Warning: Some content may offend. Please read this disclaimer.
This post contains pictures of artworks considered racially insensitive.
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So perfect, so kitsch – the Blackamoor barman with his bartools makes the perfect addition to my living room bar.
I’ve been itching to go on a decent treasure hunt for weeks now. So this weekend I took all my pocket money and headed off to markets, op shops and even my local antique dealer to see what awaited me. I have a theory about treasure hunting; in order to find the most fantastic pieces and the best bargains, you first have to let go of some of your other possessions in order to balance out your shopping karma. Scoff if you will, but I can say that without fail, this system has stood me in good stead.
Now that I have spent the best part of four weeks doing a major, if somewhat unseasonal, spring cleaning of my house; I have sent out to the thrift shopping universe enough to cover me for the rest of the year! Over the last 24 hours of sifting through the trash to find the treasure, I’ve come up trumps with such a selection of beauties I couldn’t be more pleased. Cue vintage eye candy!
I have to start with my absolute favourite piece because he is just such a stunner. This mid century blackamoor barman is too kitsch for words. In absolutely perfect condition he even still has all his tools so he isn’t just fabulous to look at, but can actually do his duty at my bar. And yes, the location of his corkscrew will no doubt leave me giggling into my 90′s…..
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I’ve unwittingly begun a collection of flamingos and lustreware in the last year, so adding to this is a very inexpensive but beautiful pursuit. Many small and unlabelled lustreware vases can be had for as little as $5, but their moonlight glow is worth far more joy.
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I love the faded elegance of vintage fabric flowers. They have a soft, dusty quality that is hard to find in reproductions and bundles of these can be had for a song.
More wonderful pin curl clips on their original card to add to my work kit,(Yes, I use authentic tools for creating authentic vintage style hair and makeup) as well as some fabulous buttons for restoring some lovely sweaters that had been sadly button – harvested before their time.
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Did I mention that before I went shopping I made a mental list of the things I needed and managed to find just about everything? Well I did! I went out looking for an anodised lamp for my newly tidy desk and picked up this soft pink one for a whole $7. I even found another bonus, a little plastic bead bag to add to yet another accidental collection. These are Italian designs but were made in Hong Kong in the late 50′s and early 60′s. The bobbles on them remind me of seaweed…
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$4.50 can buy you a great selection of books at a church jumble sale.
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Although this pretty comforter has been dyed, it still retains its original beauty with the thick cotton damask design work. A little something to fancy up the guest room.
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And last but not least, this late 1940′s ice blue satin bed spread has been on my hunting list for ages! Given that the theme for my bedroom is a lovely shade of blue with a rather ornate feel, I’ve wanted just the right bedspread to finish it off. The problem though is that my bed is King sized, and nothing vintage was produced in that size unless it was custom made. When I saw this one, I knew it wouldn’t fit as it was only designed for a double bed… but, because the side of the quilt are designed to reach down to the floor as dust ruffles, when it is all spread out it fits!! All I would need to do is add a separate valance to compliment it and bobs your uncle. It did have a single rust stain on the pillow sham, so a little applique magic and no-one’s the wiser. So for the princely sum of $14 I found exactly what I needed. And by the way, I found this one in my local antique store where the prices, (unlike many opportunistic ‘vintage’ markets), remain very reasonable.
And now I’m spurred on, spurred on to continue the clean out and keep up the balance with my vintage shopping karma. Thanks shopping gods!
My mum still has those Pin Curl clips from her hairdressing days way back when..
Fantastic finds! I am SO jealous of your flamingos – they are so amazing!
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Hi, I have been a reader for quite some time, and I adore your style.
However, that first find, the man, isn’t that a bit of an offensive caricture of a black man? I know it is from a different era, but does that really excuse it?
You’re not the only one who finds this offensive.
And saying it’s anachronistic doesn’t make this ok; yes, the item exists, but it being accepted into someone’s home (in this day and age) is offensive because it’s not cool to put up racist depictions, no matter what era they come from. Not even for the sake of “vintage cool.” I would never up up a race based caricature of ANY person: Irish, German, Japanese, Chinese, in my home. Why? They’re mean and they hurt feelings.
