“What Fresh Hell Is This” Award — The Obama Sock Monkey Doll

Posted on 16. Jun, 2008 by Karen in Misc

The latest “what fresh hell is this” award goes to the Obama sock monkey doll manufactured by a Utah company apparently to help young children understand about how Senator Obama is running for president. Huh? If you’re scratching your head and wondering “what the hell” so am I. Watch this video for more:

Now I like sock monkeys. I think they’re cute. A while back I bought the “Peanut”, my 4 year old niece, a whole pink PJ ensemble covered with sock monkeys. They’re OK on PJs.

But they’re not OK when designated as a Black person, Obama or otherwise. Historically, referring to Black people as any kind of monkey was demeaning, insulting and racist. Still is.

To me, this isn’t just about politics. This is about respect and sensitivity about racial issues. If you think I’m on a soapbox, you’re right. Now it’s your turn.

What’s your perspective?

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5 Responses to ““What Fresh Hell Is This” Award — The Obama Sock Monkey Doll”

  1. Candelaria Silva

    16. Jun, 2008

    I agree with everything you’ve said but I try not to get in an uproar about this type of stupidity which is so frequent and widespread. From the Imus comment, to the comments Fox News made about Michelle Obama, etc., etc. Studity, insensitivity, racism, stereotypes confound but they do not and will not stop the progress most of us are trying to make.

  2. Pheng

    18. Jun, 2008

    Yeah, one of my friends kind of oppose to vote for Obama because he thinks that his last name has something to do with Osaman, but I think part of it is that he think Obama is black just don’t want to admit it in front of me being an Asian :)

  3. Madeleine Phillips

    18. Jun, 2008

    This will be an abridged version of the invectives i would like to hurl at the perpetrator of this “educational doll”. I am horrified that anyone could be so stupid as to create this. It’s hateful and smacks of a teeny, tiny idiotic mind. I’m just sorry it’s gotten so much attention. I hope they don’t sell even one of these!

  4. Allison

    19. Jun, 2008

    Maybe it shouldn’t but it always shocks me that these kinds of things still happen! We are in 2008 for G’s sake!

    Although I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, is it possible that this company didn’t know this was entirely inappropriate and insulting?

    Hard to say whether it’s better to try to ignore it as not even dignifying a response, or throw a fit! Unfortunately, PR people say even negative attention is good attention, grrrr.

    Allison

  5. Karen

    22. Jun, 2008

    Candelaria–your comments are always so insightful. I try not to watch the negative news much but this one just got to me. I understand that since my post, the company has stopped making this offensive doll. Good move! Karen

    Pheng–I just accept the fact that there will be people who won’t vote for Obama because he’s Black just like there are people who will only vote for him because he is. As voters, it’s our responsibility to get past the candidate’s exterior and really determine if this is the person we want to lead our country. Hope your friends get that message before November. Thanks for writing. Karen

    Madeleine–that’s exactly how I felt when I saw this news clip. As I mentioned above, the company has seen the “light” of its “dark” decision and has suspended production. I wonder how many levels of leadership approved this product in the first place. Scary thought! Karen

    Allison–even scarier thought that this was a deliberate ploy to get negative PR. As a Black person in America, there are a lot of things that I let slide or I’d be angry and upset all the time. But this just wasn’t one of them. I’m sure we’ll see more outrageous PR before the November elections. Karen

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