Comments on: “Souvenirs” from Savannah, Georgia

By: Co-opting Abe Lincoln and the Fight Against Slavery » Sociological Images

Co-opting Abe Lincoln and the Fight Against Slavery » Sociological Images — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:17:22 +0000

[...] on Your Plate ads, romanticizing picking cotton, different ways of remembering national tragedies, Mammie souvenirs, Black women tend to White women, and the corporate plantation. var object = [...]

By: Concerned Cracker

Concerned Cracker — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:27:52 +0000

This is one reason why racism still exists in Savannah.
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-06-05/cuts-threaten-pregnancy-program-savannah-teenage-mothers

By: Simone

Simone — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:47:00 +0000

Wow, you’re right. Structural racism has entirely disappeared. Black kids growing up today have exactly the same educational and economic opportunities as white kids. That’s why it was completely unsurprising that we elected a Black president.

Oh wait…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:17:29 +0000

Slaves were only present in Georgia, from slightly before 1700 until 1865. For many decades after this, a lack of access to education and discrimination by some whites, led to inequalities and violence that was felt by many generations into the 1960′s. Noone here is keeping you from attaining your dreams anymore. President Obama, and the countless other successful African Americans in this country do not blame their problems and defeats on racism and white people. My family never owned slaves, but I am constantly reminded how because I am white I am the cause and the target of seething hatred. Slavery was evil, is evil, it has gone on since the beginning of time, and it will continue to go on somewhere in the world where a group of people can profit from taking advantage of another. We may never be able to stop it everywhere, but it was stopped here. Make your own way in life, educate yourself, rely on noone else and you will be confident that you have achieved something that noone handed to you, and that noone can take from you. As evil as it was, constantly looking back to something that is long gone will only foster hatred and ill will from both sides, which will only result in anymosity and mistrust and to us never being one people, Americans.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:46:58 +0000

These images are usually taken way out of context. These look exactly like Aunt Jemima, which I agree is an outdated and probably irresponsible image. But these are not images of slaves, most are images of caregivers that worked in homes all over the south after slavery and through until the 20th century. They were nannies, cooks, maids, that lived with families, or on a families property. Free people with jobs. Not glamorous jobs, but jobs. They were usually thought of fondly, and even more so by the children, whom they practically raised. These images are from that era, and are outdated, but not racist. It’s part of the history of the south, just like any confederate flags. Confederate flags do not necessarily mean racism, the war was not fought over the single issue of slavery. State’s rights, and the power of central government over states had been a hot issue since the founding of our country. Southern planters were trying to hold onto their way of life which wrongly included slave labor. It was ignorant, but not uncommon for the time. What proceeded was decades of former slaves, working the same fields for paltry pay. But this culture in the south included many poor white families as well, even up into the nineteen fifties and sixties. We don’t love or justify the evils of our past, but we don’t pretend like they don’t exist either. Now, being from Savannah, I have seen newly made souvenirs that are blatantly racist in nature, representing black children with their hair in wild braids, with bright red lips, and eating watermelon. There is no place for this kind of ignorance in the South anymore. These items reflect the views and beliefs of the owners of these stores and should not be taken as the beliefs of all southern people. As an educated person, I know that you can realize the difference.

By: April Mojica

April Mojica — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:12:09 +0000

OK, so it’s a funny story how I got here to this blog. I was actually LOOKING for similar figurines. I am a black woman and if I should weigh in, I am a first generation Northerner on my mother’s side. I had not owned any of this stuff but when in Grenada last week I found myself buying one (that held a scrubby dish thing) for my mother. I noticed, based on a little wooden pickaninny figure she’d co opted from me in the past, that something about that kind of thing…I don’t know–anyhow I got her one almost entirely identical to the one you show, AND one for me. In the gift shop, next to the mammy one was a brown one, prettily depicted–not a caricature but like a celebration of miscegenation. It did a number on my head and I fluctuated like mad yet I bought the brown one for my Dominican mother-in-law, who denies her African roots. Funny how while in one way, I embrace the image (not the caricature aspect)but for the meaning I give it–the idea of reclaiming a fore mother of mine( who certainly would not have been let to love me) and bringing her near me (keeping my company in the kitchen); I am also reminded of my Black, Muslim mother who modestly covered her head, like many other women of the diaspora. I realize that this is NOT the point. It’s the Double Consciousness–I am outraged too, and surprised at this glorification of the rape of Mother Africa and the unfathomable exploitation of a people with especial regards to enslaved African woman and her descendants. Yet I came online looking for the brown one to go with the black one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:33:52 +0000

Keep your yankee liberal ass in Main or come and stay in Savannah for longer than a few days and see that the people that you feel so sorry for (the blacks) are ten times as racist than whitesand will rob you at gun point and if your lucky they wont shoot you in your face afterwards

By: karinova

karinova — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:32:08 +0000

This thread is ancient, and you probably know this already, but I’ve recently made a vow to point out, every time I see a reference to “the Confederate flag,” that the stars-and-crossed-bars is NOT the Confederate flag.

