h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: By Golly it's the history of Golliwogs - A50831787
Author: Opticalillusion- media mynx life would be boring without hiccups - U231227

I've worked my

Original Entry: By Golly it's the history of Golliwogs - A47593399
Author: Noth€r - U3869994
Flea Market Conversation - F74125?thread=6527640
Original Writing Workshop Thread – F12666295?thread=6462749

I rather think it was in PR: F12666295?thread=6462749

GB

Prime minister = Prime Minister

Good rescue Opti

Just - no h2g2 links

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What? Something missing there

(still reading)

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Do you mean a member of British Airways staff called her a golliwog supermodel? If so, you should specify that, I assumed it was another passenger until I read the comment by the airline.

It should be "spokesperson for the airline in question" as airlines don't speak...

Definitely getting there! . I've only skimmed it so far and will comment more later. For now:

- Mention of the Blyton family endorsing/ suggesting/ requesting removal from the books.

- Quotes within paras: Is it House Style to italicise? (it would make them more readable)

- The Thatcher incident still isn't quite right - eg she wasn't fired and I think it's worth mentioning that others preent were shocked and offended. The official Beeb statement will be online somewhere. (I think that for hootoo purposes, we should regard this as authoritative. maybe even link it?)

- You may disagree with me on this one...but I really don't think there ought to be a mention that a false picture has been painted, for political reasons, of an orchestrated campaign by 'The PC Brigade'. Quite the opposite seems to be true. You may not want to quite take my party line...but maybe there could be something to the effct that golliwogs have become a touchstone issue for right-leaning patriots who, failing to understand the offence, feel that they are beleagured by 'political corrctness.'

But. yes, well rescued. More later.

Despite the fact that golliwogs as toys are now frowned upon, it didn't stop the Queen's shop from trying to flog them - they were on sale at £9.99 each and even on display in her shop window at Sandringham. They were removed from the shelves in February 2009 after complaints. A spokes person said, "The management of the shop have said they did not intend to offend anyone by selling this product and have apologised if any offence has been caused. The shop will immediately review its purchasing policy." It's possible that was the last shop in the UK with any golliwog stock, but you can still buy them on ebay if you really want one. Just don't take it to work, or by golly, you will probably get some funny looks.

A spokes person said = A spokesperson said

"The management - single quotes...

ebay = eBay

This is relevant:
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/newshastings/BNP-slammed-for-selling-Golliwog.4763513.jp

hello, I feel like I am stepping into a lion's den, as I am aware of previous controversy, but here goes...


>>It's possible that was the last shop in the UK with any golliwog stock, but you can still buy them on ebay if you really want one. Just don't take it to work, or by golly, you will probably get some funny looks.


I know of a nearby (UK) shop (it sells replica 'nostalgia') that has a large stock of new golliwogs dolls, keyrings, posters, you name it. I am sure it can't be the only shop in the country?

Also, black rag dolls are very common as toddler toys. Some are more realistic than others, but I just wanted to check the current position and found this site on my second click. Scroll down the page to Black Raggedy Ann and Andy and their mammy. Even I was shocked.

http://aokcorral.com/vendors/kay5/

I'm reminded of the "maid" in the original Tom & Jerry cartoons - who has been edited out and her voice updated

I'm not convinced that Raggedy Annes are offensive (although I'll gladly bow to African-American opinion). There are two crucial differences, compared with golliwogs:
- They do not present an inherently racist stereotype
- Nobody has had to quake with fear on hearing 'Raggedy Anne' shouted on a nighttime street.

I don't see any mention of racist overtobes from a quick google (eg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raggedy_Ann). In fact...they seem to me perfectly healthy. Akin to the dolls of all colours ones sees being played with in any modern nursery.


>>I'm reminded of the "maid" in the original Tom & Jerry cartoons - who has been edited out and her voice updated

Not in the versons I see on Cartoon Network. Nor should they be. They don't seem to portray negative stereotypes.

>>I feel like I am stepping into a lion's den

A friendly lion, though. I'm a pussycat, really.

Well there are raggedy anns and raggedy anns Ed. I used to work with families and young children, and we provided very life-like rag dolls of many ethnic types. The problem was that the parents wanted to call these dolls golliwogs, if they were black and a ragdoll if they were any other colour, so it was a bit of a self defeating shoot yourself in the foot situation.


There is so much ignorance still about, and so many people shy away from any discussion. In a case like this its a bit like sticking your head above a parapet and getting it shot off. That's what I meant about the lion's den.

For instance, is it still okay for someone to say 'Oh golly?' If society has found it necessary to take away Robertsons Golly badges, should we tackle the next person who says 'golly gosh'?

>>For instance, is it still okay for someone to say 'Oh golly?'

Well, yes - of course it is. And I don't think these issues are as tricky as people make out. There really isn't some kind of arcane rule book whose contents have been memorised by the PC Brigade. All it takes is some thought:

'Has the phrase 'Oh golly gosh' ever been used as an insult? Could it be used in an insulting way?'



And the parents who call any black doll a golliwog are simply eejits.

Thanks Ed.
I think the fact that we are able to discuss these things rationally, in a public venue goes some way to proving that the Entry should have a wider audience.


Actually, is it 'class-ist' to call working class white parents 'eejits'? Answers in another thread methinks.

Comfortable though I may be in my sheltered, middle-class environment...I doubt that working class parents are unaware of the offence value of 'golliwog'.



(Or are we meant to use nowadays? )

Somebody I know...er...quite well was teaching an anti-racism course today. Golliwogs reared their cute little heads. 'They're lovable things! Why can't we give them to our children?' etc. etc.

They really have become a touchstone issue. But I refuse to believe that parents actually *wanted* to give them to their children, before they became so controversial.

There was a car repair place in Birmingham called Golliwogs "We don't put jam in jars, we fit exhausts to cars."

Race relations were round like a shot ~ the management, and all the staff were Jamaican.

Prejudice is in the mind, not the word.

>>Race relations were round like a shot

Oh? There's an organisation called Race Relations, is there? And they have special squads that go out and deal with breaches of good taste?

That's news to me!

Source, please.

It's a very old story Edward ~ The actual garage I knew because I drove past it everyday - and that was the slogan above their doors - there was a complaint made about the name, which was investigated, and was in the local papers.

I don't actually know what the outcome was, but the garage is gone now ~ but it was at least 10 years ago.