I won’t be visiting your blog again. It’s really not fun to get a blast of cutesy sugarcoated racism in your face at 9 in the morning. I mean, would you invite a Black person into your bar with that thing on it? Or is that the point? You don’t invite Black people into your home?
I think the only Black person who would be alright with your item, is one who is so uncomfortable, they choke out a laugh and then think “when can I leave?!” or they want so much to be accepted, they act like it doesn’t bother them. Or, worse, they’ve internalized racism because of “little goodies” like this one, and they hate themselves so they think it’s funny.
uhh…I’m so disappointed. I wish I could find women who were cool, stylish, and had some sort of…conscious? morals? empathy? I don’t even know what its called.
It should be taken in the context of the era and it’s not racist unless you make it so..if you look to be offended you will be. And when you automatically jump to the “racist” card – that makes me think you are exactly that. She appreciates culture, art, and vintage items – end of story.
im sorry.. but we don’t stop reading Shakespeare because he/his characters (may) depict Blackamoors as reprehensible creatures, do we? No, we still enjoy the plays and place what we view as racist comments in a past historical context. If we rejected everything that had some sort of political reference point our lives (and maybe our apartments!) would be pretty empty, I think
Im sure if we went to your apartment, 80 percent of everything you own was made without trade sacrifice… dont be so naive.
They are beautiful statues, and i am not racist.. i have a few blackamoores in my home, which i actually purchased in an antique store in new orleans.. so if they didnt mind selling it.. why do you think they are not as important to keep in good care. They are a part of history.. maybe you should take a look around your life before throwing stones my dear.. im sure your ‘art’ is highly questionable to
In the words of Whoopi Goldberg (referring to the banned episodes of Disney’s Merry Melodies):
“the cartoons are products of their time and contain racial and ethnic stereotypes that, through modern eyes, would be considered offensive, but the cartoons are going to be presented on the DVD uncut and uncensored because editing them out and therefore denying that the stereotypes existed is almost as bad as condoning them in the first place.”
This figure is also a product of it’s time, and yes it is an offensive stereotype, but ignoring the fact those things exist is almost as badas condoning them in the first place.
You can’t just sweep history under the carpet because of your own embarrassment.
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ooo…. I’ve just read this post and back tracked to your bedroom decorating post because I’ve been decorating our bedroom in a blue (and white) too, so when I saw your pale blue bedspread *swoon*…I just LOVED IT…KS here too, so if you’re ever sick of it
Also, when I saw your candelabra I remembered I have something similar! I love it, but it’s been sitting on a cupboard awaiting it’s perfect spot…thanks for the reminder, bc I’m now going to try it out on my new (gifted by a lovely FB friend) white Queen Anne dresser…I just hope the girls don’t find it too fascinating too. Lorri xx
Love your Blackmoor Barman too….that cork screw is so cheeky
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Hello! Regarding the blackamoor barman, I do not find it offensive. Now if this was being produced in modern times, that would be different. Obviously the general public’s perception on what is acceptable has changed drastically,as it should, and this is just a relic of a different time. This is a vintage style blog, therefore you have the right to post vintage finds, this one included.
Great finds, Candice! It’s hard to find truly kitsch things in such good condition!!!
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Your blackamoor barman is the cr-aziest thing I’ve ever seen!
…Also, I have a dress in a very similar fabric to your curtains, and that made me giggle. Just call me “Scarlett”.
Since you asked, definitely offensive.
The Blackamoor barman isn’t offensive. As a previous commentor said, it’s merely a relic from another era. Who knows what modern home furnishings we have nowadays will be considered offensive by some in 50 years from now.
Yes! Like anything from IKEA or Freedom furniture!!! I find them quite offensive right now let alone in 50 years time!
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That bed sheet is gorgeous, I love the colour. So pretty
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This is probably not what you want to hear given your excitement for finding the blackamoor guy, but I do think it is a pretty racist caricature and being from ‘another time’ doesn’t really excuse that – especially as that ‘other time’ probably has some pretty horrible memories/connotations for any black people you show this to.
