Quizzes & Puzzles0 min ago
Golliwogs and morons
Quick question based on a previous post.
I understand that there are MANY people who have childhood toys in the shape of golliwogs - and tees people don't have a racist bone in their body. They're simply a toy right?
Now some people have said that golliwogs have become the subject of a PC-ban.
But to those people, I would like to ask this - if you were invited to a child's birthday party, and the kid was black. Would you buy them a golliwog as a present, or would you think, "Hang on...this could be seriously misconstrued".
So - would you buy a golly for a black child?
I understand that there are MANY people who have childhood toys in the shape of golliwogs - and tees people don't have a racist bone in their body. They're simply a toy right?
Now some people have said that golliwogs have become the subject of a PC-ban.
But to those people, I would like to ask this - if you were invited to a child's birthday party, and the kid was black. Would you buy them a golliwog as a present, or would you think, "Hang on...this could be seriously misconstrued".
So - would you buy a golly for a black child?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by sp1814. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
ask yourself one simple question why would a racist make a black dolll the hero of the story
>> The earliest Gollywog is the hero in books of verse written by Bertha Upton in the 1890's, and illustrated by her daughter Florence; in total, both the mother and daughter worked together on a total of twelve illustrated books, all featuring the gallant little character and his adventures traveling to such exotic destinations as Africa and the North Pole, accompanied by his friends, the Dutch Dolls. <<
>> The earliest Gollywog is the hero in books of verse written by Bertha Upton in the 1890's, and illustrated by her daughter Florence; in total, both the mother and daughter worked together on a total of twelve illustrated books, all featuring the gallant little character and his adventures traveling to such exotic destinations as Africa and the North Pole, accompanied by his friends, the Dutch Dolls. <<
It's all wearing a little thin this talk of black people being offended, by this or by that.
In the 21st century it is about time those that do get offended, over a rag doll got over it, at times we all get offended by something or other, but we have to learn and get over it.
At times I think it is just another way of obtaining a certain hold over white people, take the Ni***r word, some rap artists use it from time to time, more or less to say "we can use it, but don't you dare".
On my last trip to Cuba, I bought a 'Black Mamma' type of doll, the type you see in Tom & Jerry films, complete with head scarf and apron, this doll was sold to me by a black shop owner, who stocked many of these dolls in her shop.
Knowing that the Cubans did not care for Americans too much, I asked the Cuban courier if I would offend anyone if I wore an American baseball cap on which there was an American baseball teams badge on it.
Of course not he replied, but why do you wear an American cap, why not an English one? I then went on to explain to him that to wear anything with say St Georges flag on it, was deemed to be a little naff, as well as being classed as rather racist.
It was at that moment, he rolled his eye and scratched his head, he then asked why, it's your countries flag is it not? At that stage I thought it best to change the subject.
In the 21st century it is about time those that do get offended, over a rag doll got over it, at times we all get offended by something or other, but we have to learn and get over it.
At times I think it is just another way of obtaining a certain hold over white people, take the Ni***r word, some rap artists use it from time to time, more or less to say "we can use it, but don't you dare".
On my last trip to Cuba, I bought a 'Black Mamma' type of doll, the type you see in Tom & Jerry films, complete with head scarf and apron, this doll was sold to me by a black shop owner, who stocked many of these dolls in her shop.
Knowing that the Cubans did not care for Americans too much, I asked the Cuban courier if I would offend anyone if I wore an American baseball cap on which there was an American baseball teams badge on it.
Of course not he replied, but why do you wear an American cap, why not an English one? I then went on to explain to him that to wear anything with say St Georges flag on it, was deemed to be a little naff, as well as being classed as rather racist.
It was at that moment, he rolled his eye and scratched his head, he then asked why, it's your countries flag is it not? At that stage I thought it best to change the subject.
"I then went on to explain to him that to wear anything with say St Georges flag on it, was deemed to be a little naff, as well as being classed as rather racist. "
Erm, why?
If other peoples' opinions (or, to be more accurate, what you think other peoples' opinions are) stop you wearing a St Georges baseball cap, then quite frankly I don't see how that's anybody's problem but yours.
