be racist.

Go Google, GOLLYWOG, and find out the TRUE story behind it.

Also quite baffled by some people saying white people aren't allowed to decide what's racist or not
I don't they're saying white people aren't allowed to decide what's racist or can't know what's racist, it's saying that it doesn't matter what white people think is or isn't racist because it's what POC think is or isn't racist that counts since, you know, they're the ones who actually experience it. See, a white person saying "well I don't think these shoes are racist" is like saying to someone complaining of pain from a broken leg "well, my leg doesn't hurt so I don't see how yours can".

Curious
I also understand the connotation. As a white woman I find the “mimicking features from the past” comment baffling too as the shoes are the same. From left to right the first two (beige and black) have the same toe shape as do the second two. So both styles are identical in all but main colour.

But surely it would more racist to only make shoes for white faces?

Also to the lips comment - they are the same size on both pairs of shoes?

WarpedGalaxy
Of course. I agree with you. As I said upthread it was extremely ill advised to mimick skin colour at all. It’s pretty obvious these would be found offensive. However, I don’t see any intended black face just stupidity.

I agree @MacBlank.
Glad none of these mnetters will ever visit my home with my collection.

I take your point the shoes are all the same size and shape - my comment was more meaning that the look of them resemble the dolls and characters from the past that used to black up and mimic their facial features.

Please do your research, the gollywog was never and will never be racist.

Whether it was or wasn’t isn’t the point. It was, however, the word was deemed racist and therefore changed. That change appears to have been reversed.

Only a wilfully blind to racism denialist can look at those black shoes and not see Minstrel blackface.

Oh well, I guess it helps to know which ones they are so in that respect the thread hasn't been a total loss.