It’s a tough situation, because while it is important to preserve items from history, there are a lot that wouldn’t be acceptable nowadays. I guess a compromise would be to just enjoy it in the privacy of your own home, being sensitive to any international readers or guests? I say international because there is a lot of history there (especially in america) that would make be seen as extra offensive. Case in point – my mother has a vintage ‘mammy’ doll that she brought home from America, and we’ve never had a guest comment negatively on it, but in America they are considered pretty offensive because of the associations with slavery (I wouldn’t display it if it was my house, but eh). Also reference the “Hey Hey its Saturday” debacle, which many Australians thought was a bit of a fuss over nothing, but it was considered pretty outrageous overseas.
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I think I probably agree with Miss Emmi on this one! I still have a ‘Golliwog’ or two from childhood – I don’t display them as I feel the anachronistic and, frankly, racist depiction is offensive but I don’t want to get rid of it for a couple of reasons. One is that it holds sentimental attachment. The other is that I’d rather it be with me than for it to be sold on to someone who will just think it’s funny to have such a ridiculous, outdated stereotype.
However, I think it’s obvious that you didn’t intend to cause any offense and some of the other comments, whilst I may agree with them essentially, shouldn’t be personal attacks on you. Though I do understand the heated comments from some others – I think they may have been better to, perhaps, leave it for a while and collect their thoughts in a less angry and directly attacking manner.
After reading your tweet, I don’t want to make you any more upset but I would say that some (whilst not including myself) could see your acceptance of the object into your home as an acceptance of all of the negative history that goes with it, if that makes sense? I can tell that you don’t but I would say that’s where a lot of the anger in the other comments has come from. I hope that makes sense. I don’t find the post offensive but I don’t personally like the blackamoor statue (and that’s not a personal comment toward you – I’ve seen many other objects like this in other blogger’s homes but have never mentioned anything…I’ve only commented on this post because of the furor it’s caused).
Oh, and I’m incredibly jealous of the flamingos!
We do too display our Mammy dolls in America…I have two in my house.. it’s not racist unless you MAKE IT SO. Don’t deem to tell others what’s racist or not….let us enjoy vintage items without having to worry about offending….they are from a different era, and are not viewed the same way…..
So what if a person of colour saw them and considered them offensive? Would you tell them that it is only their reaction that ‘makes’ them racist? I’m sure black people in the 50s would have considered this barman rude and offensive, it was only the white people who would have found it amusingly kitsch. I don’t think I’m doing a bad thing by trying to be considerate of other people, and I wish it would be seen that way instead of ‘political correctness gone mad’.
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They were given to me by a “person of colour” as you put it. I do not see my friends as white or black but as people. The fact that you phrase it so is quite offensive itself. My friends are all nationalities and I love them for who they are – not just to appear non-racist.
‘person of colour’ is NOT the same as the archaic term ‘coloured’. Indeed in parts of both the USA, canada and the UK it is preferred to black within the black and Asian community. The way a person prefers to be described is the correct way to describe a person.
The point remains: if a black person came to your house and found the item upsetting, would you throw that back at them? A woman can purchase a copy of the UK newspaper ‘The Sun’ and give it to a man… can the man then claim impunity should another woman feel uncomfortable with the bare breasts of the ‘page 3 girl’.
The ‘but some of my best friends are…women/black/disabled’ excuse doesn’t wash in a wider community.
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to be honest i find the blackamoor statue quite offensive. its made in an era where multiculturalism was non existant.
i must say i’ve found superkawaiimama to be racially insensitive recently- the picture from raffles hotel featuring the chinese girl talking pidgeon english about how she’s basically a gold digger was also rude and shouldn’t be glorified.
it’s “pidgin” English.
Re the Raffles caricature, I’ve lived some years in Thailand and the locals often use stereotypes like “me love you long time” and “no money no honey” with humour. It’s just silly fun.
Re the blackamoor statue, I can’t speak for on behalf of black people, but I’d wager the majority of objectors are white. Just sayin’.
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I too believe in the balance of the Universe and boy did you score! I love the bead spread and the comforter. The barman is crazy cute in all its whimsy. The colours are still vivid and he looks intact.
Though there have been some moral objections from other people who commented it’s a great piece of history and an exquisite work of craftsmanship and should be viewed as such. I am getting very weary af all this political corectness. Afterall Degas’ Little dancer is a stunning piece of art and there isn’t anyone going off on a rant about the racial ramifications of this piece.
