OT: 3 ft. Mammy dolls

I am afraid that these types of things are now considered unacceptable. While many of us think of Aunt Jemima as representing a loving and warm character, that type of character does reflect the history of slavery and racism, and makes many people uncomfortable.

Not a personal comment directed at you, just on the topic.

Cheers,

Lynne in Toronto

..........................................

Shelly wrote:

Shelly, I need your email address to contact you about pattern>

Well, maybe not unacceptable everywhere. I have several doll collecting friends and their cherished dolls include those of varied ages, races, styles, china, porcelain, straw, burlap, celluloid - you name it. Even voo-doo dolls. They're almost as crazy as quilters. Polly

Lynne wrote> I am afraid that these types of things are now considered unacceptable.

Polly, how do I get Shelly's email address? She asked about a pattern. Thanks, Lawana

Lawana, I am not really talented with computers, I'm still bumping around at computer dangerous category. Anyhow, I clicked reply, file, properties (or maybe I clicked something else) and got glassangelatcharterdotnet - seems to be only mildly disguised from the spammers. That probably ought to work if you replace the at and the dot. Try that. You'll either get Shelly or the CEO for Merrill - Lynch. Polly

Just jumping in here... I don't know anything about 3 foot Mammy dolls (I know they would scare the hell out of the cat) .. and I agree with Lynne's comments, but just now I am sewing some dolls from a pattern in an Australian magazine. I am making some black and some a very dark brown and they look great. Formerly, I made a white Little Red Riding Hood doll with brown hair... I am enjoying making all sorts of dolls. Anyway, I see patterns for Gollywogs in the Australian magazines, which I think would not go down well in the UK. I think various countries deal with this issue in different ways.

-- Jo in Scotland

Gollywogs??? What is that, exactly? Is it a name that black people have chosen for themselves, or their "dolls", in Oz, or is it a name we would equate with the "n" word here, or picininny or other words that debase another racial group. Even if there are terms that certain racial groups apply to themselves, that doesn't give ME the right to use those terms.

I think the issue here is not how we feel about these images but about how black people feel about them. Most people I know consider these images to be at the very least stereotypical, and "Mammy" reminds us of a time when black people had no civil rights, and black women particularly were only permitted to hold domestic positions...and when they often had to take care of white children for long hours at low pay so they could feed their own in the poor neighbourhoods where they were permitted to live. Not a high point in anyone's history, I don't think, and not anything to be celebrated.

The vacuum cleaner can go in the cupboard. It doesn't NEED a dress. (I've never understood why people feel compelled to dress their appliances.) And sorry, this is NOT just about dolls...it is about people, and we need to have a modicum of sensitivity.

And no, I COULDN'T just have ignored the original note.

Lynne in Toronto

.................................................................................................

.................................................................................................

"taria" skrev i meddelandet news: snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net...

What on earth does being or not being "pc" have to do with the issue? I refuse to have "golliwogs" or "mammy dolls" in my doll collection because they are considered by many Black people to be racist and disrespectful towards their ethnic group. I call this GOOD MANNERS (i.e. treating others with courtesy and respect) and I do this because I want to be treated the same way.

hth Erin Winslow snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

Hey, I'm not actually making Gollywog dolls (black faces with white around the eyes and mouth). I am making stuffed dolls in all different colors, and they're all little girls in dresses. Period. I just mentioned that in the Aussie magazines I do see patterns for Gollywogs and other black character dolls as well as white character dolls.

-- Jo in Scotland

Well DH has his childhood 'golly', well he used to DS has now claimed it as his. To us it it has always been a toy like a teddy bear with no racial innuendos. this may be my own interpretation and others may differ to that. I think that Enid Blyton may have had some thing to do with my era.

DS has decided that he wanted a golly quilt so I have appliqued 6 different gollies to a calico/muslin back and will do six 9 patch squares using red, blue and yellow (when I get some more fabric) to alternate with these. I have two tops started and one of these will be my 'first quilt'.

Golly and Teddy themes are very popular in Australia at the moment. There is one shop that is caled Li'l Blokes (NAYY)that sells some wonderful golly and teddy patterns. They don't seem to have a web site but a google search for Li'l Blokes will bring up some sites that sell the patterns if you are interested

Dee in Oz

Politically correct.

-- Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E

Craft Cubby (NAYY but won't purchase from them personally due to bad experience) also have a lot of golly stuff, predominantly applique. I have some small kits/patterns that I am unlikely to use if anyone is interested in them. Cheers!

Did a search on the word and got this...

Also:

I got 2 patterns from a craft show both by Craft Cubby ( but the stall was only selling their product)

I paid $15 for the drawstring bag with pockets on the outside (probably got

5 or 6 in magazines) simply for the 6 golly patterns and the stall holder gave me a small kit for free (rrp $6.50) simply because she knew it was for DS and he was interested. I thought it was the cheapest was to go and then I could plan the rest of the quilt as I go.

If you really want to get rid of them Sharon and have no other takers you have my snail mail but put me at the bottom of the list. We are a family of hoarders.

I find it relaxing to do the fusible applique watching TV, who knows when I finally try hand quilting it may be the same with that.

Dee in Oz

I appreciate all of the efforts various folks have made to make this topic more palatable, and some of whom I am quite fond. (See how I avoided ending a sentence with a preposition?) Thanks for trying to help. However, I put golliwogs (who look suspiciously like characters out of a minstrel show, thanks for the link, LN)in the same category as little black sambo, a story which I LOVED as a child, but which, for reasons of consideration, as an adult, I no longer read or recommend to others.

My sister commented, after I told her about this thread, that some people likely see nothing wrong with the black lawn jockeys, either, but she and I do. We fit all this stuff into a lack of respect for racial minorities, and to try to dismiss my view as "political correctness" simply reflects the fact that some people don't want to think deeply about real issues. And of course, people are entitled to their thoughts on the matter, however much I may disagree.

So thanks for your attempts to help, but I stick by my opinion on this, and I can't promise I won't respond similarly, should the topic arise again......but for now....back to the studio!

Cheers,

Lynne in Toronto ........................................