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Diana Ross Afro Brillo Pads Cause Racial Controversy
A new company is being accused of racism after releasing some afro style sponges that are getting the attention of the public. The British company Paladone is under fire for the release of the products, featuring caricatures of Diana Ross, using her hair for a brillo pad. Critics have accused of the company of making products that are similar to those considered derogatory toward blacks during slavery and Jim Crow.
The Unite Against Fascism general secretary Weyman Bennett said: “What are we going to have next, toilet brushes like that?”
“This is not appropriate for the 21st century to show images like that. It reinforces negative stereotypes and ideas.”
Bennett then went on to say, “It opens the door for people to produce racial stereotypes and that’s not something we want to see in our society. We’ve worked very hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The company claims that the product is nothing more than good, clean fun. A company spokesperson said, “Our range of four washing up sponges are designed to make an everyday chore like washing up more fun.”
Dianne
April 30, 2012 at 3:10 am
Fun for whom? Are they really that STUPID? You can’t tell me they didn’t know this would be offensive? What is up with these crazy, ig’nant racist in this world? They want to claim to be so intelligent and superior . . . but they really are just plain stupid and in no way, shape, form or fashion . . . are they SUPERIOR!
Meno Lykee
May 2, 2012 at 9:37 pm
I wasn’t offended at all. One of the greatly beautiful things about us (Blacks) is our versatility. Whites have been envious of us forever. This is why they inject collagen in their lips, they get butt implants, they perm their hair to make it voluminous and curly. Simply put, they want to be us. This is why they have sought to oppress us.
So, the Brillo haired wash pads are just more evidence of how versatile our hair is. No other race on the planet has hair like ours, and if they do…they are mixed with Black and therefore ARE Black too.
And having one of those Diana Ross Brillo wash pads in their hands is a constant reminder they will never enslave us again.
I thought it was quite cute and funny! But I do understand if others have the opposite view point.
Sargento
April 30, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Where are these people brains.
Janet
April 30, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Wow thats all I can say about this one SMDH
Mary Lee
April 30, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Boycotting this product would be appropriate.
Harvey Fox
April 30, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Good clean fun…. At who’s expense.
Juanita Mumford
May 2, 2012 at 4:30 am
Why not make some white people with
pads like that not black. White are the DUMBIST
ASS’S IN THE WORLD.
SANDY
April 30, 2012 at 1:23 pm
I THINK IT’S DISGUSTING HOW SOMEONE WOULD ACTUALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING SO OBVIOUS AS A SPONGE ATTACHED TO A BLACK PERSONS HEAD WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED RACIST. THAT’S SHEER IGNORANCE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. RACIST ARE COMING OUT OF THE CLOSETS AND ARE ON THE ATTACK NOT GIVING A DAMN. IF THAT COMPANY ATTACKED THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THAT COMPANY WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY, BE SHUT DOWN.
m.rick turner
April 30, 2012 at 1:42 pm
People with small racist minds, never think things of this sort have derogatory images…they only are concerns with how much $$$$ they can earn.
Ann Dixon
April 30, 2012 at 1:46 pm
This is not good. Get rid of it immediately. We have come too far as a race of black people to not stop this in its tracks! Now!
larry
April 30, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Probably people need to see the picture to realize that it is racist. When I only read the article without seeing that it is a doll with an afro=shaped brillo hair-do, I wondered what is the big deal. It seems intentional that there be an association with the afro, and it is racist.
Brenda stacy
April 30, 2012 at 2:38 pm
This is just too!!!!”" ridiculous.didn’t Diana Ross have to agree to this is Smh.
Aisha Jackson
April 30, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Hilarious! Did Diana Ross approve this product? Is she getting a percentage? I think its so sad that in the 21 Century anyone would be interested in this except if it were owned and authorized by black professionals as a novelty product for satire! I just think its sad that anyone would really be interested enough…in this
Donald
April 30, 2012 at 3:38 pm
If its just good clean fun why are they black only…..right
milton
April 30, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Diana wash, A million dollar company,would do something like this today, and act shocked when you this kind of response. I feel sory for this company it wont be around very long.
Wilfred
April 30, 2012 at 4:00 pm
This is so offensive!! I wonder what make people think that this is okay to do.*Shakes Head*
Joan Hennessey
April 30, 2012 at 4:15 pm
There’s nothing funny about it. I think it’s disgraceful. I would not buy their products ever again.
