In the early 90s, supermodels are all the rage and Naomi Campbell was part of an elite group of supermodels that include Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Kate Moss. Of Jamaican descent, Naomi Campbell was born on May 22, 1970 in London, England. In addition to modeling, she has appeared in music videos, posed nude for Playboy and in Madonna’s book. She also became the first black cover girl for Vogue Paris, Vogue UK, Vogue Nippon and Time Magazine.
At 38, she really had a great modelling career. A career that modeling aspirants should envy. While she had a great fashion career, Naomi is also known for her abusive behavior. This time around, she was convicted as she pleaded guilty to assault in a foul-mouthed “air rage” incident. Even with her history of abusive behavior with personal staff, she claims that her antics at the flight was due to a racial slur thrown at her. She was called a “Golliwog” supermodel.
What is a Golliwog?
A “Golliwog” or “Golliwogg” is a term foreign to me. I had to look it up on the wiki to know what exactly is its meaning. A writer, Florence Kate Upton, created the term “Golliwog” originally spelled as “Golliwogg“. It’s a children’s literary character inspired by a black face minstrel doll. After the publication of Upton’s first book, the term “golliwogg” was then used both as a reference to the children’s toy and as a generic, racist term for blacks. In Britain and her colonies, “golliwogg” perhaps became “wog” a racial slur applied to dark-skinned peoples worldwide, including Africans, Italians and other Mediterranean people, Native Americans, Middle Easterners, Hispanics, Aborigines, and Indians. How people easily pervert a seemingly good-intentioned term for something else. Tsk. Tsk.
On Modelling and Models of Different Color
Modelling aspirants should really look at and possibly emulate Naomi’s modeling career but not her personal behavior. In a way, she has opened the eyes of the fashion world for the other kind of beauty. Beauty is not just white but of different colors. For non-white modeling wannabees, Naomi Campbell’s career can be an inspiration. I think the world is less racist now and is more liberal to people of different colors and races. Just look at the success of Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.
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Quoted by the Coleman Encyclopedia “in the late 1800’s when the British occupied Alexandria, Egypt, native workers were called “GHULS” and they wore armbands bearing the letters W.O.G.S. (Working On Government Service). British troops began calling these workers “Golliwogs” and when dolls representing them appeared and were taken back to Britains souvenirs (such as this doll), the name remained with them. Then Florence Upton wrote her popular childrens stories about Golliwoggs (she used 2 g’s) - Thus made in Egypt dolls, for egypt’s children - taken back to Britains souvenirs. It was never ment to be a racial slur. More like dolls of their parents for the children.
I find Naomi Campbell’s action very irritating. She’s lucky she only got a very mild penalty. In my view, she should have been locked up in jail for the rest of her life. She is known as a diva and an abuser. I really hope she learns her lesson.
The term Golliwog has been perverted beyond its original meaning. Too bad
Actually, Golliwog dolls are collector’s item. If you check on Ebay, you’ll find sellers of Golliwog dolls. I don’t see anything wrong with black dolls. Naomi is simply being a bitch.
Today I received a Golliwogg doll from my nephew, I am so immotional at this moment I can’t even call him. He is a very special nephew and I had lost contact with him for over 49 years. I was his God mother & he was the first baby I ever held, I loved him so. However in later years my sister ( who is now deceased ) got divorced , her children 8 of them all grown up now ,went their seperate ways. My sister would not give them my address or phone # ( for whatever the reason ,we will never know) however I kept close to my sister visited her and called her daily, several times I asked her for their addresses; but she always said ahe did not know. When she passed away 4 YEARS ago we all reconnected , and after her a funeral , a few weeks they all got together and came to visit me. However she did not know what a golliwogg meant to me, as I came to the U.S. in 1948 and lived with my grandmother and Uncle. My uncle always referred to me as his Gollywogg( as an endearing term ) I guess because I always took a good sun tan. I do not think anyone else in the family knew this. I did not know what it meant ; but loved it.
My husband (now deceased) looked it up on the internet, and told me. He wanted to buy me a golliwogg doll at the time;but then dismissed it as there were so many to choose from.
Today when I opened that present, I Laughed and I cried, as there was no way my nephew could know of this connection with me. I am pleased as punch to have this doll, will cherish it all the days of my life, I am now 78, and I do hope when I pass on someone else will cherish it , or return it to my nephew.
