Costco Removes Black “Lil Monkey” dolls from their Shelves
Costco Wholesale pulled dolls out of East Coast stores more than a week ago after at least one complaint that they were racially offensive.
The dolls — which came in African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic versions — were accompanied by stuffed monkeys and wore hats reading, "Lil’ Monkey."
At least one customer in the Greensboro, N.C., area complained to Costco that the theme was racially offensive with the African-American doll, according to television reports from that area.
"Immediately Costco and our company made the decision to pull the product off the shelves," said Mary Gustaff, CEO of the Federal Way company that designed the dolls, The Brass Key. Also known as BrassKey Keepsakes, it is a family-owned company that has been in business more than 28 years.
I am incensed about this action by Costco. I think a basic reasoning should be that people should never be equated to animals ever–especially for commercial success. I first heard the saying, “How’s this puppy?” or “she’s a cute little puppy” here in Louisville and I never liked it. Human Beings are not monkeys, are not puppies, are not asses, or snakes. Everything has a name–give it its name not a nickname or suggestive synonym. If we stop doing it at home, then it won’t come to the workplace. So how about Lil’ Baby?
Blacks cry too much. For the simple fact the main ones that’s crying about something being racist are the main ones calling each other “niggas” but get mad when someone white calls them a “nigga”. Blacks can be the most ignorant, hypocritical, racist people.
Lee,
That was the most ignorant, hypocritical and racist statement you just made. Try walking in a black person’s shoes and tolerate an inference to a monkey.
there wasnt just a black doll there was a white and hispanic one too, and u dont see white people getting all pissed off because stores still sell crackers
Lee is correct (except for the first sentence, which is opinion). Of course I don’t want to be referred to as a monkey, but the product obviously wasn’t targeting blacks. I could see if the black doll was wearing the hat “little monkey,” and there was diff stuff on the white/hispanic dolls’ hats, but that wasn’t the case. I wish black ppl would stop dropping the race card on every issue that they may not agree with.
And yes, I’m black.
….comming out with a line of action figures called “Slave Master’s Children” …..oh, they will be English, Spanish, and Jewish… now let’s talk about who I have offended…… Dummies!!!!
By the way, If this business takes off, the next line will be “Slave Master’s Rape Victims” they will be Black, Indigenous, and Native American….. No… seriously.
Lord have mercy…no they didnt give that baby a banana!!! Ignorance IS NOT BLISS. I am not even going to waste one level of energy getting incenced at this group or individual. Let’s keep the blood pressure down.
Lol, the pic wasn’t up when I posted earlier. Yea this is kinda racist….
The product is a doll called the “Cuddle with Me” baby doll manufactured by a company called BrassKey Keepsakes. The controversy stemmed from the black version of the doll which is surrounded by monkeys and wears a hat labeled “Lil’ Monkey,” while the white version is surrounded by pandas and wears a hat labeled “Pretty Panda.” Before the previous idiot makes a comment tell him to do some research.
Monkey, cracker, and I don’t know the slain for Hispanic even if there is one. The point is, we don’t love one another as we should. We are so desensitized by what we see, and hear everyday, that we (feel) no more. Call me naive, call me living in a world of my own, but if Love prevailed, we wouldn’t have this problem and executives would have chosen differently in they’re methods of marketing, advertising and selling. Love ya’ll, that’s what needs to prevail! Love!
BlackRealist, i guess you can now see.
I would appreciate it if someone could send me pictures or addresses for pictures of all the dolls. I want to use them in my Cultural Diversity class. I think the student’s discussions will be very interesting as the comments on this topic. My e-mail address is deanat@louisville.edu
Lil Monkey speak? No! Lil Monkey cannot speak.
Animals we find in cartoons, stories and on TV, animated, cannot actually think for themselves. They are not humans.
Have you ever heard a Lil Doll speak? No they can’t speak either, yet Little Dolls grow up to become big dolls and the meaning is much different here. Big dolls eventually will speak since a doll is not animated. A doll refers to a human.
The problem with this is that they need to place the labels where it belongs. Who cares what you call it.
You blacks and whites know they want you to shut up so that they can tell you what to do, say and think. You think they really care about us? OMG you know they don’t.
Much Ado About Nothing.
The Lil’ Monkey dolls were all produced with black, white, and hispanic dolls-it wasn’t just the black doll that had ‘lil monkey’ on it. Just like the Plush Panda dolls were produced representing the three said ethnicities.
Knowing this fact, that the media fails to report to make the story more antagonistic, tells me the company wasn’t trying to be racist. It was a bad decision and in poor taste but I don’t think that the company is filled with white hooded Klansmen. The company has aplogized, as did Costco, and that should be the end of it.
If people want to boycott, by all means. But knowing all the facts sheds a little more light on the subject. If it was ONLY the black doll that had ‘lil monkey’ on it, I would think something was up but that’s not the case. I am a Costco member and I paid $50 for my membership and have always gotten good service so I will continue to shop here.
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