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I really can’t believe you compared this ceramic piece of racism to Degas’ work. As a classically trained oil painter…my mouth just dropped open at the outrageousness.
And it’s not being “politically correct” it’s just being empathetic; thinking: “will this hurt someone’s feelings? Is this unintentionally mean?”
“Politically correct” is a term that was probably just developed for those without natural empathy, and the leaders of our different nations want us to be able to live together civilly at least, if we can’t live as brothers and sisters. PC is not meant to spoil your fun, It’s meant to make those who are clueless think before they speak and act, for the sake of all.
“Afterall Degas’ Little dancer is a stunning piece of art and there isn’t anyone going off on a rant about the racial ramifications of this piece.”
You seem to be missing a key difference between Degas’s Little Dancer, a work produced in 1881 in France and depicting a young white girl, probably of the upper class, engaged in an activity – dancing ballet – which is not indicative of oppression nor offensive in anyway, and blackamoor and golliwog type racial caricatures, depicting a race which was then undergoing, and continues to undergo, systematic racial oppression. The slave trade was still underway in the late 19th century when this artwork first began to appear, and it didn’t fade in popularity until the civil rights movement gained momentum – NOT coincidentally.
If you are truly ignorant of how directly these types of images were tied to harmful stereotypes of black people as (to name only a few) lazy, irresponsible, stupid, uncivilized, animalistic or bestial, and greedy, then I suggest you read up on history: Wikipedia is a good place to start.
These stereotypes live on, some having changed a bit over time but many remarkably similar, and are still used as instruments of racial oppression today. Blacks in America are still the victims of systemic oppression in everything from their meager and two-dimensional representation on television and the media to their vast overrepresentation in US prisons to the racist vitriol that’s arisen against President Obama. The fact that the US history of slavery doesn’t belong in Australia certainly does not render the object value-neutral, particularly in light of the historical and ongoing mistreatment and erasure of the first nations there.
First of all, a deep apology to you SKM, for causing such a violent reaction on your blog. I never meant for my comment to cause such a stir. As for the rest of you who deemed it appropriate to stoop to such level of offensiveness: Whatever your opinion on this matter may be there it’s never appropriate to attack me personally.
I won’t even get into this verbal war with anyone but I don’t consider myself ignorant and I certainly don’t live in a bubble.
I get my historic facts from actual books, not Wikipedia.
I’m not a classically trained oil painter either but I do know the aforementioned dancer is made from wax.
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They were cast off wax in bronze. Similar girls WERE painted in oils.
They were of young dancers, often treated little better than prostitutes; there’s evidence Degas looked down on them but with a certain perverse desire.
Not nice but… a mass produced image for people to generally mock a whole race and individual artworks with a complex psychological background and lasting legacy. It’s a bit like comparing a Da Vinci and a snap from a fashion mag- the mag will eventually seem ‘charming’ whatever its values, the Da Vinci still engaging and shocking today.
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I hate to burst whatever bubble you had going there, coffeeaddict, but Degas’ Little Dancer IS a piece of art. You can’t truly compare a life-like (and life-size) sculpture of a young ballet dancer with a completely racist bar accessory. The offensiveness of this piece comes from the complete caricaturization of all so-called “African” stereotypes jammed together onto this one item (ridiculously large lips, large ass, apparent willingness to serve Massa). Frankly I find it grossly offensively and I’m surprised that I’ve ended up following the blog of someone who thinks this shit is funny.
Fabulous finds and the ice blue bed spread, swoon !! You barman is a great find. History must be preserved whether it be right or wrong it’s still history and it happened. I hate the way things here in the US are so edited, “I’m sure this will bring the wrath of US readers down on me” It’s like they are trying to protect the public from everything. Also being an Aussie in the US I think I see things in a different light. If you don’t know the about the mistakes made in the past you are bound to repeat them. You can’t hide and destroy things. Should everything now considered undesirable become land fill ?? You can’t please everyone.
Here’s the thing about the barman – there are people I know who own such items because they are a part of history, a history that thankfully has shifted a bit more towards tolerance but nonetheless has some skeletons in its closet.
Then there are people who own such things because they think it’s funny to make fun of people from other races, and are tickled to find an item that does so so directly.
I would presume that since you have fabulous taste in everything else that your reasons for owning a barman would be of the historical persuasion. However, I would feel better reading the post if you clarified that point before the pictures of the item, just to silence any nagging doubts.
