H and M and the small boy modelling.

It was, but it's popularity was probably because it fed off that 'bigotry'; and therein lies the dilemma I suppose...

Warren Mitchell himself has said that the programme was meant to poke fun at bigotry.

But only because we've moved on from those days; at the time it was just thought to be funny [by some ]. I watched a programme about tv programmes from the 80's the other night, and even the people who were in them were astonished at the sort of stuff that was put on childrens tv back then. It was a real eye opener.

And I agree with Fennel that Alf Garnet made racists look pathetic, bigoted, ignorant and narrow minded.

I hadn’t seen the ad so Googled it. What a superb little boy. He certainly is the coolest. I do think though it may have been better for him to have worn the Mangroove Jungle Survival top the white child is wearing and the white kid to have worn the monkey one.

sarahellenwhitney you may not have been the victim of racism, but to deny that monkey noises and taunts about "going back to the jungle" aren't a problem for many people in this country shows a lack of awareness and/or empathy.

eloethan
To deny that racism can and does exist amongst ones own race is ones own choice Unfortunately denial does not prevent it taking place.Why do I need to draw attention away from the matter? By stating what I have observed seems to me I have hit where it hurts. A mixed race mother claimed those making the complaints over the wording on the tee shirt need to 'get over it'. I second that and would shake her hand. There are many who clearly have issues of their own and feel the need to vent their frustrations by using words on a tee shirt. In the lady's own words 'get over it'.

I think either whoever decided to photograph the child in the hoodie knew that “monkey“ and monkey noises are used as racist taunts, in which case it was a cynical marketing ploy to gain publicity; or they didn’t, in which case what they did was unfortunate.

Its just marketing. No doubt people who never notice a persons colour will be buying it for their own 'little monkeys', whatever skin colour they are.

I don't think anyone is saying that H and M were using the slogan as a racist comment Baggs. The point is that it was insensitive of them to use something that is almost certain to cause racist people to interpret it in a demeaning way.

I disagree with the OP and think the fuss was entirely justified.

Quite agree Eloethan. Am amazed to see the racist comments on this thread, but then it's not for the first time on gransnet. Sadly.

I was unaware and had never heard that "monkey" was shouted as an insult to non-white people. If I had ever heard it or of it I'd have thought that those using the term as abuse were ignorant (not necessarily their fault) or pig-ignorant (their choice so their fault) of how evolution works.

We are primates. So are monkeys. Therefore it is not an insult to be called a monkey unless the term is deliberately used as an insult. This is the same argument I make whenever people blether on about rude words. There is no such thing as a rude word, only rude usage. People are rude; words aren't.

I do not think the phrase "Coolest monkey in the jungle" was used rudely. The hoody can be worn by any child, male or female, black or white or any other colour. Therefore it wasn't racist even though people have apparently used the word monkey abusively elsewhere and at other times.

If you want racism, just listen to what Trump said yesterday.

Yes Fennel,I do remember Alf Garnet,I do not agree with you that it was an inverted way of being against racism, it was entirely racist, but sadly at that time a lot of white people were unaware of the level of racism that was around at that time, thankfully those times have passed. As for the slogan on the T.shirt, well I guess it depends on the mindset of the onlooker.

I don't like garments with any sort of writing on them, especially on a child. Often it either turns the wearer into a walking advertisements or invites nasty comments of one sort or another.

sarahellenwhitnet Why, when the discussion is about what many people perceive to be the demeaning and provocative wording on an article of clothing, do you feel it necessary to speak of racism which exists amongst "non white people" against "their own kind". Your attempt to draw attention away from the matter being discussed and your choice of words speaks volumes.

Wally, certainly.

On second thoughts the children who called names could have picked up a racist attitude from their parents. Children do tend to bully because of any difference, though, such as red hair. I wonder if that always comes from their parents.

I agree with Eleothan and Minerva.

Skyandblossom. I can remember those days but, these days I can't for the life of me understand why a person born a certain way has to suffer for it. None of us ask to be born or where we're born we just have to get on with it hopefully in harmony with others.

Must admit I never saw it as racism neither did my GC they saw what I saw a little boy in a hoodie , I do call my GC s monkeys sometimes as well .

That little boy was the only non-white child, but in the two schools I have mentioned there was a mix of ethnic groups.

Liz46, my children went to a school like your grandchildren’s and I also didn’t see any problems. They had friends from all ethnic groups. However, I heard a story on Radio 4 the other day of a little mixed-race boy in Devon just after World War II who was called names at school because of his colour, so that he ate chalk and drank Milk of Magnesia, hoping to become white. So sad! So I think that children must notice, but they act different ways in different circumstances.

Ok it's not the smartest thing dressing a little black boy that way but, the thing is he's not a monkey he's a little boy and all the shouting won't alter that fact. I'll just bet the PC brigade are a having a field day with this. Why shout racism when none was intended or offence taken.

It’s pathetic that the pandering to the permantly offended has now turned into grovelling. I didn’t get where the offence was at first, I don’t believe for one moment any offence was intended, the child and his mother didn’t either.
Maybe you have to have race on your mind all the time to see it, All I saw was a sweet little boy wearing a green hoodie.

I have a very good friend who is fed up with people getting offended on her behalf because of her faith group. She takes the view if no offence is intended, none is taken.