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Golliwog

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This article is about the doll-like character. ForAgnetha Fältskog's song, seeGolliwog (song).

A golliwog in the form of a child's soft toy
A racist drawing depicting a black rag doll with a big, black head, sitting in a rocking chair, with three white children standing by (As seen in the Beaton household).
Florence Kate Upton's Golliwogg in formalminstrelattire inThe Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwoggin 1895

Thegolliwog,also spelledgolliwoggor shortened togolly,is a doll-like character, created by cartoonist and authorFlorence Kate Upton,which appeared in children's books in the late 19th century, usually depicted as a type ofrag doll.It was reproduced, both by commercial and hobby toy-makers, as a children's soft toy called the "golliwog", aportmanteauofgollyandpolliwog,[1][2][3]and had great popularity in theSouthern United States,theUnited Kingdom,South AfricaandAustraliainto the 1970s.

The golliwog is controversial, being widely considered aracistcaricature of black people,[4][5]alongsidepickaninnies,minstrels,andmammyfigures. The doll is characterised by jet black skin, eyes rimmed in white, exaggerated red lips and frizzy hair, based on theblackfaceminstreltradition. Since the 20th century, the word "golliwog" has been considered a racial slur towards black people.[6]TheJim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabiliadescribed the golliwog as "the least known of the majoranti-black caricaturesin the United States ".[7]Changing political attitudes with regard to race have reduced the popularity and sales of golliwogs as toys. Manufacturers who have used golliwogs as a motif (e.g.Robertson'smarmalade in the UK) have either withdrawn them as an icon or changed the name. Alternative names such asgollyandgolly dollhave also been adopted due to association with the racial slurwog,which many dictionaries say may be derived fromgolliwog.[8][9][10][11]

In fiction

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The Golliwogg's Auto-Go-Cart,a 1901 book byFlorence Kate Upton

Florence Kate Uptonwas born in 1873 inFlushing,New York, United States, the daughter of English parents who had emigrated to the United States three years previously. Following the death of her father, she moved back to England with her mother and sisters when she was fourteen. There she spent several years drawing and developing her artistic skills. To afford tuition at art school, she illustrated a children's book entitledThe Adventures of TwoDutch Dollsand a Golliwogg.The 1895 book included a character named the Golliwogg, who was first described as "a horrid sight, the blackestgnome",but who quickly turned out to be a friendly character, and is later attributed with a" kind face. "A product of theblackfaceminstreltradition, the Golliwogg had jet black skin; bright red lips; and wild woolly hair. He wore red trousers, a shirt with a stiff collar, red bow-tie, and a blue jacket with tails; all traditional minstrel attire.[7]

Upton's book and its many sequels were extremely successful in England, largely because of the popularity of the Golliwogg. Upton did not trademark her character, and its name, spelt "golliwog", became the generic name for dolls and images of a similar type. Upton's Golliwogg was jovial, friendly and gallant, but some later golliwogs were sinister or menacing characters.[7]For instance, a number ofEnid Blyton'sNoddyand Big Ears books feature Golliwog, sometimes as heroes but often as a villain[7]or as naughty individuals.[12]Other authors took a similar tack.[12]The name "golliwog" came to be used as a degrading term for anyone who was not white-skinned, and new origins were suggested for the word. Upton despaired: "I am frightened when I read the fearsome etymology some deep, dark minds can see in his name."[12][13]

The golliwog doll became a popular children's toy throughout most of the 20th century, and was incorporated into many aspects of British commerce and culture.[14]

In culture

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In the United States, it became popular in the form of children's literature, dolls, children's china and other toys, ladies' perfume, and jewellery.

A 1920s golliwog perfume bottle
A 1920s golliwog perfume bottle

Golliwogg'sCakewalkis the sixth and final piece in theChildren's Corner,a suite for piano published by French composerClaude Debussyin 1908.

British jam manufacturerJames Robertson & Sonsused a golliwog calledGollyas itsmascotfrom 1910, after John Robertson apparently saw children playing with golliwog dolls in the United States.[15]Robertson's started producing promotional Golly badges in the 1920s, which could be obtained in exchange for tokens gained from their products. By the 1950s, the firm had incorporated the figure into the advertising campaign for its jams with the slogan "Golly! They're Good".[16]

The 1943 musical filmStormy Weather,featuring an all-star cast including Lena Horne, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and the Nicholas Brothers, has in its final scene a dance number with women wearing large hats with golliwog faces on their reverse sides. You can only see the golliwogs when the dancers turn their heads away from the camera, which they do fairly frequently. In every other respect, the film is a musical feast of some of the Swing era's best talent.