I’m in Canada and I have no issue with it, nor would most Canadians I know. It is history, you can’t just “erase” history even if you were to destroy any and all items that reference a particular time…and it would be HORRIBLE for anyone to try. If anything, items like this should be used as a teaching tool of how things were and why they no longer are that way. Also, one can find offense in anything if they so desire to.
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I completely agree with Cee, “racist” items should be used for education, rather than erased, as if we’re trying to rewrite history!
BTW, I’m Singaporean, and in NO way do I find the picture at Raffles hotel racist – I understand it’s from a bygone era, a depiction of attitudes that’s a relic from the past and can be used to inform our understanding of the present, and how far we’ve come.
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beanie says:
March 7, 2011 at 10:54 pm
i must say i’ve found superkawaiimama to be racially insensitive recently- the picture from raffles hotel featuring the chinese girl talking pidgeon english about how she’s basically a gold digger was also rude and shouldn’t be glorified.
Hi SKM – I am also from Canada and I do find the barman to be in poor taste.
Ironically I find the peice interesting for the same reason I find it distasteful. It truly speaks volumes of the social/cultural era in which it was created. Not really the era’s ‘best moment’ for sure.
[Aside -The 'corkscrew' part is most definetly a reflection of the over-sexualized stereotype of the 'black man'. Interesting to see that it is quite small - almost mockingly so? ]
It is most certainly a conversation piece. I do not think that your ownership of it or posting of it on the website reflects anything other than your appreciation of all things vintage.
It will not change my readership of your blog. Just don’t give it to me for Christmas. I much prefer it in your house, definetly not in mine!
Fran: Thank you for your comments abut the corkscrew. That certainly isn’t something that I read into the piece in any way, I suppose that is because being Australian and not having a full academic understanding of the implications of the art at the time. I found it funny in as much as I would other similar pieces, like the pinup girl salt shakers with breast for shakers. Amusingly kitsch, but with no malicious undertones.
I completely get your perspective. As I said, I do find it very interesting. It’s actually prompted some intruiguing comments/discussions on your blog (not really blog related). I quite enjoy reading the comments!
I am an American living in Germany and I must say I was somewhat shocked by the barman. I don’t understand all the hypersensitivity some people have with certain things pertaining to race, but I wouldn’t want something like that in my home. Just because racism is a part of history, doesn’t mean it must be embraced. I most certainly would not have for example, Nazi memorabilia in my house, no matter what the historical value of it may be.
I find the barman in poor taste, offensive and to be honest, extremely ugly.
Love your finds. Until I read some reply posts, it didn’t even enter my mind that anything was ‘racist’.
It’s such a shame people have to ruin things! My boyfriend has a barman just like this one and up until now I had never even considered racist implications to it. Not because I am racist/ignorant, just because I took simply for what it is – a gorgeous collectors item! When I was little and Snow White and the 7 Dwarves came out I was bought a figurine collection of Snow White and all 7 dwarves which I am sure is somewhat of a collectors item already and will only continue to become more valuable. But is this also ‘wrong’ because it may offend dwarves? If that is the case then wouldn’t that whole movie be ‘wrong’? Once you start going down this track it is very hard to draw the line because what some people may find offensive is very different to others.
[...] Need To Know, blogging No Comments » Before I begin, let me say that I had no idea that yesterday post would be such an emotive issue. Indeed, I am aware that representations of Blackamoor’s in [...]
- I just submitted my comment and lost it so had to retype so here’s what I can remember!:
I was shocked to see this item yesterday and when I scrolled down for a mention of the significance I was also shocked to see that there was nothing. I agree that we should not bury or forget history but an item like this may be better kept and viewed in a museum or similar where it can be viewed in context.
As Australians of european/english backgrounds, we cannot imagine how this may affect ppl of other backgrounds and histories, and if we are to continue positive change in the world, we need to change not only what we say but what we do and lead by example (especially in a home with children). Using this item as it was intended eg an ornament/bottle opener etc (but with it’s sinister undertones) we only continue the division and opression.
More generally, imagine an item with mysogynistic or antisemetic undertones (or overtones), would we be ok with this?
