A chemist in Toowoomba has come under fire over a Christmas display that features culturally insensitive ‘golliwog’ dolls, with some deeming it downright racist.
Terry White Chemists erected the display, next to a sign that said: “Experience a white Christmas”, which is an extremely unfortunate juxtaposition, even if it was unintentional.
Author and filmmaker Dr Stephen Hagan told Sunshine Coast Daily the people responsible for the display should be ashamed of themselves.
“Toowoomba is the most racist city in Australia,” Dr Hagan said. “Words can’t describe this behaviour in the 21st century. I can understand it in the 1960s but to do it today is inexcusable.”
Golliwogs were popular up until the 1970s and were widely understood to be a racist caricature of people of colour.
Sunshine Coast Daily contacted the store. They reported the manager said there was “no ill-intent” and “promised to remove the dolls from near the sign immediately.”
No word on whether they plan to remove the dolls from the store altogether.