In Australia a chocolate flavoured Golliwog biscuit was made by Guests Biscuits from the mid 1950s until November 1962 when the brand merged withArnott's.The name was changed to Scalliwag in the mid-1990s, however the biscuits remained the same shape. The product was discontinued by the late 1990s, though they made a brief reappearance in 2010.[17]

In 1976, the world's first "special shape"hot air balloonwas built byCameron Balloons.Its shape and design was based on the Roberson's Golly character.[18]

In 1983, Robertson's products wereboycottedbyKen Livingstone'sGreater London Councildue to their offensiveness,[19]and in 1988 the character ceased to be used in television advertising.[20]The company used to give away golliwog badges and small plaster figures playing musical instruments (jazz musicians) or sports and other such themes.[21]The Gollywog badge collection scheme was withdrawn in 2001.[20]

Virginia Knox, previously brand director for Robertson's and later Chief Operating Officer of the Culinary Brands Division of RHM, toldThe Heraldnewspaper in Scotland in 2001 that the decision to remove the Golly symbol from Robertson's jam and marmalade jars was taken after research found that children were not familiar with the character, although it still appealed to the older generations. "We sell 45 million jars of jam and marmalade each year and they have pretty much all got Golly on them," said Knox. "We also sell 250,000 Golly badges to collectors and only get 10 letters a year from people who don't like the Golliwog image".[22]

Ananiseed-flavoured chewyconfectioncalled aBlackjackwas marketed in the United Kingdom from the 1920s with a golliwog's face on the wrapper. In the late 1980s,Trebor,the manufacturer, replaced the image with the face of a black-bearded pirate.

Starting in 1957,HB Ice Creamproduced theGolly Bar,anice creamoriginally sold exclusively in theRepublic of Ireland,whose packaging depicted images of a golliwog.[23]Due to the increasing controversy surrounding the character, the golliwog was removed from packaging in 1992, and the name was later changed to Giant Bars.[24]

A classiccontortionistact is therag doll act:often performed in a golliwog costume, it is therefore also called thegolliwogg act.

A golliwog takes center stage in the B-movie thrillerTomorrow at Ten(1962), in which a golliwog with a bomb planted in it is used in a kidnapping scheme.

InThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black DossierandVolume IV: The Tempest,Alan MooreandKevin O'Neillincluded Upton's original Golliwog with a slightly reimagined, alien past. When this was attacked as a racist character, Moore responded that the Upton's original Golliwog "was a dignified and respectable figure. His courage and strength of character were ably demonstrated in his picaresque adventures, as was his intellectual acumen."[25]

Association with racism

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According to a 2013 editorial inThe Times,golliwogs were designed to reflect a racist stereotype that treated black men as an object of ridicule, and perpetuated racial prejudice by introducing this stereotype to children. They were the second most popular children's toy in Europe in the first half of the 20th century, after theteddy bear.Golliwogs were banned byNazi Germanyin 1934 on the grounds they were inappropriate toys forAryanchildren.[4]

United Kingdom

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In March 2007,Greater Manchester Policeseized two golliwogs from a shop after a complaint that the dolls were offensive.[26]In September 2008, a woman fromStockportclaimed she was arrested for keeping a "golly doll" in her window. Greater Manchester Police denied this, and said she was arrested after a series of complaints of alleged racially aggravated behaviour were made against her.[27]

In February 2009, in an off-air conversation at theBBC,Carol Thatcher,the daughter of formerPrime MinisterMargaret Thatcher,referred to the black French tennis playerJo-Wilfried Tsonga,who was competing in theAustralian Open,as looking like a golliwog.[28][29]The comment was considered by the BBC as "wholly unacceptable" and Thatcher was informed that unless she apologised she would no longer be a reporter on BBC'sThe One Show.Thatcher stated that it was a silly joke and declined to make an "unconditional apology". Thatcher said that her comment was a reference to the golliwog motifs that she saw in her childhood on jars of jam (made by Robertson's).[30]In April that year, she was interviewed onThe Andrew Marr Show,a BBC television programme, defending her use of the word.[31]The French publicationSportsweekclaimed that Thatcher, in talking about a previous competition, referred to another player as "the one who was defeated by thegolliwogin the previous tour. "The French publication, which showed a picture of Tsonga above a picture of a toy golliwog, claimed that Thatcher was" mortified "and that her comment was about the similarity of Tsonga's appearance to the doll that she had as a child.[32]