People may say ‘it’s just an ornament, it’s fine, no harm’, but imagine an ornament that negatively (and incorrectly) depicts your race/culture/religion/gender then ask yourself again if it’s ok.
Okay. So those of you spewing bile all over this blog and the comments, who, judging from the spelling and the rudeness are American – How many of you have gone into the corner cigar shop and abused the owner for owning and displaying a life-size Native American statue offering cigars, hmm? Or have you boycotted baseball because of the stereotypical caricatures of the mascots for the Atlanta Braves or the Fighting Irish? How many of your hometowns have high school mascots based on Native American caricatures?
Remember, a. things are different in other countries and things might not be as offensive to a native there as they obviously are to you, and b. there is a real, breathing, blinking, fallible woman on the other side of the screen who is sharing parts of her life with us, and being as rude as many of you have been is far more offensive to not only her, but to other readers than the blackamoor man was. And on top of it all, you MEANT to hurt her, which she never did.
Do us all a favor next time, and if you’re offended and don’t want to read the blog anymore, just don’t. Spare us all your spite.
“judging from the spelling and the rudeness are American”
Kind of undermines the point about racism.
I’m not American, by the way.
But I appear to have stumbled across some massive generalisations in this comment, based on a nationality, that, to be honest, I find more shockingly stereotypical than the images causing the furore.
This reminds me of the ironic phrase I once heard in a supermarket: Mother (to child), ‘Dean, I’ve told you a hundred F***ing times, don’t swear!’.
Kind of similar to assuming any poor comments MUST be American, and that those people MUST be hypocrites.
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I think people need to not be so sensitive. You clearly collect quirky, beautiful vintage things & you are so far from being a racist or an offensive person. I think anyone who thinks so obviously isn’t a long time reader of your blog. I read this blog yesterday afternoon & didn’t even think a single negative thing, I just went through the items like ‘ooo that’s cute, praticial & funny’ ‘ooo they are nice’ ‘pin curl clips awesome!! Much more vintage then my new ones from price attack’ ‘ooo love the flamingos, they are like mine’…. Like really if someone takes it the wrong way, well I think THEY are the people who maybe racisit for even thinking that way…. The thought didn’t even spring to my mind & I do not think this is offensive at all!
Love you blog SKM & reading about your vintage homewares. Don’t stop posting them & it’s just what happens we can blog about anything & surely someone will get offended!!
xx
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My goodness! i hope i dont seem naive when i express my surprise at the attention this piece has garnered. I certainly am aware of history and the roles certain imagery has played. I have seen the removal of golliwogs & the re-introduction, the removal of story characters & books & the change of some product advertising, only for it too to be re-introduced. I think it speaks volumes that there is such empathy & compassion within society nowadays towards social wrongs both current & historical but at what pace do we tread. In America they have many stores selling these forms of ornaments, both vintage & reproduction, several food products are also reverting back to original packaging ie. Aunt Jemima’s so when is it ok & when isn’t it? My 2yr old daughter was sent a traditional golliwog from a very dear friend who is African-American as they thought it would be something she may not have in Australia. I think its an interesting piece even if it makes for awareness of the past. i have found this stream extremely interesting to view. To those offended i can assure you Candice is by no means racist, ignorant or a person who does things for merely for attention. So please express views but i hope none of you will leave the blog nor become personal towards her.
enjoy your day Beckiejo
Definitely not offensive!! I think it’s a great piece and am shocked that people are offended by it. Yes, times have changed but that doesn’t mean we can’t have funky utensil holders in our kitchens! And love love love the flamingoes!!
i have to agree Kelly i adore the flamingoes!
It is a bit offensive, but it’s yours and it’s in YOUR house! So who cares!
If you had it on your desk at work…that would be a different story.
You bought it because you liked it. It makes you happy. It wouldn’t make me happy, I wouldn’t buy it.
My mom and my grandma would be HORRIFIED if they saw it, but they don’t read your blog, and they don’t visit your house.
Your kitschy wee collectibles aren’t hurting anyone.
SKM- I have been following your blog for some time and absolutely adore it. Anyone who has taken the time to read your posts knows you are a stylish, classy lady.
This whole thing is reminiscent of the harassment Fleur de Guerre received on her blog earlier this year. Some people believe they have a right to tell you how to run your blog. Don’t feel you have to justify or apologize for what you put here.
