To want rid of the gollys?

[SueBaroo]

Dh just got given a shedload of very old gollywog models by FIL, who is cleaning out his loft. Dh reckons there's quite some money involved if a collector wanted them, but I think they're vile, and I would just like to bin them.

AIBU?

I agree with sarahjct, yabu. They are just a stuffed toy fgs, ragardless of what they may have once stood for, they don't any more.

My dad still has his golly form when he was young, he grew up in Africa and was very very attached to it as a boy, and as far as he can remember it was just another soft toy to him like a teddy bear.

How exactly would selling the gollys perpetuate racism dittany? what utter rubbish.

I think the original name for them became synonymous with racism because of the last part of it but personally I don't think the actual toy is racist, nor is the name 'Golly'.

I had one too and my favourite book as a child was Little Black Sambo, which was also banned and I still fail to see why.

It is so sad.

Wisteria I too don't understand why that book was banned! It's the world gone mad if you ask me. My parents have a copy of that book though from the old days nothing racist about it.

If not using terms that have been associated with slavery are "the world gone mad," then thank goodness the world's gone mad.

Meaning of Sambo

vile and racist?

How is that book vile and racist; apart from using the word Sambo for a name (which at the time of writing was not deemed a racist word)? - it's a bit like Enid Blyton referring to everything as queer and gay.......

sorry I should say it wasn't written with the intent of being racist by Helen Bannerman.

I have checked and it is still on Amazon and I for one am pleased. The name Sambo was used innocently and she also wrote other 'Little Black' books with different names.

It is a fabulous story; the fact that Sambo is black is neither here nor there IMHO.

have you actually read it Dittany? It is not a racist book and actually Sambo was portrayed in nothing but a good light as a very intelligent child who was quick enough to trick the tigers - I can't for the life of me see how that is racist.......

We still use the name Sam/ Samuel etc and the name probably originated from the same place originally; just because the slave trade adopted the name as slang, shouldn't mean that the name gets wiped out. Obviously that is just my opinion and I am no doubt going to be viewed as being racist for my opinion but I can assure you I'm not. I feel the same about the fact that we can no longer refer to a black sheep in an old nursery rhyme or a blackboard etc.

So what? He was black!

You show me a black person who doesn't like being called black ....... I don't mind being referred to as white and my friend doesn't mind being referred to as black. Neither of which are particularly accurate to be honest.

Saying something or someone is black is not racist, treating someone unfairly or in a prejudiced manner because they are black however, is racist.

Wisteria, since when did we stop using the terms blackboard and black sheep? We didn't! It was a story invented by the same people who came up with the myths of councils banning Christmas! Besides, Sambo may not be used as a racist term by you - and I do not think you really are a racist, btw, just a little out of touch - but it has been by some people. None of my black friends are comfortable hearing it either as a term or as a name and that is good enough for me.

The story itself isnt racist but the word 'sambo' is a racist word. I think it has been published with the same story but with a different title.

yes but when the book was written it was just the name assigned to him, not meant in any way to be racist - the fact remains it's a lovely story - it was just his name. I agree it's a shame that that particular name was chosen but I don't think it's really a racist book.

I'm not out of touch either, the teachers at my dds school were stopped from referring to the chalk board as a blackboard and they are no longer allowed to sing baa baa black sheep (unless that has been changed again - admittedly my children are older now.

thanks, NTT, I was just about to say that (I suspect we have the Daily Mail to thank for that particular set of myths) and can I refer you to the earlier poster who was upset that her mixed race daughter found a golly in the shop- surely that's all the information we need? Isn't it better to forgo the dubious pleasure of these toys in order to avoid insulting and hurting people?

Daily Mail - too true!

I must admit I thought it was banned as my Mum was stopped from reading it about 15 years ago. I am gratified to see that it hasn't.

If it is as bad as you suggest, then why hasn't it been banned then?

i think YABU i have a golliwog myself whom i love because i read lots of enid blyton books as a child to me its not racist at all .....my husband bought me mine as i had no toys left from my childhood(my mum died when i was 11 and everything got ransacked by 'family' including my stuff ).
If you dont like them dont dislike them cos of what you perceive there character to be and dont bring racism into a harmless toy,if those gollies are collectors items and your husband agrees to get rid,sell them and enjoy the profits.

sorry, Wisteria, I just find that really hard to believe, I trained in 1981, and have been nin and out of schools ever since, have NEVER been told this

Actually I'm pretty sure that in some countries it has been banned. I actually can't see anything wrong with a book about a black child. I would love there to be books about mixed race children etc.

ps - am absolutely not a daily mail reader either

however I will admit that maybe I am out of touch...things definitely were omitted from being used in the school my dcs were at, but whether that was nationwide or not I suppose it is wrong of me to say as I obviously wouldn't know.

Interactive boards are called interactive white boards.