Posted by missmyth on 10/15/2004, 5:02 pm I must admit, when I looked up the first website and saw the pictures, I thought it grotesque. instantly my head filled with what I had been told and shown about "white people" and "racism" and "dehumanization". little black sambo, and mistral shows, "jivin' and shuckin'" happy-go-lucky pop-eyed negros with a song and a smile for all the little ones. a HARMLESS CREATURE, non-threatening, and therefore able to be dominated, keep powerless. the history of blacks in america and elsewhere includes this attempt to portray the underclasses in such a way that they seem less than men, and to make them feel like less. those little black dolls were given to childen so they could have their own little pickaninny to whip and kick around. golly lovers, this is the reality, by history and indoctrination, of many black people. this doll's face carries with it many tons of hidden baggage. the average english school child and his or her parents, almost certainly had no understanding of this association. for many millions of children around the world, this coal black smiling face is like the gingerbread man, "like a teddy bear" "like raggady ann", just another fairytaleland creature. over the generations the orginial idea of the doll was lost, and then the social connotations. for millions he then just became another "friend" on the toy shelf. it is hard to explain the layers I see behind this innocent doll. i do believe the orginal author in the 1800's did not intend the golliwogg to be a slur against black people any more than Matel meant barbie to be a slur against fat people, or busty blonds for that matter. I'm still not sure of this, I have not read the books. I'm interested to find out exactly how she wrote them. I think if you can look at your Golly and say for a fact that you don't personally dislike black people, then you aren't a racists. but please understand, for generations african americans have known the origins of this character/ toy/ dolly and when we see him, we see that history.
4.243.113.214
I have never heard of a golliwog before today. a friend mentioned being amazed to see them in a shop in London. she's never been before and is from the states like I am.
But reading post after post of "i loved my golly! he was brave and cheerful! when I was sad/scared he made me feel better!" I have a hard time just dismissing everyone as a racist. maybe some are ignorant of his origins (the original black-faced figure, the characature golly's based on). Maybe some just ignore where he came from and concentrate on their innocent childhood feelings. Maybe some know full well and just don't care what others think.
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