You can please everyone and there will always be folks how are offended by ______.
personally, it makes me a little miffed that piddly stuff like barwear brings out this kind of indignation. It belongs to actual racism: hate speech, assault and infringement on rights.
This issue is popping up a bit lately. Apart from blogging, my official day job is a glass artist and one fellow artisan raised a stir making golliwog beads. The amount of cop she flacked from selling them was extreme and she even received death threats via email. She, just like SKM with her bar statue, simply adores golliwogs. There was no racist conotation involved.
This reaction is, in my opinion, disgusting. To threaten another person over a matter which is not offensive to the majority of Australians is just embarrassing. I am NOT a racist person, detest the past history of Africans and feel sick when I watch classic movies and hear that ‘N’ word…but I am not offended by retro Blackamoor art. It is in it’s own right, ART, and collectable art at that. It is kitsch and celebrated as so, it is not celebrated as a racist item.
I’m sorry SKM that some people can’t accept that there are others that collect art for art’s sake.
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Are the people crying ‘RACIST’ Yanks??
Get a life people it is a piece of old ceramic with some metal hanging off it – AND THATS IT! The moron who wrote that you probably dont invite Black people in to your home deserves a kick up the backside. I am not a bogan from the bush – but someone who calls a spade a spade ( and loves a fantastic stylish blog! ) I was amazed that it had all the bar tools with it.
I collect a vintage fashion label called ‘little black sambo’ and whenever I show people the label, it does raise an eyebrow. I also have a masters degreee in American politics with a specialist focus on African American civil rights, so I feel well educated on the subject.
Cultural sensitivity is just that, and varies greatly from nation to nation. Personally I never came across anything in my studies, or in the rest of my life for tht matter, that was more offense (by a long shot, by a VERY long shot) than the way some Australians refer to their Aboriginal peoples right now, in this time, at all ages. Statements of the most dreadful racism that were not challanged by anyone (but me, but I’m British so apparently didn’t know what I was talking about).
It is an awful lot more worrying than a slightly tasteless relic from a bygone era collected with the very best of intentions (much like my dresses).
Peace and love people
Thank you for sharing all of your treasures with us! I love everything and honestly I like how people are commenting on how offended they are. No one is forcing you to read her blog!!! Candice has a life and is kind enough to share it with us. THANK YOU CANDICE! Anyone who doesn’t like it, ummm dont read it and go read and do what makes you happy.
Again Candice thank you! I hope you are not letting anyones immature comments get to you! Life is too short!
I doubt 100 percent of the things you buy/collect/watch/engage in etc everyone agrees with. Im sure anyone can be found racist if looked under the right microscope. Please please please if you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything at all
xoxo
Dottie
I think your find is fabulous. If we found that we would be over the moon. We are so envious.
It is historic and in context it is a wonderful piece. I am worried that political correctness has made it to vintage and collecting, If it was a new piece manufactured now then yes, that would be out of line, but this is such a wonderful piece of a time and era that is long gone.
I also too agree in the thrifting Karma, and my, the gods were good to you.
OK, so all kitsch and retro stuff can go out of the window, so no objectified women, or hawaiians. How about respect for religions, ta ta catholic imagery, crosses oh and lets reject all African art, some cargo cult objects nick western religious imagery anyway so we’d better not allow any black people to decorate their homes with that. Kewpie dolls? peadophilic. Cowboy imagery, offensive to native Americans (and probably cowboys).
Actually most American and Disney movies are offensive to the English as you they abuse our reputation and feelings by making us the villains, using our actors and our voices (can’t do that to a black or Asian person but pick on a European…sure). So if you have a Disney object in your child’s room..shame on you.
Yes there is a stereotype at play in that object, there is in many objects. If the figure was doing something denigrating I might feel cross, but I don’t actually think there is anything degrading about being a bar worker. It is a caricature, don’t think you would be wise to do it now in the US with it’s history of slavery (remember most of us don’t come from countries that segregated races within living history). I might not be happy with it if I were black, but there are lots of things I am not happy with being a woman. Few of the posters would have given a toss had it been a figure of a latin american lady with a dumb smile in her undies propping an ash tray on huge boobs.
