Two Langley shopkeepers say they will continue to sell Golliwog dolls because they are 害羞草研究所渘ot aracist thing at all.害羞草研究所�

Greg Bowles and Linda Hazelton, owners of the Black Pudding Imports Ltd. store, were respondingto a complaint by Surrey resident Taylor Walker, who said the imported British-made black dolls,which have eyes rimmed in white, big red lips and frizzy hair, were offensive.

Walker said she and her boyfriend were startled to see the dolls were for sale during a visit onSunday to the store on 203rd Street near 64th Avenue, which sells imported products from Britain,Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

害羞草研究所淲e were pleased with the British and Irish products they had until we got to the checkout andnoticed they were selling Golliwog memorabilia,害羞草研究所� Walker said.

Walker told the Black Press Media that she didn害羞草研究所檛 say anything at the time because shewanted to research the dolls before contacting the store.

害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to let them know that it was a very offensive item害羞草研究所� Walker said.

害羞草研究所淢y dad is black. He害羞草研究所檚 from the [U.S] south.害羞草研究所�

Walker said the dolls may have been fine at one time, but times have changed.

害羞草研究所淔or me, you look back and see things from years ago that were acceptable, now, it害羞草研究所檚 not okay,害羞草研究所�

Walker said.

害羞草研究所淚 think the number of those offended is bigger than those who have affection for them.害羞草研究所�

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Bowles said complaints about the dolls have been rare.

害羞草研究所淚n 20 years, we have only had four or five people say something,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淭here are dozens and dozens of [British import] stores in Canada害羞草研究所� that sell the dolls, Bowlesadded.

Linda Hazelton said she was 害羞草研究所渟hocked害羞草研究所� by the suggestion the dolls were racist.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a kid害羞草研究所檚 tale. It害羞草研究所檚 not a racist thing at all,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 [Walker] being oversensitive.害羞草研究所�

Hazelton said the store caters to 害羞草研究所淓nglish, Scottish, Irish and Welsh害羞草研究所� customers who grew up withthe children害羞草研究所檚 books.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a childhood memory for those people,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e sell tons of them.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hey sell them in England. They害羞草研究所檙e not banned anywhere.害羞草研究所�

Golliwog dolls are based on a character in an 1895 children害羞草研究所檚 book called The Adventures of TwoDutch Dolls and a Golliwogg by British author Florence Kate Upton, who described the character as害羞草研究所渢he blackest gnome.害羞草研究所�

It was a popular children害羞草研究所檚 toy in many European countries, but in recent years has become amagnet for controversy, with critics saying the doll was based on blackface worn by whiteperformers who crudely stereotyped black people.

According to a number of historical sources, the doll inspired the racial slur 害羞草研究所渨og.害羞草研究所�

Because of that, Hazelton and Bowles said, the toys are now called 害羞草研究所淕olly害羞草研究所� dolls.

In recent years, the controversy has led British jam makers Robertson害羞草研究所檚 to drop its trademarkGolliwog mascot and in Australia, Arnott害羞草研究所檚 Golliwog chocolate biscuit was renamed the Scalliwag.

However, when a 2018 poll asked 1,660 Britons whether it was 害羞草研究所渞acist to sell or display a golliwogdoll,害羞草研究所� it found most didn害羞草研究所檛 see a problem, with 63 per cent responding 害羞草研究所渘o,害羞草研究所� 20 per cent 害羞草研究所測es,害羞草研究所� and17 per cent 害羞草研究所� not sure.害羞草研究所�

The Ferris State University 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶟 website said Golliwog dollswere the 害羞草研究所渓east known of the major anti-black caricatures in the United States.

Professor Dr. David Pilgrim said the character 害羞草研究所渙ften reflected negative beliefs about blacks[portraying them as] thieves, miscreants, incompetents.害羞草研究所