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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Talking of Golliwogs.. . .. .

208 replies

WinkyWinkola · 18/03/2008 19:35

I was a bit taken aback when I was looking for a dolly for my DD's birthday and I came across this:

{[https://ssl3.lon.gb.securedata.net/rosablue.com/dolls.htm It's the Mimi doll]]

I made an enquiry about the size of the lovely dolls on this site and also about the Mimi doll. I just felt it was a total caricature of the black slave especially when you can get her dress embroidered with Every Day is Wash Day .

The response to my enquiry was:

Mimi doubled as a student and our live-in nanny when we lived in Cape Town in the 80s.

She was very much part of the family when Penelope started to make her dolls. The whole family was still all living under the same roof then and each of us provided a name for at least one of her prototypes. Which is they all take their names after one of us.

Mimi liked the doll then and it while I understand the sensibility in Britain over the "golliwog" image, that is not what it means to us and we would be loathe to discontinue it.

Am I being over sensitive to find this doll offensive and not buy from the site as a result? Their other dolls are lovely.

OP posts:
SorenLorensen · 18/03/2008 21:32

Has anyone said "it's PC gone maaaaad" yet?

Can I be first?

FAQ · 18/03/2008 21:33

dittany - these things happen the world over - here in the UK there are some appaling racist attacks. Of course SA still has a lot of work to do, but the fact that black SA's are now free to pursue any career, travel on any transport, go to any school, and most importantly vote is a massive step forward.

I think TBH some people have the wrong idea about the use of "servants". Yes in the past it was the white man showing their "power" to the black man. But today it's common place for anyone to have at least one member of staff if they are fortunate to be employed in a reasonable job.

BoysOnToast · 18/03/2008 21:33

i dont get it either. looks to me like the dolls are just dolls. black and white.

PSCMUM · 18/03/2008 21:33

britex - equality has been acheieved????????????? that is the most crazily inaccurate thing i have read in ages.

people from afro carribean families in london in 2008 (yes, thats now) are more likely to suffer infant mortality, their children are more likely to have learning difficulties, their children are more likely to be excluded from school, their children are the least likely to go to university, their children are the most likely to live in overcrowded conditions, the most likely to have parents in low skilled jobs, and are more likely to be arrested and charged with criminal offences than their white counterparts encountered by police in identical circumstances, they are less likely to get jobs than their equally well qualified white counterparts, often receive less pay for the same work as their white counterparts.

Not to mention the continued existence of vile racist parties such as the BNP, who actually recived over 4% of the vote at the last mayoral election- they have an explicity white supremacist policy.

And Boris Johnson - mayoral tory candidate for london, again in 2008, using racist language as standard, for example:

?It is said that the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies?

He goes on, with reference to Tony Blair?s then imminent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo: ?No doubt the AK47s will fall silent, and the pangas will stop their hacking of human flesh, and the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down in his big white British taxpayer-funded bird.

And there is more....
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/aug/04/london.localgovernment

Boris is currently the front runner in london, despite these despicable racist views. London, with our rich multiculture.

That your idea of equality having been achieved?

It is vital, that this issue is talked about and talked about and talked about. Until racism and racists go away and never come back.

dittany · 18/03/2008 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BritTex · 18/03/2008 21:35

I beleive you that there are plenty of people not only in SA but world wide who are still rasist, but i dont think the OP is?? having this super sensitivity to it only endorses the issue, thats what I mean when i say why does it have to be kept alive. It is going to take a generation or two to aleviate it. it is still rife in the south of the US especially in the older generation and supposedly racism was abolished in the 6o's it going to take longer in SA since they got rid of it in the 80's.

It is not something to be forgotten but it IS something that needs to be a part of history and not current.

dittany · 18/03/2008 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoysOnToast · 18/03/2008 21:36

er, equality certainly has not been achieved. its wonderful that some feel that they, nor anyone else in their own wee sphere of existance is racist, but that doesnt apply world over. or even all through the uk. or your town/village whatever.
would that it did.

FAQ · 18/03/2008 21:39

dittany - that was THEN - this is NOW.

Of course there are abusers of the joys of having domestic staff and who treat them like shit.........but just look here in the UK at the plight of many illegal workers who are being exploited by unscrupulous employers who pay them a pittance, "house" them - but take most of their pitiful pay to cover the "rent", and who have no rights/union to represent them...

BritTex · 18/03/2008 21:39

PSCMUN.
I do not disagree with you, there are plenty of problems that need to be fixed and the world is not all right. but my greivence is with people who would boycott buying a doll because it is offensive, that what I mean by keeping racism alive.

cheesesarnie · 18/03/2008 21:42

its a doll!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you dont like it dont buy it but dont go around accusing people of being racists!

PSCMUM · 18/03/2008 21:43

britex, no, BUYING the doll, or anything else with racist connotations, is what keeps racism alive as it implies acceptance.
Boycotting the doll shows that it is not acceptable and so will, hopefully, in time, if enough people do it, show the makers that that is offensive, racist, and not acceptable, that they should be completely ashamed and hope that they will chaneg their ways.

FAQ · 18/03/2008 21:44

I'm still not sure how showing a black doll dressed in what really is a VERY common style of dress for Southern African woman is racist...

Rubyrubyruby · 18/03/2008 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheesesarnie · 18/03/2008 21:46

agree FAQ.couldnt accussing someone of being racist just because they live or lived in south africa be seen as racist?or do i need to go to bed?

BritTex · 18/03/2008 21:48

PSCMUN.
that's BS ! its just a doll, or is it?

It depends on how YOU want to look at it. YOU see it as having racial conertations, no one else does

So where is the racism ?

mylovelymonster · 18/03/2008 21:49

It looks delightful - reminds me of the housekeeper in Tom & Jerry
Isn't it healthy to have dolls that aren't just caucasian & blonde?

dittany · 18/03/2008 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SorenLorensen · 18/03/2008 21:50

BritTex, you say to PSCMUM, "YOU see it as having racial conertations, no one else does"...have you read the rest of the thread? PSCMUM isn't alone.

PSCMUM · 18/03/2008 21:52

i think if something makes you feel uneasy, because it portrays a negative racial stereotype, you shouldn't buy it.
you should on principle not buy it. plenty of other black dolls out there.

how would everyone feel about a black slave doll?

dittany · 18/03/2008 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BritTex · 18/03/2008 21:53

sorry, when I said YOU I should not have been directing it at PSCMUM if there are others who share her opinion. I was just responding to her post.

FAQ · 18/03/2008 21:55

In Apartheid South Africa most whites, even those opposed to the system, had very little contact with blacks other than their own domestic staff.

Are you suggesting that having a black domestic servant is racist???

that is what many black South African woman, yes including the domestic staff, wear NOW. So yes in some respects it is a stereotype - but no more making a doll wearing Lederhosen and saying it's a Bavarian doll

dittany · 18/03/2008 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumcentreplus · 18/03/2008 21:58

I feel this thread actually shows very interesting opinions ... I love the fact that anyone who thinks a Gollywog is racist is a a racist ..priceless...did you know the woman who played mammy in the Gone with the wind (Hattie Mcdaniels) could not attend the awards..wonder why? ...some people are shamelessly racist..and will continute to be so if not challenged...not unreasonable or ott imo...keep talking...please