Comments on: Everything’s more delicious when it’s seasoned with Privilege

By: Kyso Kisaen

Kyso Kisaen — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:12:07 +0000

Ask her if she’s interested in checking out Steve’s collection.
I’ve always felt that Lynn Peril’s Pink Think could easily be done with race as well as gender; Lynn herself barely glances at race in that book, she does a bit better in College Girls. A collection of racist kistch would be pretty helpful to someone who wanted to do that project. There’s probably already a bunch of scholarly work on the subject, but someone should do a more fun version for a popular audience.

By: june

june — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:59:11 +0000

I used to know a black woman who collected this stuff. I was always too shy (she’s was my mother’s friend) to ask her why she did it.

By: steven crane

steven crane — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:01:28 +0000

what’s a body supposed to do with these unhappy items once they’ve got them?

my family is a positively ancient one (my surviving grandparents were each the youngest of about 8, and they’re 90) and so there are all kinds of slightly unsavory knick-nacks around. i just found my mom’s childhood copy of “Little Black Sambo” in the basement when i was home for christmas, case in point.

throw them out, or see what they fetch on ebay?

By: Stephen Stralka

Stephen Stralka — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:53:48 +0000

Have you seen the Jim Crow Museum? It’s a pretty mind-blowing collection.

By: Mattie

Mattie — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:18:38 +0000

My mother-in-law actually has a shelf full of those little figurines (the “black mammies,” not the boobies). She noticed me looking askance at them once, and said, essentially, “Some people say those are racist, but I don’t see it that way. I think they’re cute! And [my black friend] has seen them, and they don’t bother her.”

I really didn’t know what to say, so I just sort of shrugged. I wish I had said something, though.

By: Kyso Kisaen

Kyso Kisaen — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:05:46 +0000

You will all be happy to know that the salt shaker was successfully opened. Problem resolved. My personal salt shaker problem that is, not the racism or sexism in condiment containers problem.

By: schrödinger's cat

schrödinger's cat — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:28:08 +0000

Thanks for posting that link. Melissa does a good job of explaining why “…but it’s just a joke!” isn’t an excuse.

By: jp

jp — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:47:47 +0000

I live in central PA, where there are a lot of flea & antique markets and I see that ceramic “black mammy” kitsch all the time. As well as the male versions: the goggle-eyed pickaninny (little boy) and the “Uncle Ben” type manservant. Salt shakers, cookie jars…it’s all over. It really weirds me out. As you say, who would BUY, much less display, that kind of stuff? But apparently there’s a demand for it, or else the shops & market stalls wouldn’t have it out there.

I’ve always wondered how it must feel for African-Americans to see that kind of stuff for sale.
I mean, I’m white and it turns MY stomach.

Spike Lee was brilliant about this stuff in *Bamboozled.*