121. GOLLY, IT'S A GOLLIWOG!

The "Golliwog" is a character of children's literature created by Florence Kate Upton in the late 19th century. The writer had been inspired by a blackface minstrel doll. The Golliwog was depicted in the book, "The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwog", as a type of rag doll. Subsequently, a doll was made based on this character which enjoyed great popularity in North America, Europe and Australia The doll has black skin, eyes rimmed in white, clown lips, and kinky hair, and it has been described as the least known of the major anti-black caricatures in the United States. The Golliwog doll has become the subject of heated debate. Some argue that it should be looked at as a cherished cultural childhood artifact, while opponents argue it should be retired as a relic of racism. My well-preserved Golliwog doll with its nice red suit and bowtie intact, was bought at the famous Portobello Road in northern London.