Edward A. Smikle
April 30, 2012 at 4:47 pm
This goes to show, that the British, who are the masters of RACISM, are still at.
They were the ones who MASTER THE ART of DIVISION of the race based on the skin colour.LIGHT SKIN VS DARK SKIN. in the period of SLAVERY, in the Americas, and the Caribbean. And the DIVISION among the race along TRIBAL LINES, in Africa. Which lead to the HATE we see amongs each others today, the murder amongs black upon black crime that exist among blacks all over the world.
We see this HATE climaxed in Ruyanda in the late 1990s, with the slaughter of almost a million blacks killing each other.
I recently was in Jamaica, and the Parliament were supposed to vote on the ISSUE of REPIRATION. The study had not been done so they were not able to vote on the issue. However the current Prime Minister, stated that if the British wishes to APOLEGIZE FOR SLAVERY SHE WOULD ACCEPT THE APOLEGY, BUT SHE WOULD NOT ASK FOREPORATION.
Now you and I know that this was a statement made from IGNORANCE. We see the results of slavery every day amongs our people, to say she would not ask for REPORATION come from someone who is ill informed.
What we need to do is ask that a study be done to better understand the effect of slavery on the black race, and have open dilogue on how we can begin to heal ourselves. And teach our children how to have conversation on the issue and try to become a better community. The first thing most black people will say, is that SLAVERY have been abolished a long time ago, but they never stop to think of the lingering effect it have ou our people. We are not looking to blame anyone, even though there are plenty of blame to go around. We just want the effect it have on our lives to be aired and discussed.That is not asking for REPIRATION, but to understand the effect and work toward stopping the murder and hate amongs black people.
Charles Bean
April 30, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Thank you Diana Ross,
We need more Black businesses to serve our communities with good products and services.
mims
April 30, 2012 at 9:26 pm
I truly hope that your statement was sarcasm, but even if it was, it was still not clear. What is the problem with people these days with black people? Why is this type of bulls*t still allowed, we should be so far away from this type of negative behavior and focusing on our survival and helping each other, but we still live in the dark ages in our minds and attitudes!!
Bobby Johnson
April 30, 2012 at 5:11 pm
These are the same kinds of idiots like those who run FoxNews. The same kind that hate our president and everthing he stands for and tries to do for poor people.
Chas
April 30, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Hopefully Diana Ross will sue their racist asses and then see if they think its still just clean fun. Damn jackasses!
Lisa malone
April 30, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Boy oh boy I have heard everthing now. this is taking it a little too far, please stop the madness.
a Diana Ross pot scrubber! really
Lisa malone
April 30, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Really come on now a Diana Ross pot scrubber!
wil-lie
April 30, 2012 at 6:24 pm
they just want a reaction…give then something like it not melnoma cancer hair…say this with every thing and they will stop…..malnoma cancer is AIDS
aries parker
April 30, 2012 at 6:58 pm
I like it and think it is cute. I mean my lord you can’t win for losing. When Barbie put out the natural hair Barbie vs. the permed blonde looking one where they trying to be racists too? Let the whole race card be played wisely this is so frivulous!
sherrie
April 30, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Aries,it is said our hair is like wool. Do you belive that? If you dont others do. Have you noticed that now they all want full lips. Big butts. So they want to be us. black barbie, nice way to make money. because they dont care about us. we must stop buying into the bull-sh** keep your money in your pocket.You will need it as the years go. xoxxo
Louis Murphy
April 30, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I am 58 years old and when we were kids we made jokes about Dianna Ross as well. But! That was in the 60′s, 70′s and harmless joking. We are in the 21st Century and white folks are doing this. It’s sign of the times now that we have a black president. Some white folks thing it is open season to be racist and produce profit making products. May God will it that this and other racist products will fail or we should boycott these products.
jamie
April 30, 2012 at 7:10 pm
If I weren’t so amused, I’d be offended.
