Is this offensive? - Black Doll at Costco

[Mahogany Momma]

I just got an email about this Black Doll being sold at costco. Look at it and share your thoughts. Is this doll racially offensive? Or am I being too sensitive about racial issues? Lemme know...

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Updated video on issue:

[Tikeshia W]

I would be offended if the only doll available was black. I did check the Costco website and saw babies of 3 different races dressed as pandas also.

[Shavonda Webber-Christmas]

The company that manufactured and marketed the lil' monkey doll is Brass Key Inc. out of Washington. Their contact information is as follows:

The Brass Key, Inc.
P.O. Box 4009
Federal Way, WA 98003
[e-mail]

Another sister, Jamilah Shakir, included contact information for Costco

“The president of Costo is Jim Sinegal. His number is 425-313-8100. The mailing address is 999 Lake Drive, Issaqua, Washington 98027. Let's hold them accountable. Ring the phone off the hook and flood the mail with our voices. Black people spend billions of dollars each year, let's not spend our money and be messed over too.”

Both companies must be addressed. Brass Key has many other dolls to make money from the very people it offended. Though the item has been pulled from Costco, and Brass Key has apologized, both companies made a flagrant error in judgment. This is beyond ridiculous. Please use your voice to address them both so at least these two companies do not make the same mistake twice. I have emailedI will aslo attempt to post this separately to put it fron t and center as the replies are numerous and lengthy. Brass Key and will call Costco’s president in the morning. That’s not enough though. We all need to tell someone else, call them, and/or write to them.

[Angela Jordan]

Thanks for the info. May I suggest an email?

To Whom it may Concern,

As a parent concerned about children's self image, I am happy to hear that this doll has been pulled from the shelves. Perhaps your marketing team is unaware of historical race issues and stereotypes pertaining to the citizens of this country. I suggest a cultural awareness program. Additionally, your company could pay more attention to detail so that culturally offensive items are not made in the future.


Sincerely,

First Name

[Chrystal Evangeline Davis]

YES!!!!! This is very offensive!! I can't believe this doll would be marketed this way. This crap makes me wanna holler!!!!!! Who can we complain to as consumers about this nonsense!!!!!! You would think in 2009 we have come further than this, but I see that racism will always raise its UGLY head!! UGHHHHHHH! I am so mad, this is absolutely ridiculous!!!!

[MomofJGM&TPM]

Cleary this is racist. Nobody on the marketing team knew anything about the racial issues associated with monkeys and African Americans? Really. Monkeys are cute, but it is not so cute when a race of people used to be called monkeys because they believed we did nothing in Africa but swing from trees. Know your history people!!!

[Marlynn Cornelius-Harrison]

Marketing requires research. It is a part of the profession. Believe me when I tell you this, Somebody on that team, if not all of them knew exactly what they were doing and what was going on.

[Kim Crouch]

Of course it is and what surprises me is that the people creating these concepts don't even realize it.

[Angela Jordan]

Yes, it's racist. Why is the doll wearing that hat. Shouldn't it be on the monkey? Think about it. That doesn't make sense. If it was a little girl with a cow, would she have a hat on that said, "lil cow"?. No, the cow would be wearing it. This is just another covert attempt to mess with the psyche of African American people. Yes monkeys are cute. Various animals are - but I'll bet you can't find too many incidents where the actual doll, which symbolizes a child, is wearing a hat that classifies them as an animal. This is especially unfortunate because many times, for some unknown reason, black people, as a race, have been negatively likened to monkeys. Another attempt to make black people feel ashamed, disheartened about our race. Very unprofessional and ignorant of Costco to endorse such an offensive item.

[Lawanda Dogan]

I just called corporate and they assured me these dolls were removed from all stores August 1st because the wording was offensive ( the wording, the wording; how about the monkey period, they could've used a different toy, a puppy, a bear etc.. but a monkey come on Costso get with the times) If anyone finds any of these dolls in any Costco I suggest you call coroprate and let them know the number is 1-800-774-2678.

[Marlynn Cornelius-Harrison]

Thankyou for the number dear sister. I'm going to be looking out for those dolls. Trutfully, People of color Need to use the power of boycotting. Even now theirs a boycott going on, on a large scale. People are sending teabags in the mail to the white house. It symbolized the boycott against England whem America got its independence. I honestly don't understand why we don't all pull together and just leave this place the same way we came in, by the ship loads. I don't know where we'd go. Doesn't Africa have a whole lot of land. I heard one of those countries are so desperate for blacks to return that they'll give you 10acres for free. Build whatever you want on it. The only rule is you've got to stay there.

[Marlynn Cornelius-Harrison]

This is very offensive but its our fault. We have no loyalty to our own culture, no Honor, No self/respect for our culture or eachother, No morals, No boundaries, No inheritance, &everyday it looks more &more like we have no real connection with GOD. We've been lied to &we believed it.We've been pillaged & we accepted it. We've been infiltrated & we love it. We've be decensitized & we ignore it. We've been pimped & we mastered it & we've been tricked so we can't even tell which way is up anymore. We fill up our churches yet go right back out the doors the same. We singing & dancing in the church, spinning around 3 times, testifying yet we're still sleeping around, transmitting HIV to the next woman or man that pretends they're really trying to live for Jesus. We laugh & ke-ke with our gay cousins, sisters, brothas, aunties, cousins and friends never taking the time to tell them that if they don't repent & turn from that wicked way, they're going to hell. Then we take them out and endorce them like a bag of chocolates. You know why the ignorant white people of America call us monkeys? Cause monkeys never learn. They get their hands caught in the same food traps everytime. It may sound like I hate my people. But its because I love them I'm so fed up with them. W/O GOD, we're doomed.

[SHAYLA WILLIAMS]

i dont know.im kinda stuck the doll is super cute but I do think they should have picked another animal. I mean a monkey is a lil racist........but im wondering wheres the white doll? Does she have a monkey to? But I highly doubt it.