Is the Obama Sock Monkey Racist? - June 15, 2008
David and Elizabeth Lawson of TheSockObama.com have created a campaign year collectable item that is raising a serious controversy and cutting to the heart of racial tensions in America.
Jeanetta Williams, representing a local chapter of the NAACP called the cuddly sock monkey: “pure racism at it’s extreme.” Obama supporters are condemning the makers of the toy. Outraged Obama supporters have even gone so far as to post the Lawson’s name and home address online.
Have we all become ridiculously racially sensitive or do you believe the essence of racism is bound up in this plush doll?
David Lawson has expressed surprise at the strong reactions this toy has generated. Despite the negative controversy, sales have quadrupled.
Here is a quote from the company:
“To Those with Heartfelt Queries,We chose twenty-two customer queries today that we believe merit a response. You touched us with either your concern, intelligence, humor, sensitivity, and/or your thoughtfulness. We thank you. There are other queries we received today as well that we chose not to respond to, because of their spewing of venom and their aimlessness.
We at TheSockObama Co. are saddened that some individuals have chosen to misinterpret our plush toy. It is not, nor has it ever been our objective to hurt, dismay or anger anyone. We guess there is an element of naviete on our part, in that we don’t think in terms of myths, fables, fairy tales and folklore. We simply made a casual and affectionate observation one night, and a charming association between a candidate and a toy we had when we were little. We wonder now if this might be a great opportunity to take this moment to really try and transcend still existing racial biases. We think that if we can do this together, maybe it will behoove us a nation and maybe we’ll even begin to truly communicate with one another more tenderly, more real even.
This is only our introductory plush toy. If we choose to move forward with a Republican candidate, we’ll begin with an elongated and slightly lumpy, fuzzy Idaho potato. Had a different Democratic candidate won the nomination, we were prepared to move forward with the cutest, fluffiest 12″ chestnut and golden-haired squirrel, with a short Farrah-like do in a brown pantsuit and call her Squirellary.
In earnest folks, we’re so sorry we offended anybody.
Best Regards,
TheSockObama Co. www.thesockobama.com”
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Tags: racial biases, racial tensions, sock monkey
[...] Obama Sock Monkey Racist? Hell, I think I’m losing my grip on reality. Is this thing really ‘racist’? Is the Obama Sock Monkey Racist? | SheeplePeople.com [...]
Obama should be happy — nice publicity and big ears actually look good on this thing.
Oh sure. They call me a monkey and its perfectly fine. Call the next guy a monkey and its racist!
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I happened to hear on the radio the other day that Obama has kicked his smoking habit. I for one think that sends a positive message to our nation’s children.
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