Neither the post nor the poster were racist.
I just had to write a comment about this,
first of all i’m appalled by so many rude comments.
I would never go into somebody else house and say ‘I think that couch is ugly’, so why do people think they have the right to say those things behind a computer?
Second you have to put these vintage pieces in context.
There are plenty of Australian vintage plates of aboriginals throwing spears- if i buy one, am I racist? are they only allowed in a museum? They too had racial character features.
If SKM puts up a pin up photos, will you be up in arms about the demeaning image of women?
For those who are offended by content on this blog, please be aware that there is a warning at the top of the blog that says so and to read the disclaimer. I’m aware that we are all entitled to our opinions but it’s another to attack. This IS a “Vintage” site so items from that era will come across as “racist” more so to the people of today’s society, not so much then..
Just so you know, the disclaimer was not present until well after the controversy began. Most people entered this post unwarned that there would be such offensive content.
Far more ignorant than posting a piece of history is trying to sweep that history under a rug. We learn from our past, ignoring it or trying to destroy it doesn’t make it go away. I love the movie “Gone with the Wind”. That doesn’t make me a racist any more than watching “Harry Potter” makes me a wizard or “The Godfather” makes me want to run out and join the mafia.
I respect that you have chosen to preserve this piece of history rather than allow it to be destroyed. It sounds like you purchased it because you see beauty in it, not because you intend to use it to hurt others. Enjoy it and don’t let others take the joy out of it for you.
Somewhat lost for words here; I won’t be reading this blog any longer; I am sad and surprised that you cannot see how astonishingly offensive this is, and that you’re seemingly OK with having racist caricatures displayed in your house as decorative objects. Would you feel OK with a Black guest seeing this? Don’t you think your children deserve not to be raised in an environment where it’s considered alright to laugh at racist imagery? I think such objects should be destroyed as shameful, not made a fetish of. LC
White I find the item itself a curiosity that is in poor taste, the post is not offensive and certainly NOT the blog.
It certainly says a lot abt SKM for allowing continued discussion on the topic and not erasing the less-than-kind comments.
I posted this on Tuppence Haypenny’s blog and am reposting it here:
It is sad to me to hear so many people consider SKMs reaction to be “insensitive.” In this world of a global internet, we seem to forget a HUGE factor in this all and that is of our own culture and where WE are located.
She is not American. The people in her country who are of African origin, immigrated there mostly in the 20th century, if not mostly in the 21st. The Aborigini issue in Australia is a hot one and one that cannot be fully understood by those of us who do not live in the country. I was in Australia when the PM apologized to the Aborigine’s for their treatment in the past. But I wonder, did the Queen ever apologize to the Australian people for shipping them off to a hostile, deserted place for little more than stealing a loaf of bread to feed themselves? Because it was white against white, that doesn’t matter?
From my experience in Australia, racism is by and far less prevalent in that country than in America. Americans like to get on everyone elses case about it…yet they are by and large the worst offenders; especially when it comes to First Nations peoples..or Native Americans or whatever it is you now consider the “none racist” term for the people you stole your country from. Australians are surrounded by people from the Pacific Islands and Asia and I don’t believe I have ever met an Australian who hasn’t vacationed to one of those places. And vacationing in Fiji is not like locking yourself away in Mexico…one tends to actually visit the COUNTRY when there.
A lot of people need to take a step back and consider country and context and realize there is no answer than will ever fit EVERY culture in the world. If you can’t figure this out for yourself, go to your local university and enroll in an introductory Cultural Anthropology class. You will be hit with many many a lightbulb. Did you know, for example, that the most prevalent (in number of cultures practicing it) form of marriage on earth is polygamy?
This is not to justify racism, but to point out that EVERY CULTURE IS UNIQUE. And every culture has its own experiences that it draws from. Slavery is an AMERICAN and CARIBBEAN issue. Those are the only places that the African slave trade continued into the 19th century. The American south is the hot bed for it.
Cee recently posted..Canadas Official Tartan
And a French, and a British, and a Spanish, and a Portugese issue.
America is not the only place this blog (or the issues discussed here) s relevant outside of Australia. Market squares in all the countries above can be found, with stone ‘stages’.
Perdita recently posted..Conversation point- why thrift-vintage