The crossed bars on a red standard was the battle flag of the rebels.
The actual flag of the Confederacy was the “Stainless Banner” (see here http://tinyurl.com/yerzz2s)

I mention this (for the information of anyone who should see it) because the usual defense for flying the Battle Flag is “Southern pride,” but if these people knew anything at all, they should know what flag to fly! The Stainless Banner, literally by definition, stood, and stands, for The South. The Battle Flag? Stands for armed revolution in defense of slavery.

By: Racism in Bull Durham Tobacco Ads » Sociological Images

Racism in Bull Durham Tobacco Ads » Sociological Images — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:38:15 +0000

[...] for examples of modern reproductions of these stereotypes (literally), see these: one, two, three, four, and [...]

By: Mr. Wyte Hickson

Mr. Wyte Hickson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:43:09 +0000

Do you think that’s bad, try this…

Always Remember, Savannah is a place of “diversity”.

1933 – 2009

http://frostupload.com/filestore/c9/2SKE2MlURY.Screen_shot_2_2009-10-25_at_6.33.26_PM.jpg._

By: Trailer Parky

Trailer Parky — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:35:06 +0000

Yes, as a Savannaian, I will admit that racism is a Profound issue in this city. And No, black Savannaians who actually have the a capacity to interpret this stuff Do not accept it as being ‘okay’. This city thrives of the unspoken and socially acceptable racism that exists here. Those few of us who have spoken up about some of the issues have found ourselves victims of blacklisting, slander or worse. Though Savannah likes to present itself and its openly racists institutions as ‘Tolerant’ or diverse. They are anything but. Only those who are liked minded and or comfortable with issues of blatant economic inequality and segregation are cool with this place. Thus the high number of white South Africans, Australians, Michiganites, New Zelanders and open BNP supporters in this area. Savannah and it’s white citizens would like to believe that they represent a breed of cultured stock. Much like those who reside in the world’s most famous cities. However, the trailer park has been traded for low end BMW’s and that, they believe grants them access in a world of ‘cultural enlightenment’. One does not have to look too far below the surface to see the ugly face of racism and hate. The window dressings and moc cultural events are clearly used to mask some very serious issues. That exists in this extreme rightwing, anti-black male, anti-diversity community. Aping ‘liberals’ in dress does not make one a liberal. Nor does it trick others into believing that a place firmly rooted in Hate and Racism can all of a sudden transform itself over night. There is no art here, nor is there any culture. there is only hate, asks some of the people who are on the receiving end of it. But then again, as they like to say here. The “blacks” are the real racists. Check the numbers for unemployment, incarceration and population and you will find your answer.

If not, then the past and upcoming publicly supported displays of Neo Confederate demonstrations, that, as the Savannah newspaper put it, “presented to help preserve confederate values” may help some to consider otherwise. In a place littered with confederate monuments. Does it take a rocket scientist to see what is so clear? In the case of this Town, yes it does.

By: Asians as Kitschy Kitchen Items » Sociological Images

Asians as Kitschy Kitchen Items » Sociological Images — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:15:32 +0000

[...] examples of modern racial caricatures on sale: golliwogs, mammie souvenirs in Georgia, and an Icelandic reproduction of 10 Little Negro Boys. 10 Comments Tags: [...]

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:18:58 +0000

The North is just as racist as the South. We Northerners like to bury our inert racism with PC knee-jerkism. I don’t but any of it. As the song from Avenue Q says, everyone’s a little bit racist. Anyone who says they’re not is a damned liar.

Blacks and whites collect that stuff down in the deep south. Now, it is a little concerning to see this memorabilia still being produced, but I think the original antiques are quite fascinating and represent a very interesting piece of American culture.

By: livininphilly

livininphilly — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:55:47 +0000

I love this blog and this is an interesting topic. I’m surprised more ppl haven’t jumped into the fray on this.

@ Hypatia- i would actually tend to disagree. Racism is racism and I know that I have different reactions to overt racism and covert racism when I am the target. I’m a black female and in my life I have been called a “nigger” many times. When that overt racism happend it just pisses me off but i can actually deal with it better than when I have to deal with covert racism. The covert institutionalized racism is often the type that I face daily and it pisses me off but also makes me feel helpless. How can I prove that i’m being discriminated against when someone requires all sorts of documentation of my credit worthiness when I am tryign to get an apartment? Documentation that I know for a fact isn’t required of lighter skinned friends that I have. Believe me this has happened. it’s those small infractions that add up.

The south is a different place b/c of it’s history and it’s a history that still lives on. But the north is really no better in a lot of respects. I never saw a mammy figurine until I moved to philadelphia and someone was selling it. Every year at a certain gay pride event a man sells negrobilia (that’s what this stuff is called btw). It’s offensive every time and happens in the middle of the city.

Finally, doesn’t this whole piece speak to how far we haven’t come? Just b/c our society has selective memory around the issue of race doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. the civil rights movement happened about 40 years ago, that’s not that long and can’t possibly be enough time for 400 years of history to be erased! What you saw just illustrates that point.

By: cocolamala

cocolamala — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:02:19 +0000

that’s the kind of thing that makes me want to throw my coat on a little too exuberantly in the store and OMG! accidentally sweep that whole display on to the floor.