The Golliwog

Abstract

Last summer, while on my placement in London, I noticed a series of three billboard posters which included large images of the Robertson’s golliwog symbol. I have always thought the golly to be a cute, attractive doll, therefore I also found these posters visually appealing and they influenced my final decision to write a thesis on the golliwog.

However, as a white person, it originally never occurred to me that the golly was offensive to anybody and in researching this image, my initial views changed and I was compelled to think mainly about the golly’s possible racist implications. Although I have discussed the origins of the golliwog, as well as its many uses and abuses, I do not claim to have resolved the problem whether or not it is a racist image and I felt that the golliwog will continue to be a constant source of debate in our present multi-racial society.