EMANUEL LUCAS
April 30, 2012 at 7:54 pm
As long as DIANA ROSS IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHY SHOULD YOU.
bobby g
May 1, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Diana Ross is not a spokeoperson. For all the black people
vee
April 30, 2012 at 7:59 pm
This is ridiculous.
mims
April 30, 2012 at 9:29 pm
This is what I am talkin about. Whites will always seem to have a problem with anyone NOT like them. Oh I know the mexicans, asians, and all others are making headways, but at what price? All races have at some time or another been under scrutiny of whites. No matter where they come from, mexicans, asians, jews, indians, etc. Why cant we all as a tattered races get together and show them how nations come together and take from them. Instead of all of us warring at each other like they want us to do!!
Nicholas
April 30, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Hold up there folks! Before we get all hot under our collective collars, maybe we should know that The Paladone Company is a British Novelty seller, that you can visit on the internet. It has a catalog of 100′s of outrageous items, some not so outrageous but somebody somewhere could find offensive. If you find this product worth spending energy on go right ahead, but I feel our energy could be better spent.
onesilverbac
April 30, 2012 at 10:06 pm
The image of Blacks is not that great around the world. It’s mostly the hip Hop music and black women shaking their butts. You can hear and see it anywhere!
In Japan they have a tooth paste called “Darkie”
It has a “white man” in black face, white lips and all.
This thing with the brillo is shameful, but not surprising.
Sunshine
April 30, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Probably something she should see. Diana will sue their asses if she did not sign her approval.
Willa
April 30, 2012 at 10:24 pm
I hope Ms. Ross sues, takes all of the money and shut them down. Who gave permission for them to use her image?
Sherrie C.
April 30, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Doggone, this is so blatantly wrong, and the manufacturer knew it from the git go…nothing but a gimmick to get his store on the radar and to get some media and tv time…Ignorant!!!
Chas
May 1, 2012 at 12:09 am
I’m sure Ms Ross did not give her approval on this. Is there a scrub doll of the Queen?
Shawty
May 1, 2012 at 2:13 am
Don’t get me started on this racist stupidity!
Tamara Rhone
May 1, 2012 at 3:09 am
This is blatantly insensitive and racist. As to “good clean fun,” I do not allow others to define me. Thus as an African-American woman, I refuse to accept this idea as anything other than white arrogance. This company spokesperson does not have the right to speak on my behalf about how it should be viewed since he is not an African-American.
denise
May 1, 2012 at 7:21 am
If any one knows thier own black history from “Africa to America” these black images exsisted for years.
Take some time and see why Betty Crocker had a black woman on pancakes box.
Dina Ross is probably have problems finding a job.
ajamu chaminuka
May 1, 2012 at 7:52 am
i’m positive this was produced by a white mind insensitive to the historical crimes committed by whites against non-whites. my reaction is to boycott all products from this company and to go to their place of fabrication with my cigarette lighter. malcolm said to be non-violent with those who are non-violent against me. i consider manisfestations of racism as violence against me.
Shabaka M. Ndolunkulu
May 1, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Apparently someone who designed these products did not care or did not understand the nature of what they were doing. One good thing about these incidents is that it brings us more together no matter where we are located in the world! Because of the past there people of African descent on every continent, now all we have to do is work together solve our problems and create opportunies fo r each other worldwide!
Hmmmmm! That sounds like a new idea? Think Marcus Garvey!
LJ
May 1, 2012 at 6:17 pm
This good clean fun with the same connotaions, should be extended to images of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Dolly Partons, just to name a few…..There are many others to choose from. Please pass this suggestion to the British Company.
Stan
May 2, 2012 at 12:27 am
Very interesting comments by all and I have always pointed out that racism is in disgiush today and is as healthy as always! Some don’t see it, some don’t won’t to see it but it’s here rearing it’s same ugly head in the 21st century and in any and all countries where people of color is not in the majority! Very good comments!!!!!
Gee
May 2, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Has anyone checked with Diana Ross to see if she has given her permission to use her name for this product. I would think her comments are relevant before we voice racism. I would like to know one way or another.
Kathy Graham-Wilson
May 7, 2012 at 9:40 pm
You ignore stupidity. I c these peoople as elementary and ignorant because they have nowhere else to go with their puney minds that hold nothing else but negative and derogatory comments. Poor things. I really feel sorry for them. Pitiful. They won’t go far in this world. There certainly will be no place for them in heaven and that is when they will be really sorry when God says remember when because there is a book that they have to account for all of their actions..Get ready fools.