Do antique black Americana figures offend you?

Question

Here is a link to the kind of thing I am talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACK-MEMORBILIA-VINTAGE-SALT-PEPPER-SHAKERS-N-R_W0QQitemZ200080387226QQihZ010QQcategoryZ29459QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My room mate collects these kind of items and sometimes I am embarrassed to have my black friends over to the house because I feel like I need to explain that my roommate is not racist and that he only collects them for their historical/antique value...

My roommate and I are both white.

What is your opinion on these kinds of collections?

Answer 1

I own my own antique shop and sell these items very quickly to different people. I also have them in my own home along with a lot of other antique and primitive collectibles. They are considered an important part of our history and should be viewed as such.

If you are asked about these items in your home, you should be able to discuss your interest and the history of these items.

Answer 2

Instead of being embarrassed about this, you should try to open up a dialogue with your friends concerning their feelings on the figurines. If they are offended then that's the time to be embarrassed and let them know you are kinda uncomfortable with them too. More than likely though, you will find out that your friends probably don't even care about the figures (they might think it's a little strange, how many of these things does your roommate have?). As your friends, they are not going to base their feelings of you off of statues in your home. But first find out if they are uncomfortable and move forward from there. Talking about it helps and your friends might be able to help you understand why the statues make you uncomfortable.

Answer 3

Well, I'm white so I don't find them offending as long as they are collected for their historical/antique value. My aunt collects them and they are quite interesting to look at.
However, I do wonder what any black people might think of that, walking in and seeing her collection?

Answer 4

I don't think they would offend me as long as you define your interest in them the way you did just now. At first glance, if I were black, I would probably be a little concerned that I just walked into the home of a clan member.

The interesting thing here is that these same items in a black person's home may not cause the same kind of concern.

Answer 5

i does no longer say what i've got self assurance is offense yet incredibly unhappiness. i'm upset that Black historic previous Month is quite no longer a occasion of Black historic previous in that is broadest considering the fact that. Black historic previous Month only incredibly celebrates the achievements of African individuals or Black people who're in touch in American historic previous. i've got self assurance that's a occasion which could quite be greater. this would be a stepping stone that should unite all Black human beings for the time of the Diaspora. rather it makes a speciality of African American historic previous. many human beings declare that Black all people is the unique human beings and popular human beings on the planet. that's arguable. regardless of the undeniable fact that the greater desirable question is that if we've been around for as a result long then why isn't it till present day time that we've made our appropriate contribution to humanity? because of the fact i'm a astute historian i know that is incredibly not actual. regardless of the undeniable fact that for those being taught a watered down version of our historic previous it incredibly is what it sort of looks like. it seems as though the appropriate of our human beings come from u.s.. This additionally isn't so. as a result jointly shall we take this novel theory to strengthen it to new heights and unite our human beings as one. It only feels like we unite under unfavourable circumstances or while we are compelled to realize this. a real Black historic previous social gathering would treatment that. I additionally agree that our historic previous is greater desirable than a month long social gathering. regardless of the undeniable fact that that's as much as us to tell our tale and save our elders and ancestors in remembrance for 300 and sixty 5 days a 300 and sixty 5 days. that's as much as us to chronicle our life. that's as much as us to locate and know the reality approximately ourselves. no person will tell our tale for us nor will our tale have as lots intending to all people different than ourselves. it incredibly is amazingly glaring.

Answer 6

Why would that be offensive, i have never owned a slave or hung a black man in my life and I'm not a racist so why would owning them upset anyone. If anything in my life i have been the victim of racist slurs from others. I have been called cracker and honky as we'll as punk white boy, racist people can be black or white or red or green.

Answer 7

Unless you have a problem with African Americans it shouldn't bother you nor should it offend your friends. African American art is beautiful and there's nothing wrong with your roommate collecting it no matter his race.

Take Care,
Tori

Answer 8

Unless he has them all hanging from nooses or on fire , I don't see why anyone would be offended.If we start labling people racists based on what they collect then this country is really going to sh-t.

Answer 9

As a white person they do not offend me, why would they. I guess I don't know the history of them but to me they are just art.

Answer 10

naw, man i don't and i wouldn't get offended, but based on the fact of who u r, i should know weather or not if u guys are racist or not......