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A lolly shop has sparked outrage after an Indigenous man found offensive dolls on their shelf.

Ben Wilson, from the Jagera people, spotted the Golliwog dolls on display at the Candy Time store in Westfield Carindale when he visited his family in Brisbane last week, news.com.au reports.

‘I was absolutely appalled to see these dolls on display,’ he told the website.

‘These dolls do not only offend Aboriginal people such as myself, but a number of different races from all over the globe.’

He made a complaint to a shop assistant and then sent one to Candy Time’s head office, reports Daily Mail.

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Candy Time owner Tanya Jones insisted that the ‘dolls originated from love’ and described them as ‘beautiful.’

The Gold Coast-based company has sold the dolls at all 10 of its stores for the past two years.

She admitted that some customers have noted the dolls’ connection to black slavery, she insisted that was not the case.

‘A lot of people get misinformed about the dolls’ heritage and I think it is sad that people in society have turned something that is loving to something that has this stigma … to something hateful,’ she said

‘As a company, we stand by the sentiment that these dolls originated from love and people adore them for how beautiful they are.’

Golliwogs were in the media at Christmas time last year when Terry White Chemist customers were left in shock after spotting Golliwog dolls on display under a ‘white Christmas’ sign. Read that story HERE.

Do you think Golliwogs should be a thing of the past?

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  • Golliwogs are beautiful. I loved them as a child and so pleased with this creation. My goliwog was so loved and I’m sure these will be too. Knitted dolls of all colours take a lot of work and love. I’m hoping to buy my child 1.Haters get over it….it’s about love not hate ????

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  • I can’t recall seeing these dolls for sale for many, many years now because of the supposed racist perception – I personally do not find them offensive at all.

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  • Golliwogs actually began in Egypt, no association with black slavery til much later on. I cannot understand how a doll can be offensive. I just don’t see it, I would buy them!

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  • I don’t understand why these dolls are offensive. I have a dark coloured doll from the baby bjorn series, which my sister (who then worked in Africa) gave by the birth of my eldest. And for my youngest I bought a Down syndrome doll as she has Down syndrome. My kids had also Golliwog dolls in the past. I like all these different type of dolls. I even did some doll making when I travelled a lot over the world, Asian, African and south American dolls from all kid tribes. Would that be also offensive ?

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  • I love these dolls and had one growing up

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  • There are dolls of many different colours, I can’t understand why these ones are supposed to be so offensive. I grew up with these dolls as a kid and none of use, and that included many aboriginal friends were offended of them.

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  • They’re available in heaps of places still.

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  • I don’t know anything about these dolls, but they look very beautiful to me! :-)

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  • It only takes the briefest of Google’s to find out that golliwogs are extremely offensive, based on racial caricatures, and have no place in our society. Know better, do better. White people don’t get to decide that people of colour shouldn’t be offended by them. There are other dolls with varied skin colours that are not offensive if you want a doll that isnt white for your child.


    • Double check your research and where the originated. It’s nothing to do with slavery

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  • How stupid! they are a doll! Are they dressed as slaves and depicted as such? no! get over it!

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  • So the only dolls that can be for sale is white dolls?
    What about being offended by barbies with their unrealistic proportions

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  • I got one for mu Mum last Christmas, they are beautiful. I am sure we could find offence in anything if we wanted to, if you don’t like it don’t buy one

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  • I don’t know the history of these dolls. If it is based on slavery then they are offensive. If not, then why not represent other races to children?

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  • My mum had one of these dolls as a young child in the 1950’s that she absolutely adored. I would of never thought to look at these in a racial manner, but I do see this mans point.

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  • Never ever had these dolls.

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