Is racism acceptable in predominantly white areas then?

[beansprout]

Have just been to Lyme Regis for my holiday. Was utterly shocked to repeatedly see golliwogs for sale in toy shops and at craft fairs but the piece de resistance was surely being in a book shop and seeing a book called "The Little Black Sambo" for sale. This was a children's book, which somehow made it worse. I told the manager I was very offended by this but she was incredibly ignorant. She started off by saying "are you black?" (I'm not) so I explained that I don't have to be black to be offended by racism.

To cut a long story short she was adamant that the book was fine and I was the one being ignorant (?!). She was very defensive and absolutely refused to acknowledge what I was saying.

I was born and live in London. You just wouldn't see this stuff here but is it really normal in other areas? Am interested to know!!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmmm. Strangely, the site reprinting "Little Black Sambo" is the sole member a ring of sites which apparently believe that "Little Black Sambo" isn't "racialist" and should be promoted.

What does "racialist" mean? Gah.

[HappyMumof2]

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[Enid]

noooooooooooooo

it is printed by Ragged Bears press - they are a fab publishing company, I know a lot of the artists (eg Paul Stickland who did Dinosaur Roar) and they are most definitely NOT racist in any way shape or form.

[madmarchhare]

to add, so if I went to this shop with my DS and he picked this book up because he liked the happy looking boy on the front cover and asked if he could have it, should I say 'no because some people might think we are racist', or should I let him have it and enjoy it for what it is in his eyes, a childrens book. It would be nice to think that if everyone did the latter then as these kids grew up, there would be no issue.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Um, no, not really. I think people use it in place of "racist"?

I've found forums linked to from the LBS site. Very strange. Not the National Front or anything ... here .

[HappyMumof2]

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[madmarchhare]

Sorry, too idealistic, but wouldnt it be great! But honestly, what would I do? What would you do?

[Enid]

no really is that from the ragged bears publishing site?

[Heathcliffscathy]

looks bit dodgy doesn't it? weird.

[Enid]

I am confused

this is the Ragged bears I mean

[madmarchhare]

I dont see how the pricipal is any different though.

[Pinotmum]

If they changed the name and had better illustrations would it be OK? The story of Little White Squibba seems very similar.

[HappyMumof2]

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[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of a book being banned. I'm just not comfortable with LBS being published for kids. (If someone wants it for nostalgia, or if they're studying historical kid's books, it should be available, surely?) I'm sure plenty of Black people out there have been called LBS, and to teach more kids that term? No.

Oh, here is a more ... indicative thread. It is linked to from the LBS site, near the top of the page - "Click here to visit the Sterlingtimes Message board".

(Obviously, the author of LBS isn't involved with the strange little forum. I don't think LBS was written with racist intent. But it's now so strongly associated with all that, and with Black people, despite being about Indians maybe, it just isn't a good book for kids.)

[NotQuiteCockney]

Nonono, I got to the forums from the online LBS, that Ladymuck linked to.

[Enid]

oh thank god

didnt think that publishers was inherently racist

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, Enid, the reissue, with a better name, and presumably better illustrations, looks fine. I don't think the story of LBS is offensive at all. It's really just the illustrations and the name's bad associations that trouble me ...

[hercules]

but not surprised sadly at that last link.

[HappyMumof2]

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[giraffeski]

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[moonunit]

I saw a gollywog in a store today in Retford, and pionted it out to my mum, because i had'nt seen one in years and thought they had stopt selling them.

[QueenOfQuotes]

ooops we've got two golliwogs - one large, one small in our house - my mum gave them to us when DS2 was born - and DH is quite happy for them to be here.........(although some of you may remember the time I nearly cr*pped myself when smoking out of the window and peering through the thin curtains thought someone was in the room [boush])


Oh - and DH is quite happy to read "The Three Golliwogs" to the boys once he gets to the 2nd shelf of books with bedtimes stories.

[WideWebWitch]

I don't know what I think about the book, having never seen it but my point was that racism is, imo, more likely in predominantly white areas and that various other attitudes in the countryside are, as sophable said, a bit 1950s.