A Conversation for When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
- 1
- 2
Peer Review: A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Started conversation May 21, 2017
Entry: When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo - A87889270
Author: Galaxy Babe - spaghettified editor - U128652
I have read this story numerous times in my local newspaper, so I thought I'd bring it to the attention of the wider world. The protagonists are all long-dead, so you can laugh without fear of hurting anyone's feelings. The original story has been sanitised to conform with today's editorial standards and political correctness. I make no mention of the fact that black boot polish was utilised to assist the deception and dropped the description "the heir to Zululand" from the original newspaper report (1906).
GB
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
minorvogonpoet Posted May 21, 2017
This is an amusing incident and you have described it vividly.
However, I suspect that the people of Grimsby fell for the trick partly because they knew little of Africa and its people. I think that the fact that the 'Prince' was apparently black, in a place where everybody else was white has to be relevant. He would have been very exotic. It's difficult to avoid the issue of his colour.
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 21, 2017
Hi mvp, thanks for reading and commenting
I must admit I am wary of stating in the entry that he was blacked-up like a black-and-white minstrel used to be, for fear of offending anyone. PC is a minefield, for aged researchers such as myself!
GB
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 21, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
minorvogonpoet Posted May 22, 2017
I think this works well.
Of course, being white, I can't say if it would offend a black person. Perhaps the fact that the impostor was only pretending to be black would reassure them?
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 22, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Superfrenchie Posted May 22, 2017
A nice story, well told.
About the blackface thing : I would tend to think that describing something shouldn't be a problem. He *was* blacked-up, that's a fact. It doesn't mean you think it was clever, or funny, or even remotely a good idea.
But like MVP, I can't really know if it would offend a black person.
Probably just my ignorance speaking, but what does the JP in "Jacob Pickwell JP" mean ? Is it just his initials, or ?
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 22, 2017
Hi Superfrenchie thanks for reading and commenting.
>>what does the JP in "Jacob Pickwell JP" mean?<< Justice of the Peace
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 23, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor Posted May 23, 2017
At last I find this thread.
This is brilliant. I think you handled the colour issue very well - you're not being rude, the criminal was, and it's okay to say that. I agree with MVP: the place must have been provincial enough not to have much of an idea of what Africans looked like.
That reminds me of an African acquaintance in Germany, back in the early 80s. He was walking through a tiny village. An elderly man burst out crying. The kind-hearted visitor stopped, dismayed. 'Grandfather, what's the matter?'
'It's always been said that if The Black Man walks the village streets, the end of the world is near.'
The young man told me this as an amusing, but puzzling anecdote, but he was taken aback at the time.
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
You can call me TC Posted May 24, 2017
German children used to be threatened with "Der schwarze Mann" - the black man. It refers to the chimney sweep.
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
You can call me TC Posted May 24, 2017
Sorry - I realise that comment was a bit of a non sequitur. Haven't read the entry yet. I'll be black . Er... back.
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 24, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor Posted May 24, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor Posted May 26, 2017
A very good story! I also don't think you have to worry about racial issues.
('Der schwarze Mann' is also a game, where one child is chosen as 'the black man' and has to catch the others. Everyone who is caught becomes a black man too.)
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 26, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
You can call me TC Posted May 26, 2017
The entry is lovely, by the way - enjoyable style, answers all the questions you find yourself asking along the way. Well done!
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted May 26, 2017
A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted Jul 2, 2017
Key: Complain about this post
- 1
- 2
Peer Review: A87889270 - When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
- 1: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 21, 2017)
- 2: minorvogonpoet (May 21, 2017)
- 3: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 21, 2017)
- 4: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 21, 2017)
- 5: minorvogonpoet (May 22, 2017)
- 6: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 22, 2017)
- 7: Superfrenchie (May 22, 2017)
- 8: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 22, 2017)
- 9: Superfrenchie (May 22, 2017)
- 10: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 23, 2017)
- 11: Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor (May 23, 2017)
- 12: You can call me TC (May 24, 2017)
- 13: You can call me TC (May 24, 2017)
- 14: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 24, 2017)
- 15: Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor (May 24, 2017)
- 16: Tavaron da Quirm - Arts Editor (May 26, 2017)
- 17: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 26, 2017)
- 18: You can call me TC (May 26, 2017)
- 19: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (May 26, 2017)
- 20: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor (Jul 2, 2017)
More Conversations for When the Mayor of Grimsby met Prince Makaroo
- A88048100 - Jacques Bellot's 1586 Phrasebook: How to Speake English Perfectlye [16]
7 Hours Ago - A88047110 - 'Persuasion' - a Novel by Jane Austen [1]
4 Days Ago - A88045059 - Is There a Doctor in. . . ? Paging Dr Gregory House [5]
Feb 17, 2024 - A88043510 - Mergansers - Saw-billed Ducks [1]
Jan 22, 2024 - A88040207 - 'Now and Then' - the Final Beatles Song [3]
Jan 15, 2024
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."