To think this product at The Range/Wilko is just plain racist?

[GardenNope]

I've been complaining about this range of products since I saw them in my local store a few weeks ago.

I keep getting fobbed off with no response, or 'we aim to provide products for all tastes'.

This just seems to me like a blatant racist stereotype of Polynesian culture. But the company doesn't seem to agree at all. Am I losing my mind here because it seems very blatantly wrong to me?

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/single-solar-tiki-water-sports-ornament-in-assorted-styles/p/8087004

It's an ornament / toy. Give your head a wobble.
What do you have planned to be offended about tomorrow?

Well I'm glad for all the discussion and I'm grateful for the different viewpoints! (Not sure all of the FFS type responses are wholly helpful.)

The local Morris dancers?! By most of her replies!

Cornwall maybe? Morris dancers painting their faces black on Mummers day is a pagan winter solstice tradition. It had nothing to do with racism. The tradition comes from disguising your face by painting it black, the colour associated with the winter festivals. They were not dressing up as black people. However, singing spirituals and “ministrel” songs instead of Cornish folk songs while “blacked up” became part of the celebrations in the 19th century, which obviously is racist. Mummers Day was also known as Darking Day, which became contracted to “Darkie Day”, which also obviously has another racist meaning.

I believe there is still a Mummers Day festival in Padstow but the racist songs and name have gone. The tradition of camouflaging your face with black make up continues though. It’s controversial because although the original tradition has nothing to do with racism, the celebration became associated with racism.

Yep.
Don't be angry, it's nothing personal.

😂😂

It's an ugly ornament. Who loves and buys something like this or do they hate the recipient of the gift that much? It's on par with a tacky holiday souvenir a bit like the one I bought my elderly parents, who I love, of 2 tortoises shagging. My parents have a tortoise and I wanted to see the look on my Mother's face when she realised the tortoises weren't playing leapfrog.

so @GardenNope are you:

• Actually Polynesian and knowledgeable about the cultural references?
• Wilko sales and marketing team?
• White and performing outrage on behalf of us poor minorities (without asking first)?

Sometimes I wish we could do Polls

BTW - Morris blackface long predates the golliwog face (which is a particularly vile racist caricature) and its references to caricatured performance and dance. Some groups have chosen a different colour to avoid misrepresentation/confusion with the racist caricature form of blackface.

I think you need to park this crusade now OP. Its tacky rubbish and at worst is slightly culturally insensitive of traditional Polynesian artwork. But 'Racist' is a big call, and you'd better be nailed on sure before branding that accusation around - its a serious one and can do a lot of damage to people.

But I'm sure, in the grand scheme of things, Polynesians aren't losing any sleep over some wanky bit of plastic in the tacky section of a budget warehouse. Please correct me if I'm wrong if there are any Polynesians out there rather than offense archaeologists with some kind of white guilt complex.

How long did you spend interrogating the websites of various budget retailers before stumbling on this beaut?

No need to admit in public you're utterly bonkers.
What happens when you see a clown, do you bleat that is racist against white people seeing themselves portrayed as a buffoon with a painted face and acting daft?

Wow. I'm an immigrant to the UK, and even I know the history of the Morris dancers face paint.

OP are you Polynesian or do you usually get offended on other people's behalf?

OP, why won't you answer the question about where you live? Play fair.

He ain't paddling fast enough to be a racist.

This

I used to work in complaints and I'm completely sure they will have taken this seriously. They definitely won't quote it on the office whiteboard, and they absolutely won't laugh about it in the pub on Friday.

😂

Yeah I thought that might be what op was getting at.

'Tis a noble and terribly worthwhile thing you are doing OP. In fact, your post has given me great comfort and renewed hope for the future of mankind. Thank you.

It's a guy who lives opposite my office. His garden is a year round horror - a gift that keeps on giving.

He also has a couple of 3 foot high Betty Boop statues and a large horse sculpture (a la Joey on Friends) in the picture window at the front of the house.

He has a very naff personalised numberplate and picks his nose whilst driving his Range Rover too.

OP do you feel the same way about Buddha statues? A lot of people have those in their homes/gardens, including comical/irreverent ones where the Buddha is misrepresented for comic effect. (I saw a Shrek one, for example).

I don't know if any of these things are racist or offensive because I'm not Polynesian nor Buddhist but interested in what you think re Buddha statues.

Is it any worse than a Buddha ? Or a garden nativity? A WHITE inflated snowman?

It's a horrible thing and the fact that apparently people will spend £18 on it confirms that my decision never to enter The Range was a good one. But I've seen a number of Polynesian canoe and other carvings and it's not that far from removed from the real thing. It's a jollied-up cartoon version of some of the images on you can see here on Maori canoes. Terrible taste, certainly, but racist?
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/maori-carving-canoe.html?sortBy=relevant

Does he keep the Betty Boop's outside?? Those things are worth a pretty penny.

What about kokeshi dolls, are they racist? Asking for a friend😂.