In March 2011,ConservativeEnglish politicianBill Etheridgeand his wife, Star, resigned from the Conservatives after their membership was suspended following complaints from party members that they were photographed posing with knitted golliwogs on theirFacebookprofile pages as part of a protest againstpolitical correctness.[33]

In December 2013, a councillor inBrightonwas forced to apologise for stating to a newspaper reporter that golliwogs were not racist. Councillor Dawn Barnett was defending a local shop which was selling golliwog drinks mats. She stated, "I said I can see no harm in them. They are nostalgic, I'm 72 years old. My generation grew up with them." Bert Williams, speaking on behalf of Brighton and Hove Black History Group, said the word "golliwog" was historically used to tease black people, of which he had personal experience.[34]

In January 2015, Chaka Artwell, a campaigner, had his BBC interview cancelled after he refused to remove a golliwog doll he was wearing around his neck. He later said, "When I was growing up in this country, this guy was a popular figure. Then, without anyone asking me if I was offended by it, people decided I was offended by it. White, middle-class liberal types decided I was offended by this guy and in the year 2015 I don’t want people telling me what I should be offended by. People pick and chose what they want to highlight. This is ridiculous." Oxford City Councillor Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan said, "I think it demeans the image of black people. I think (Artwell) was trying to make a point but on the wrong basis and I think it shows a lack of sensitivity to people who don’t like that image. I would have said to him ‘you might not find it offensive, but a lot of people do – so maybe find another medium to have that conversation?".[35]

In August 2016, Charlotte Nightingale, a retired midwife from Ghana, started a campaign where she defended the golliwog, selling various golliwog dolls for charity events and launching a website called ‘Gollynomics’. She expressed her belief for the toy to be reclaimed in a positive light and believed it to be a type of traditional rag doll made for African children which made its way to America via the slave trade, arguing that the toys should be considered as part of African culture.[36][37][further explanation needed][38]

In April 2018, a man inPrestatynwas fined £250 plus £85 costs for displaying a golliwog in a window opposite two Indian restaurants. He pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence. "[39]

In July 2018, aYouGovpoll asked 1,660 Britons whether it was "racist to sell or display a golliwog doll", to which 63% responded "No", 20% "Yes", and 17% "I'm Not Sure".[40]

In April 2023, the Essex Police removed several golliwog dolls displayed in the pub of theWhite Hart Innin response to an allegedhate crime.The pub's owner, Benice Ryley, said, "They're my childhood history, it’s a part of our inheritance. I can't see any harm. I don’t know how they can find it offensive." The decision achieved international media attention amidst reports that the Home SecretarySuella Bravermanobjected to the action.[41]The pub was later graffitied and vandalised[42]and eventually closed for business after a number of their suppliers withdrew their services.[43]Later that month, a Norfolk café owner removed a display of golliwog dolls after police declared the exhibit a "hate incident".[44]

Australia

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On 1 December 2016,Australian Aboriginalactivist, author and filmmakerStephen Hagancaused a national controversy[45]when he labelledToowoombathe "most racist city in Australia"[46]after a display of nine golliwog dolls were placed byTerry White Chemistsunderneath a sign[47]inviting shoppers to "Experience a White Christmas". The controversy began when Toowoomba manGeorge Helon[48]spotted the dolls placed beneath the sign,[49]and circulated a picture of it on Facebook[50]and Twitter.[51]The display was only in one store, as a franchisee can "stock and sell products at their discretion"; however, Terry White Chemists banned the sale of the doll in any franchise afterwards.[52]

In September 2018, three golliwog dolls were removed from public display at theRoyal Adelaide Showarts and crafts display after Indigenous community group Deadly Yarning posted pictures of them on Facebook and denounced them as racist.[53]

