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Golli-blog
Behold the Golliwog in all his glory:
I believe this pattern is from some time in the 40s. I was shocked by how freakishly scary it is. What the hell kinda kid would want to play with this thing? Check out those eyes. They make Jennifer Wilbanks look well-adjusted. I also find this thing crazy offensive. The Golliwog character was originally developed by Frances Upton to resemble a Black Minstrel. Wow. Have some stereotypes with your milk and cookies, kids. Thank goodness, by the time I was growing up in the 80s, our culture had moved past such horrible displays of racial intolerance and misunderstanding.
Or not. What the hell is this? Either this family is on their way to the weekly meeting of the Racist Memorabilia Collectors Club (Cracker Division) or they're just cruising to get their asses kicked down at the Family Dollar. Either way they are totally psyched about it. Check out the tot. "We hate Black people! Up with Whitey! Wheeeeee!"
Ten bucks says they have a Mammy cookie jar on their kitchen counter and a lawn jockey out by the car port.
Posted by Kimberly on May 18, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
...for years after encountering the Golliwog, Francis had nightmares involving Al Jolson and yarn.
Posted by: Eric | May 18, 2005 5:33:37 PM
Please note the Golly Jumper on the side of the pattern and the 45P, both of which indicate this is a British pattern.
Posted by: | May 18, 2005 5:44:40 PM
Thanks to Eric for pointing out that these crazies are definitly NOT American. Of course that doesn't make it any better... LOL
Posted by: Keren | May 18, 2005 7:54:14 PM
That lovely British family are all fans of Robertson's Marmalade. The company no longer uses the golly as their mascot. He was part of my childhood and I loved him. Never realised what he was representing! I would have been in Heaven if I had a jumper like those to wear when I was small. See this page for R.I.P.
http://www.logorip.com/condolences.asp?id=77
Posted by: Fran | May 18, 2005 9:08:45 PM
wow -- the story behind the story is fascinating!
Posted by: kphiker | May 18, 2005 9:36:33 PM
Hahahahahaha :)
Posted by: Harmony | May 19, 2005 6:11:04 AM
Revised version: "Have some stereotypes with your toast and marmalade, kids."
Posted by: | May 19, 2005 10:02:19 AM
Used to be that you'd save your wrappers from the marmalade jars, send them in with a little bit of money, and you'd get a brooch (pin) of the golliwog. Apparently, these days those brooches are really collectible, and earn a nice lot of money at auctions and so on.
Posted by: Me | May 19, 2005 6:22:59 PM
too funny. intolerance in the eighties..who knew?
Posted by: jenn | May 20, 2005 3:34:26 PM
Funny but at whose expense? I absolutely loved my golly and collected the badges from Robertsons - I never ever associated them with real people until you made me. It was about having something to love and enjoy and they will never have the meaning you say they have, to me, because in my mind they were just lovely imaginary friends.
Posted by: Teresa | May 21, 2005 3:34:20 AM
you are way too funny!!! keep it up. We are enjoying you here in the east.
Posted by: Lizzie | May 23, 2005 2:32:54 PM
I actually had one of the dolls growing up, but I grew up in England. But it's the key to a mystery film starring Van Johnson as a blind man, made in about 1952 or so. I can't recall the name just yet.
Posted by: itgirl | May 25, 2005 1:01:51 PM
I had a golly doll when I was little, and lived in an multi-cultural area. I wouldn't have believed you if you'd told me that the two were in any way connected, all the black men I saw wore pin-stripe suits, brogues and usually carried an umbrella as if they were walking round the City (in London - the financial bit). I always thought this was odd to be honest, as I lived in a grotty industrial area and everyone else was fairly scruffy. I also never saw anyone at all wearing bright red lipstick! I loved my little golly.
Posted by: eeyores61 | May 28, 2005 8:04:39 AM
I'm totally going to make one of those sweaters. That is so funny
Posted by: carrie | May 31, 2005 9:59:42 PM
just kidding of course
Posted by: carrie | May 31, 2005 10:00:13 PM
I don't see how wearing one of those equates to "hating" Blacks, whatever that's supposed to mean. I agree with the late great columnist Sam Francis that the whole point of accusing someone of racism is to smear them with a meaningless, but unanswerable charge in order to stifle discussion by forcing them to spend all their time trying to "prove" that they aren't [a racist]. That said, I think that pattern is awesome. I'm going to have one made for real, Carrie. Maybe I can get it silk-screened onto a Tee.
Posted by: Ken Mehlman | Jun 1, 2005 9:01:38 PM
I don't think it tacks up to "hating blacks". I think it blatantly displays a grotesque ignorance. Those people are too stupid to understand the gravity. I would LOVE to have heard the photographer. "Ok you fucking crackers. GRIN BIGGER."
Posted by: Alana Waters | Jun 8, 2005 11:15:08 AM
I have stuffed gollies..
I also have a whole slew of the Robertson's golly badges..
I have the whole series of the Enid Blyton 'Noddy' books with Golly, before they replaced him with the Goblins..
I grew up with Golly since I am British and am 'pushin' 40'..
They are *not* racial by any means whatsoever.. They are not even Black Americana.. they have nothing to do with spinning cotton, Aunt Jemima or Uncle Tom..
They were innocent black dolls with smiles.. and they are happy.
Posted by: Lisanne | Jun 13, 2005 1:03:35 PM
I'm laughing so I hard that I actually have tears.
Posted by: ericka | Jun 13, 2005 3:00:02 PM
We are not racist in Britain. We are of course eccentric and always have been. Take a look at our tree campaign. No evergreen trees over 2 meters tall.
Posted by: Tim | Jun 16, 2005 11:10:36 AM
If our culture was really past this sort of caricature, there wouldn't be so many teams called "The Indians" with accompanying mascots and insignia. My biological mother is Chippewa, and I hate to think of what she feels like whenever she sees such things.
Posted by: Jori | Jun 17, 2005 10:49:27 PM
I laughed so hard, I peed my pants and nearly shat them too. Yowsah, somebody pass me the fried chicken and a huge slice of watermelon.
If I were black, I'd wear this and make the rest of my family wear it too. Then I'd have us all parade down Park Avenue or Rodeo Drive just for...scratch Rodeo Drive. I forgot, that's the LAPD's beat and these outfits scream, "Rodney me!".
Posted by: StevieS | Jun 21, 2005 7:00:58 AM
Wait a minute....that mother in the photo looks familiar. I think she may be an actress....but I can't place her.
Posted by: Annette | Jun 22, 2005 12:56:52 PM
And now the really shocking news - Robertson's finally dropped the Golliwog branding in......2001:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,6729,541371,00.html
Remember that dear old Blighty is the country where we all enjoyed the Black and White Minstrel Show - yes the guys did black up and waggle their hands:
On 18 May 1967, the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination delivered a petition to the BBC signed by both black and white people, which requested that the programme be taken off television. Despite the controversy, the programme continued until 1 July 1978.
My memory is that one of the final nails in the coffin was an audition where some black guys had the cheek to show up - not playing the game at all.
Posted by: Stuart | Jun 23, 2005 5:23:31 AM
My aunt made me a white golliwog once. Damn. I still have the "White Minstrel".
Posted by: jfasoga | Jun 27, 2005 11:57:40 AM
