Art in America

Friend of a friend was digging though his garage and found some of his Grand Father's possessions...

One of the items was this horrid bank from an era long ago

You know a spirited conversation followed. What should he do with said find?  Keep it as an heirloom? Sell it on ebay? Throw it in the garbage and forget it ever existed?

What would you do if you found that your relatives had racist memorabilia?

Comments

[TheJennTaFur]

All images that remind me of sambo I do not want in my home or around me. I think this is a personal preference. Some people enjoy it. It is a hurtful negative image that re-emphasize how others wanted those of African descent to see themselves as ugly and dark.

Look at the dark BLACK color (actual BLACK) which comes off as ASHY (why not a warm brown as most of us are blessed with?!) and look at the teeth which are a Colgate white (I mean they put a new definition to tooth whitener!) .

Now, if that is not a stereotypical image, then I must be blind.

It also reminds me of a male version of the Aunt Jemima.

Other people may love it and I do not. When I see it I roll eye balls, do the side eye and dismiss it. But, this is my opinion. Others may have a difference.

Thanks for sharing!

[Kenya]

Profiting from it is crazy but throwing it away might be just as crazy. These types of "artifacts" should be donated to a museum. As hurtful as they are to me, I'd still rather have them preserved as a reminder of what has happened in this country.

[princesscathy]

I have mixed feelings about whether it's ok to profit from this type of object but I don't believe it should be destroyed. We cannot be allowed to forget that such atrocities were commonplace, regardless of how far race relations have come (though they still have a way to go). I agree with donating it to a museum of civil rights or one with a race relations exhibit. Children today have to see how difficult it was in the past so they can appreciate the strides that have been, and will be, made.