In March 2019, ahot air balloonwith a Golliwog face named "Black Magic" and also known by the nickname "Golly" was banned from participating at theCanberra Balloon Spectacularover its "racist and offensive" name and façade.[54]

Griffith University lecturer Eddie Synot has said that the dolls perpetuate a "narrative of the inferiority of black people" in Australia, and that the country should try to engage in "difficult conversations" about the toy.[55]

New Zealand

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On 22 March 2021, the Gollyville quilt of aWhakatāneartist, Barbara Key, was removed from the Art House's Carving Symposium and Art Exhibition, due to a visitor finding the quilt to be offensive.[56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Harper, Douglas."golliwog".Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^"golliwog".Oxford English Dictionary(Online ed.).Oxford University Press.(Subscription orparticipating institution membershiprequired.)
  3. ^"golliwog".Lexico Dictionaries(Powered by Oxford).Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2020.Retrieved16 January2020.
  4. ^abMacintyre, Ben (22 November 2013)."There's nothing innocent about the golliwog".The Times.Retrieved8 September2021.
  5. ^Varga, Donna; Zuk, Rhoda (June 2013). "Golliwogs and Teddy Bears: Embodied Racism in Children's Popular Culture".The Journal of Popular Culture.46(3): 647–671.doi:10.1111/jpcu.12042.
  6. ^Pilgrim, David."The Golliwog Caricature - Anti-black Imagery".ferris.edu.Retrieved25 April2023.
  7. ^abcdPilgrim, David (2000)."The Golliwog Caricature".Ferris State University.Retrieved23 October2018.
  8. ^"Definition of 'wog'".Retrieved16 September2019.
  9. ^"Definition of wog".Retrieved16 September2019.
  10. ^"wog".Retrieved16 September2019.
  11. ^"Wog".Your Dictionary.24 October 2017.Retrieved24 October2017.
  12. ^abc"Golliwogg and Co, UK".Golliwogg.co.uk.Retrieved7 August2012.
  13. ^"TimesOnline".TimesOnline. 13 March 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 7 January 2010.Retrieved7 August2012.
  14. ^InAshton-under-LyneduringWorld War Ia hospital matron improvised what she called "Charlie Goggle-eyes" dolls as presents for sick children. With bodies made from black stockings cut up, stuffed and re-sewn, they had unravelled black wool for hair, buttons for eyes and "bright-coloured suits".Weekly Dispatch,23 December 1917, p.3
  15. ^Dotz, Warren; Morton, Jim (1996).What a Character! 20th Century American Advertising Icons.Chronicle Books. p. 85.ISBN0-8118-0936-6.
  16. ^"History World - Advert Museum - Robertsons Jams".historyworld.co.uk.
  17. ^"Biscuit Wrapper - Arnott's Golliwog Biscuits, 1991".Museums Victoria Collections.Retrieved24 August2024.
  18. ^"G-OLLI".British Balloon Museum & Library.Retrieved13 January2024.
  19. ^Billings, Claire (23 August 2001)."Robertson's axes Golly after 91 years".Campaign.Retrieved23 October2018.
  20. ^ab"Time runs out for Robertson's golly".the Guardian.23 August 2001.
  21. ^"Robertson's golliwogs | Revealing Histories".revealinghistories.org.uk.
  22. ^"'Controversial' golly to be shelved ".BBC News.23 August 2001.Retrieved23 October2018.
  23. ^"Ice Pop Culture – Part 2 – HB, The Soft Ones".
  24. ^"From Golly Bars to Eskimo Mints: The Irish brands with a race problem".The Irish Times.Retrieved4 March2024.
  25. ^Ó Méalóid, Pádraig (9 January 2014),"Last Alan Moore Interview?",Pádraig Ó Méalóid AKA Slovobooks,retrieved12 September2016
  26. ^"Golly dolls seized by cops".Manchester Evening News.15 March 2007.Retrieved18 March2010.
  27. ^"Woman arrested over 'golly' doll".Manchester Evening News.19 April 2010.Retrieved23 October2018.
  28. ^Singh, Anita (4 February 2009)."Carol Thatcher 'golliwog' jibe referred to black tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved23 October2018.
  29. ^Moore-Bridger, Benedict (6 February 2009)."Boris backs Thatcher over golliwog sacking".London Evening Standard.Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2011.Retrieved23 October2018.
