Images from the past ...

Tucked away in my craft room, I have Black Memorabilia. The Salt and Pepper Shakers are a painful reminder  of  images that were used to promote products. Black Face Collectibles and Black Memorabilia were widely produced from 1900's until the 1950's.  Are they still available?


Yes ...

A few years ago, I purchased mine at a gas station in West Tennessee.  Located on a shelf with other local trinkets and souvenirs, I saw the black mammy and the salt and pepper shakers.

While those images are from the past, I am shocked to see how some images are still persistent. Stereotypes and images are hard to irradiate.

Black Face products were used to promote the following products: syrup, oranges, cigarettes, oysters, greeting cards, post cards, cookie jars, skillets, shoe polish, dolls, ash trays, banks, books, sheet music  ( Was You Always Chocolate : A Coon Song), Coon Chicken Soup, snow globes... just to name a few.

In recent weeks, our country has recently uncovered portrayals that have a current and disturbing history. Governors, entertainers and others still use black face as a way to have fun.

 Those images and the ideas behind those representations continue to be sad part of our country. Tragically other ethnic groups have also been been the subject of stereotypes.

Too often authentic conversations regarding issues of stereotypes and racism are often avoided. If we have the opportunity to address those issues, speaking the truth in love may be starting point.

I think we  have to be diligent to inform and teach each generation to be thoughtful about images from the past and how we use current social media to foster positive images.