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Housekeeping

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Original poster

What to do with gollywog?

35 replies

gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:05

Name change obvs. I've been having a clear out and have found my childhood love, my gollywog. Honestly I don't even know if you are supposed to say the word so my enormous apologies. He's a handsome knitted chap and before I knew what he was I adored him. Back then we had Robinson's jam badges etc and I just didn't know. He was one of my favourite childhood toys but he's been hidden in a drawstring bag for years in case he is seen by someone. Can you suggest what to do with him? I'd find it hard to just hide him in the bin and wondered if there was something nicer I could do. A burial? Donate him somewhere? Surely he's too racist for a toy museum? I don't know. Keep him hidden until I'm elderly and let my kids bin him? Any suggestions? He was my favourite toy and I can't hate on him because of what he is and I didn't know. Now I do what should his fate be?

OP posts:
BingeBitch · 22/05/2022 11:07

Keep it, don’t keep it. Just don’t start a thread about it 🙄

ElenaSt · 22/05/2022 11:07

He's not racist. Give him away or sell him if your mind can't cope with a doll.

Skinnermarink · 22/05/2022 11:08

It’s an odd thing to start a thread about isn’t it.

Original poster
gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:14

I thought some declutter wiz would have a suggestion like take a picture or stuff him in a teddy or something. I do not want to ask anyone irl as I'm really not sure if I would be called racist. I should just hide him in the bin but it feels mean

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 22/05/2022 11:15

Is it an odd thing to start a thread about though? If op does in fact have this doll, she is clearly torn about what to do, now that times have changed and everyone knows it's not an acceptable thing to have out on display.

But, it holds many cherished memories.

I'd be tempted to pack him away with a story. Telling your kids, who will find it one day, when they're clearing your house out, how much you loved him in a time before it wasn't ok. And when it became apparent it wasn't ok, that you packed him up and now you dear children can wrestle with this dilemma.

Skinnermarink · 22/05/2022 11:16

Well you don’t have to bin it. Just pack it away.

headofpotsandpans · 22/05/2022 11:18

Why not take a picture or stuff him in a teddy?

Insomniacsrule · 22/05/2022 11:19

I don't see why it's an odd thing to start a thread about. Gollywogs are now clearly seen as racist (even the name is offensive) and the OP is not sure what to do with it.

OP, I think you should keep it. Not propped up on the mantlepiece obviously, but in a box somewhere.

Furrbabymama87 · 22/05/2022 11:21

If you want to keep it, keep it. Who would know? Just put it away when you have people round.

Soupsetscared · 22/05/2022 11:21

My late grandfather in law worked at the Robinson jam factory.
When he died we were helping to empty his home and found
at least 150 badges. We didn't know what to do with them.
Mil has put them in her attic for now.

Johnnysgirl · 22/05/2022 11:23

Give it to a museum. There's one in the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

Staynow · 22/05/2022 11:35

I loved the gollywog on Robinsons jam when i was a child - but I always thought it was just a person with a blackberry for a head which actually made perfect sense what with them selling fruit jam.
Have you seen the Extras with the gollywog in it? It's my absolute favourite bit or the series (Series 1 episode 5 I think) if you haven't seen it you HAVE to watch it! Has Samuel L Jackson in I think.
What do you want to do with it OP? Do you want to keep it or get rid of it? They're controversial even in a toy museum so I'd give that a miss. If you don't want it any more bin it, if you do then just leave it in the bag.

Inklingpot · 22/05/2022 11:35

Cued up nicely for all the ‘but dolls aren’t racist!’ posters to come and bemoan the PC wokeness censorship of today.

Original poster
gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:38

I think I want to let him go. I think I'll take a picture just as a memory. Just binning him seems mean though. Maybe I'll stick him in a donation bin and he can go on his own adventure.

OP posts:
Original poster
gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:39

Inklingpot · 22/05/2022 11:35

Cued up nicely for all the ‘but dolls aren’t racist!’ posters to come and bemoan the PC wokeness censorship of today.

He's been hidden for years, I'm of the opinion he is racist/offensive.

OP posts:
codeVeronica · 22/05/2022 12:03

gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:38

I think I want to let him go. I think I'll take a picture just as a memory. Just binning him seems mean though. Maybe I'll stick him in a donation bin and he can go on his own adventure.

You realise that whoever you donate it to will probably bin it?

Staynow · 22/05/2022 12:06

gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:38

I think I want to let him go. I think I'll take a picture just as a memory. Just binning him seems mean though. Maybe I'll stick him in a donation bin and he can go on his own adventure.

He's made of wool and stuffing - do you really never throw away things made of wool because it's mean? it's not possible to be mean to inanimate objects. Don't stick him in a donation bin, it just means they have to bin your rubbish as they probably don't want to be in the papers as someone's complained about them. It's fine to chuck it, no more mean then chucking any of the other stuff you have in your bin.

Original poster
gollygood · 22/05/2022 12:14

@codeVeronica yeah, scrap that!

OP posts:
Insomniacsrule · 22/05/2022 12:16

Inklingpot · 22/05/2022 11:35

Cued up nicely for all the ‘but dolls aren’t racist!’ posters to come and bemoan the PC wokeness censorship of today.

Sorry, but this particular doll clearly is racist. It wasn't seen as racist in the past, but lots of things were seen as ok back then. The Black and White Minstrel Show, among others.

MrsRuggles · 22/05/2022 12:22

gollygood · 22/05/2022 11:38

I think I want to let him go. I think I'll take a picture just as a memory. Just binning him seems mean though. Maybe I'll stick him in a donation bin and he can go on his own adventure.

If you think he's a racist artefact, destroy him. Do not continue the racism. I found my old beloved Topsy a while back. Given to me by my mother who was concerned there were no black dolls for me. We're talking late 50s. So, given with good intent. But finding her, oh how offensive, The big red sewn on lips, the big round eyes. The caricature hair. Horrible. Honestly, not like I remembered her at all. I took a photograph and binned her.

CuriousCatfish · 22/05/2022 14:42

Just bin it. Why would anyone else want it?

ConfusedBear · 22/05/2022 18:31

How large is it? Could you unravel the wool and make it into something else?

A knitted rectangle could be made into a small pouch or bag fairly easily. Something like a lavender bag for example or if bigger a hot water bottle cover.

Original poster
gollygood · 22/05/2022 20:11

@MrsRuggles I think this is the way forward, I just needed to give it some thought. If he was a teddy bear he'd be openly somewhere in the house but eventually end up in a dumpster!

OP posts:
butimjayigetaway · 27/05/2022 21:26

You have two basic options:

  1. Get rid of a thing which causes great offense to a group of people because it has no place in this world.
  2. Keep it and probably profit off it later and live with any guilt that brings you.
Sparro · 27/05/2022 21:32

A burial? It's a doll FFS.

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