Not Sure and Getting Lots of Mixed Opinions

[Draggondragon]

Today I was in a charity shop in a small rural town. Their window display was Black and White Minstrels albums with an array of black and white items of clothing around. I automatically bristled and was like WTF but I appreciate its innocent. Some people say its innocent, some people say its unacceptable and some say its an historic relic. Don't worry, I won't call the police or notify the village elders, just interested to know if my initial reaction was normal, ie not outraged to the point of drama but shocked. I am also tempted to buy them, along with the Roy Chubby Brown DVDs to donate to my dads weekly bonfire 😁

Sorry was supposed to be I appreciate its PROBABLY innocent

Fucking hell. Who on earth thinks that is still ok?

Is it a local charity or part of a chain?

Local one for animal shelter

I’m in my late 50s, so old enough to remember the show.

And I’m shocked. At the time, it was accepted, but we have all been educated about racism since then.

IMO it’s offensive.

Wow I had no idea there were still people who had no idea that that isn't ok - well I hope they have no idea anyway.

I would ask them to remove it.

@Nowomenaroundeh

I would ask them to remove it.

Actually, yes, I would do this. Might be worth contacting the charity organisers rather than the shop?

They know it isn't ok, they did it anyway.

I’m a bit that someone thought that was fine , even the older generation know that’s not ok and even so gone are the days just little old ladies work at charity shops , plenty of ages do so the fact that someone didn’t stop and think .
I think I’d say something too it’s no ok in this day and age it could really upset someone.

Not innocent at all! Contact the charity and get it removed. Christ on a bike.

Working in a charity shop doesn't give them a bye to be racist! You're not over reacting.

Ah, we haven’t had one of these in a while.

Cue the “my grandparents have them and they’re not racist” etc etc posts. Shortly to be noted will be golly dolls too

Plenty of people do still think this is OK. Plenty of people think the racist abuse at Yorkshire Cricket Club is lighthearted fun. Plenty of people still think racism is not an issue.

I'd talk to the charity that runs the shop.

It's offensive. Get it removed.

(To be clear, I'm not one of those people!)

YANBU, I was with a black friend when we happened tog o into a shop that had some golliwogs for sale and she was upset and furious, she contacted the owners of the historic site the shop was in to complain - it really isn't acceptable just because some older white people say it's 'harmless', it's genuinely upsetting for people of colour.

Definitely done for attention - so there can be some fake outrage on the part of the person that did it - probably saying something like 'this is wokeness gone mad' and 'it was all done in good faith so its ok'.
I would have taken a photo of the display and sent it to the head office. if no action then I would have released it into social media...

I grew up watching the Black and White Minstrels. Even as a child I knew that they were people DRESSING UP. They weren’t supposed to be anything. I also grew up with Golliwogs and they were just like teddy bear in our minds I do get very annoyed at people telling me what I can and can’t say or think. I was lucky enough to have been brought up by two amazing parents who thought us to judge people by what they said and did and not by race religion or sex

I will take a picture in case anyone wonders of this is real and happy to share by PM. The charity is small and lovely, I agree maybe they should know. But I also know they support people who work there so don't want to create a shit show.

@user1471505494

I grew up watching the Black and White Minstrels. Even as a child I knew that they were people DRESSING UP. They weren’t supposed to be anything. I also grew up with Golliwogs and they were just like teddy bear in our minds I do get very annoyed at people telling me what I can and can’t say or think. I was lucky enough to have been brought up by two amazing parents who thought us to judge people by what they said and did and not by race religion or sex

Does it not bother you that it upsets people? That POC are hurt by it? Nobody can tell you what to think but it doesn't make what you say and do any less hurtful.

I'd never heard of this before so just googled it and WTF. Definitely not ok. They should have disposed of the albums, let alone made a display of them!

You'd have to be monumentally stupid and determinably racist to be ok with the black and white minstrels. I knew it was pretty offensive when I was small (70s) in a rather backwards white family.

It's either come from a place of aggressive racism, or, at best, gross ignorance.

I would report it to the charity HQ.

@user1471505494

I grew up watching the Black and White Minstrels. Even as a child I knew that they were people DRESSING UP. They weren’t supposed to be anything. I also grew up with Golliwogs and they were just like teddy bear in our minds I do get very annoyed at people telling me what I can and can’t say or think. I was lucky enough to have been brought up by two amazing parents who thought us to judge people by what they said and did and not by race religion or sex

Are you on a wind up or just a thick racist?

@user1471505494

I grew up watching the Black and White Minstrels. Even as a child I knew that they were people DRESSING UP. They weren’t supposed to be anything. I also grew up with Golliwogs and they were just like teddy bear in our minds I do get very annoyed at people telling me what I can and can’t say or think. I was lucky enough to have been brought up by two amazing parents who thought us to judge people by what they said and did and not by race religion or sex

Here we go...

@Draggondragon

I will take a picture in case anyone wonders of this is real and happy to share by PM. The charity is small and lovely, I agree maybe they should know. But I also know they support people who work there so don't want to create a shit show.

Then have a quiet word first.