The earliest Golliwog (or Golliwogg as he was originally called) is the hero in books of verse written by Bertha Upton in the 1890s, and illustrated by her daughter Florence. The mother and daughter worked together on twelve illustrated books, all featuring the gallant little character and his adventures travelling to such exotic destinations as Africa and the North Pole, accompanied by his friends, the Dutch Dolls. (see Golliwogg.co.uk)
Though the original Golliwog character was a kindly fellow always lending a hand to those in trouble, later authors portrayed him very differently. Over the years he became a rascal, was often up to no good, and even portrayed as a mean spirited character. Consequently his reputation slid.Writers such as Enid Blyton merely added to his poor reputation. Unlike Florence Upton's, Blyton's Golliwogs were often rude, mischievous, elfin villains. In Blyton's book, "Here Comes Noddy Again", a Golliwog asks the hero for help, then steals his car. Blyton, one of the most prolific European writers, included the Golliwogs in many stories, but she only wrote three books primarily about Golliwogs: The Three Golliwogs (1944), The Proud Golliwog (1951), and The Golliwog Grumbled (1953). Her depictions of Golliwogs are, by contemporary standards, racially insensitive. An excerpt from The Three Golliwogs is illustrative:
"Once the three bold Golliwogs, Golly, Woggie, and Nigger, decided to go for a walk to Bumble-Bee Common. Golly wasn't quite ready so Woggie and Nigger said they would start off without him, and Golly would catch them up as soon as he could. So off went Woggie and Nigger, arm-in-arm, singing merrily their favourite song - which, as you may guess, was Ten Little Nigger Boys."
Incidentally Golliwog was the original name for the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, they sometimes perfomed the songs dressed in white afros, I mention this not to suggest they were racist but merely to show how much part of American culture the golliwog was. In Blyton Noddy books Golly the garage owner has now been replaced by Mr Sparks considered by many to be an affront to black garage owners. You can't win, people should just live and let live , there are are far worse things going on in the world, and far worse childrens icons to demonise.Children often refer to other kids with buck teeth as Bugs or Bugsy perhaps we should ban Bugs Bunny; and what about Bluto he's always bullying Popeye , not a good role model.
So we can't use the word golliwog in a private conversation but you can say the f*** word on prime time Tv (provided you're a chef that is)You can sell violent computer gamnes to kids , depicting prostitutes, drugs and murder but don't buy them a rag doll with a black face it might corrupt them!!!
So good on the BBC and Mr Chiles (if indeed it was he who blew the whistle on what was after all a private conversation) Perhaps he could go and spend some time with his look-alike Ray Mears in a wilderness far far away...please
