Comments on: Costco and The Lil’ Monkey Doll

By: JessSnark

JessSnark — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:25:53 +0000

There’s a lot going on in this thread and I can’t possibly respond to all of it, but I don’t want to let MoniQue’s derogatory reference to sodomy stand unchallenged (or her reference to abortion as genocide). Without causing a total derail, I’d just like to say that that’s not ok.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:18:11 +0000

I’ve been impressed by the care and insight of this thread. Jadey said it best (for me), “This is one of the most insidious effects of modern racism — the burden of recognizing it never falls on white people,” and how many of the white people who wrote were in fact looking at our own responsibility to be aware of, and speak against, racism wherever it appears.

Okay, then, on that note, I just heard, have notseen with my own eyes, that the black monkey doll was still on the shelves at two Costco stores in North Carolina on Sept. 4. They were pulled from one on the spot. On the website (today), only the Pretty Panda is listed, with dolls in three colors. Maybe the dolls are all off the shelves by now, but maybe those of us who shop at Costco should keep watch anyway.

By: femme noir

femme noir — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:04:40 +0000

Assuming Costco’s buyers are professional marketers, they knew when the product was put on the shelves that it would likely end up being pulled. But the purpose has already been served: A psychological seed was planted. I wonder how many were sold. More importantly, children gravitate to toy displays – how many children saw the display and have that image imprinted in their minds?

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:33:36 +0000

I understand how putting an african american baby doll with a monkey and calling it little monkey could be considered racist. You also are putting it next to the ‘pretty panda’ white doll makes it seem pretty horrible as if all the black dolls were monkeys and all the white dolls were pretty pandas. but by leaving out the fact that there were black, white, and hispanic monkey dolls AND black white and hispanic panda dolls you are misleading your readers

By: Simplyamazed

Simplyamazed — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:21:23 +0000

Angela there have been people through out oppressed history who have not understood the “outrage” of those who cried out against their oppression. Because you don’t see it or don’t think your five your old was bothered does not negative what others feel and believe.

By: MoniQue

MoniQue — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:46:08 +0000

I was floored over this until I saw the other dolls in the same lil’ monkey theme. I can understand the anger wholheartedly and it hurt me to see the doll side by side with the so called “Hispanic” one with the panda on another site. But to include it on a black baby period stems from ignorance. Ignorance straight from North Carolina, where slavery existed from ignorance (and hate).

Speaking of ignorance, the “Hispanic” doll is disturbing, not the way the doll looks, but the label. Here’s some things to ponder:

1) At least 30% Hispanics are in fact Caucasian, at least in Mexico. Please know “Hispanic” is NOT a race, it is a culture consisting of all 3 races mentioned above. The Spanish language is from Europe, Spain. The Spaniards mixed with the Indians and I believe this is who people are referring to when they say “Hispanic.” South Americans and other “Hispanic” countries are filled with Spanish and Italian Caucasians. Agentina has about 70% with Italian surnames. And we do not separate each other by color there, nor in Mexico, nor in Cuba.

Only in America is this done.

http://campello.tripod.com/hispanic.html

2) The fact is that in every so-called “fine university” they teach evolution from monkeys. This is the real crime and where reducing a black person to the status of a monkey is perpetrated. No human being should be reduced to the status of an animal. The truth is that this theory, and that is what it is since it’s been disproven by real scientists, is a big problem.

3) Know this: God’s animals would be offended to know that we equate ourselves with them in the first place. They never fell from grace in the garden, we humans did. To me, animals are better than most people, so I would never feel insulted if called any animal myself. Many people today do things animals would NEVER do (sodomy, rape, genocide, and more).

4) Our materialism is also way out of control. I personally do not see the purpose in including a banana or depicting a baby as a monkey or a panda in the first place. Why reduce a baby to an animal? Yes, I know some parents lovingly refer to little kids as “little monkeys,” but to put them in doll form eating a banana with the label “Lil’ Monkey,” I fail to get any cute connection myself. Why are we making babies in the status of an animal in the first place?

Then again, Americans are currently committing genocide against babies in the form of abortion now.

Which brings me to my last point:

5) Throughout history when one group of people committed crimes against humanity, they always did so by first equating them to the status of an animal. The truth is if we respected animals in the first place there would never be a lower status. Think about THAT.

By: Ren

Ren — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:50:09 +0000

For those of you who did the research and found that the Lil Monkey dolls come in 3 races…GOOD FOR YOU!…that still doesn’t negate the fact that a black doll was called a monkey to begin with. People of color have always been called monkeys, coons, apes, alligators, etc. If the PR department for Brass Key had done their research, then the white doll would have been the monkey and the black doll would have been the panda and this would not be an issue. Toy makers pair dolls with animals all the time. It’s cute. But you must be careful and know your history; OUR history before making careless mistakes such as this.

By: Sasha

Sasha — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:55:30 +0000

Lets refer to the white baby as lil pig or lil piggy and maybe they will get it then…

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:50:26 +0000

I think the “outrage” is ridiculous. I am a “POC” and I sat down with the website and my 5year old daughter and without leading questions or emotion, I asked her which doll she preferred (between brown doll with monkey and white doll with the panda). She asked which one i wanted her to have – POINT#1 children will generally adopt the views of their parents. I said it didn’t matter it would be her doll so she gets to choose. She chose the brown doll with the monkey but said she wished she could have the panda. I offered the white doll with the panda and she said “Nah, I like the brown one” So I read the names on the hats and asked what she thought about her doll wearing that name and if she was sure she didnt want the other doll. She said “It’s ok I’ll change the name”. POINT#2 We have to teach our kids to preserve their own positive self image rather than let someone else tell them who they are and what their brown skin represents.

My daughter didn’t care about a silly name because when it belongs to her SHE CAN CHANGE IT!

Regardless of the history of racist symbols we are aware, don’t let it ruin your kids resilience. We have become a nation of wimps because we wanto people to ‘remove all of the uncomfortable’ character building elements of LIFE!

The ‘players’ in the civil rights movement weren’t successful because all elements of racism were removed. It was successfull because they chose to change legislation and access to education so that those coming behind them could PURSUE EXCELLENCE in order to create the image they wanted to see.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:36:53 +0000

@ all of us that know, seen, heard, felt, experienced racism, we can sit and comment all day. We need to make some noise to Costco and to the media to expose this mainstream. We should not only stop shopping there but also stand up in front of Costco’s doors and in the parking lot and scream.

If you believe for one minute, the store did not see racism, then I must inform you that you are a racist.