  30. ^"Thatcher axed by BBC's One Show".BBC News.4 February 2009.Retrieved23 October2018.
  31. ^"Unrepentant Thatcher back on BBC".BBC News.19 April 2009.Retrieved23 October2018.
  32. ^Beaudouin, Aurélie (4 February 2009)."Jo-Wilfried Tsonga insulté par la fille de Margaret Thatcher"(in French). Sportweek.fr. Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2012.Retrieved23 October2018.
  33. ^Withers, Matt (2 October 2018)."MEP who posed with golliwog quits UKIP over 'rightward turn'".The New European.Retrieved25 January2022.
  34. ^"Brighton councillor rapped over golliwog comment".BBC News.20 December 2013.Retrieved23 October2018.
  35. ^BBC Ban Black History Campaigner From TV Because Of His Love For Golliwog DollsInquisitr,January 9, 2015
  36. ^Bannerman, Lucy (27 August 2016)."Golly! Grandmother says controversial doll part of black heritage".The Times.Retrieved25 April2023.
  37. ^"Ghanaian grandmother's 'golly' mission | farnhamherald".Farnham Herald.14 August 2016.Retrieved15 April2023.
  38. ^Finnigan, Lexi (27 August 2016)."Grandmother defies convention to sell Golly dolls in effort to reclaim black heritage".The Telegraph.
  39. ^"Prestatyn man fined for race-hate doll in window".BBC News.30 April 2018.Retrieved30 April2018.
  40. ^"Most British people don't think a 'golliwog', a doll that looks like a minstrel, is racist".The Independent.24 July 2018.Retrieved24 October2018.
  41. ^Weaver, Matthew (10 April 2023)."Essex police deny Braverman rebuked them over pub seizure of golliwog dolls".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved10 April2023.
  42. ^Hajjaji, Danya (16 April 2023)."Essex pub that displayed golly dolls seized by police is vandalised".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved5 May2023.
  43. ^"Grays pub that displayed golly dolls closes after supplier boycott".BBC News.3 May 2023.Retrieved3 May2023.
  44. ^Cleary, Emily (23 April 2023)."Norfolk café removes golliwog display after police declare it a 'hate incident'".Yahoo News.Retrieved25 April2023.
  45. ^"Offensive 'white Christmas' display sparks calls for Golliwog boycott in Australia".SBS Australia.1 December 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2018.Retrieved8 February2018.
  46. ^"Toowoomba accused by activists of being Australia's most racist city after chemist shop display".News.au.2 December 2016.Retrieved9 December2016.
  47. ^"Toowoomba accused by activists of being Australia's most racist city after chemist shop display".The New Zealand Herald.2 December 2016.Retrieved9 December2016.
  48. ^"White Christmas 'golliwog' display labelled racist".Toowoomba Chronicle.1 December 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 23 January 2018.Retrieved9 February2018.
  49. ^"Queensland chemist under fire for 'racist' golliwog display".Nine News. 1 December 2016.Retrieved9 December2016.
  50. ^"Offensive 'white Christmas' display sparks calls for Golliwog boycott in Australia".SBS Australia.1 December 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2016.Retrieved9 December2016.
  51. ^"Toowoomba accused by activists of being Australia's most racist city after chemist shop display Offensive 'white Christmas' display sparks calls for Golliwog boycott in Australia".Courier Mail.2 December 2016.Retrieved9 December2016.
  52. ^"TERRY WHITE CHEMIST UNDER FIRE FOR GOLLIWOG DISPLAY".AJP. 1 December 2016.Retrieved11 October2017.
  53. ^"Racism row breaks out over golliwogs at Royal Adelaide Show".ABC News.2 September 2018.Retrieved6 October2023.
  54. ^"'Racist' balloon banned from festival never offended anybody, owner says ".ABC News.27 February 2019.Retrieved5 October2023.
  55. ^Cansdale, Dominic (15 June 2021)."Many who defend sale of golliwogs feel 'their child selves have been accused of racism'".ABC News.Retrieved24 April2023.
  56. ^"Whakatane artist astonished after 'Gollyville' quilt pulled from exhibition".NZ Herald.Retrieved25 March2021.
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