Offensive? The dolls on sale

by Sam Lennon slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

A garden centre owner has become locked in a race row over his selling of black golly dolls.

Lindy Gander wrote to Terry Burch, the boss of Bybrook Barn Garden Centre in Kennington, condemning the products as “racist garbage”.

She has threatened to provoke a mass boycott of his business.

But Mr Burch has hit back, accusing her of seeing racism where none exists.

Mrs Gander, 50, emailed Mr Burch saying: “It is disgusting that there are still organisations/shops like you who are willing to try to sell racist garbage like this.

“I will also be contacting my friends in Kent and the south east to contact gardening groups in your area to boycott your shop unless you remove these 'toys’ immediately.”

Mr Burch furiously wrote back: “We are not amused by your comments or by your threats.

“The gollies that we sell are nothing more than dolls, i.e. black dolls.

“It’s yourself that introduces racism into the issues.

“Had these dolls been white no comment would have been made.

“We certainly would never have used the term garbage when referring to a black, white, brown or yellow doll and making colour an issue just perpetuates matters.

“They are black dolls, nothing more, nothing less. It’s people that perpetuate racism, not products.

“Your text infers that we are somehow racist. We are not, that is in the mind of the beholder.

“One could argue that selling a rag doll is somehow a slur on the underprivileged.

"Nothing pleases us more than seeing a white child walking around the centre cuddling a black golly.”

Mrs Gander had been on business abroad when a friend emailed her a photograph of the golly sales display.

She told the Kentish Express: “I am not black but I am offended as a non-racist human being who would rather not see these 'toys’ being openly sold.

“They are a cruel caricature of black people that is just not acceptable any more.

“If retailers like Mr Burch didn’t order these dolls in the first place then maybe the supplier would stop making them.”

What do you think? Is the golly offensive? Join in the debate below.