Man of Honour
Did it ever happen in the UK? USA, yes, but here? I'm 50 and never heard it when I was younger.
H&M Racism storm
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
Did it ever happen in the UK? USA, yes, but here? I'm 50 and never heard it when I was younger.
Soldato
Granted the r-word is way overused in years of late, but I have seen the word monkey being used to take a swipe at race. It's a political minefield though and it's all down to whether you (as the individual) know that the word is racist.
It's a bit like that hoo-har with Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear a few years back where he described a bridge as having a slope, and apparently that is racist. In that example, I had no idea that the word slope could be used that way.
It's a bit like that hoo-har with Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear a few years back where he described a bridge as having a slope, and apparently that is racist. In that example, I had no idea that the word slope could be used that way.
One of the issues is that perhaps in a derogatory sense black people have been referred to as monkeys, people looking for racism is the biggest problem, whilst not ignore it and hope it goes away as that could lead to racial bullying/discrimination, stop keep highlighting it.
If I heard the term "little monkey" I wouldn't think immediately of a black person, I'd probably think of a term for a child, but now it' been brought to my attention it's something I'm now well aware of.
If I heard the term "little monkey" I wouldn't think immediately of a black person, I'd probably think of a term for a child, but now it' been brought to my attention it's something I'm now well aware of.
Man of Honour
And thus the racists gain a little more power - they now have some control over how you think, since you now think of them when you didn't before.
Here’s a photo of John Barnes kicking a banana away while preparing to take a free kick:
Black players regularly suffered monkey noises being made at them in the 70s and 80s. I’m surprised you don’t remember it if you’re 50.
Soldato
You want to make a room audibly gasp and start the professionally offended brigade off on one? Then why not refer to your mate's newborn as looking like a massive chocolate raisin? The only people who didn't take offence and found it funny were my mate, his wife and their immediate families. All the people who were offended were white. 
I guess...
Because in order to feel that the image is racist, you have to have in your own mind the idea that Black people are Monkeys.
If you did not have that idea in your mind, And if you were truly "Colour Blind" then the idea that the image might be considered racist simply would not occur to you.
Soldato
I'm not sure who I hate more, the constantly offended folk or the media for **** stirring.
Alternatively you could be aware of the fact that the term monkey, monkey noises and throwing bananas have all been used as forms of racial abuse in the past?
Man of Honour
Here’s a photo of John Barnes kicking a banana away while preparing to take a free kick:
Black players regularly suffered monkey noises being made at them in the 70s and 80s. I’m surprised you don’t remember it if you’re 50.
I was never into football.
Man of Honour
As RDM points out above, if someone is aware of it's use as a racial slur they can clearly see why it might be a little controversial in this scenario.
Being 'colour blind' is the utopian dream, but right now it doesn't help anyone.
Man of Honour
I disagree, strongly. I think a lack of racism is the only route to a lack of racism.
Don
No you're correct, we should just avoid any sort of language that could be misconstrued as racist around black people, you know, just in case they take offense.
I like treating people different because of their skin colour, don't you?
Soldato
Can you can spot who shops at H&M?
racist
adjective
- 1.
showing discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or believing that a particular race is superior to another.
If you say a black model shouldn't be advertising something but a non-black model can that is in itself discrimination and seems a lot closer to the definition of racist than someone (H&M) who probably never intended to offend in the first instance
Man of Honour
Basically Dave Chappelle said it best in his latest special.
I'm pretty sure swearies in the correct context are allowed, but since the sticky that made note of this is in a magical land thanks to /someone/, can't reference it any more!
I'm pretty sure swearies in the correct context are allowed, but since the sticky that made note of this is in a magical land thanks to /someone/, can't reference it any more!
Man of Honour
I'm not saying they can't, they're (H&M) free to do as they wish but putting the black kid in something that's been used to racially abuse black people will lead to the backlash they're facing now. Recognise what it might look like and save yourself the headache, no one loses out.
Don
Well the black kid does because he's now losing modelling gigs due to his skin colour!
Caporegime
Highly doubtful that any racism was intended, but this furore was entirely foreseeable, which suggests that someone in the marketing team is an idiot.