Erm, why?
If other peoples' opinions (or, to be more accurate, what you think other peoples' opinions are) stop you wearing a St Georges baseball cap, then quite frankly I don't see how that's anybody's problem but yours.
-- answer removed --
gilliwogs are still on sale in many toy stores,
i had one when i was little eons ago it was handed down from my sister
also my aunt in the 50s had a lovely black dog called *** (as did guy gibson who lead the dam busters) at at night when she wanted it to come in she would call it name out loud on the street, imagine that now!
i had one when i was little eons ago it was handed down from my sister
also my aunt in the 50s had a lovely black dog called *** (as did guy gibson who lead the dam busters) at at night when she wanted it to come in she would call it name out loud on the street, imagine that now!
we had a cat called ni**er and black neighbours....
I would buy a black child a black doll if they wanted a doll but usually buy children crayons, paper and glitter stuff If I was buying a toy to cuddle probably a stuffed animal one that comes with an animal sponsorship so the child would get the photos and reports on how 'their ' wild animal was doing
I had a golly as a child....hated it thought it was scary also had one of those chimp characters with the lifelike faces hands and feet with a body that looked like plush dungarees and t shirt T believe they were also considered to be offensive to black people at some point
I would buy a black child a black doll if they wanted a doll but usually buy children crayons, paper and glitter stuff If I was buying a toy to cuddle probably a stuffed animal one that comes with an animal sponsorship so the child would get the photos and reports on how 'their ' wild animal was doing
I had a golly as a child....hated it thought it was scary also had one of those chimp characters with the lifelike faces hands and feet with a body that looked like plush dungarees and t shirt T believe they were also considered to be offensive to black people at some point
To answer the question - I would not buy a golliwog for a black child, but i would buy a black doll.
The golliwog was originally conceived as an ugly caricature of 'black face' minstels so there is always a risk of offending someone by offering one as a gift. Similarly - were the a puppet version of Beaker the Muppet, i would not buy one for anyone with frizzy ginger hair and a big nose - sometimes a little thought goes a long way.
It is very easy, and indeed simplistic, to suggest that offence is all around us if we look - esepcially if that stance is taken from a white middle-class male - but black culture has spent a seriously long time being held down and riddiculed, and its not hard to see why black people are a little more sensitive than their white counterparts about perceived insults based on ethnicity.
I wouldn't buy a golly for a black child, because I wouldn't buy one for any child, I think they are old-fashioned, ugly, and slightly sinister.
The golliwog was originally conceived as an ugly caricature of 'black face' minstels so there is always a risk of offending someone by offering one as a gift. Similarly - were the a puppet version of Beaker the Muppet, i would not buy one for anyone with frizzy ginger hair and a big nose - sometimes a little thought goes a long way.
It is very easy, and indeed simplistic, to suggest that offence is all around us if we look - esepcially if that stance is taken from a white middle-class male - but black culture has spent a seriously long time being held down and riddiculed, and its not hard to see why black people are a little more sensitive than their white counterparts about perceived insults based on ethnicity.
I wouldn't buy a golly for a black child, because I wouldn't buy one for any child, I think they are old-fashioned, ugly, and slightly sinister.
missnemesis - I played your clip and found, that as with almost every modern comedian, I can agree with the stance taken, but that does not make it remotely funny!
As far as "When did 'Sticks and stones ..." cease to be relavent?
Around the time Eric Bogozian wrote the play - and acted in the film 'Talk Radio' where the DJ host quotes a memorable line ' "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cause permanent damage .."
Food for thought?
As far as "When did 'Sticks and stones ..." cease to be relavent?
Around the time Eric Bogozian wrote the play - and acted in the film 'Talk Radio' where the DJ host quotes a memorable line ' "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cause permanent damage .."
Food for thought?
-- answer removed --
Latest Posts
Quizzes & Puzzles2 mins ago
Crosswords2 mins ago
Quizzes & Puzzles6 mins ago
News7 mins ago
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.