amber
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posted on October 3, 2008 05:58:35 AM new
I need to know what to call these cute little children in my listing, but I don't want to use anything that will be offensive to anyone. Any suggestions please?
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blueyes29
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posted on October 3, 2008 06:34:38 AM new
Obviously, these are pages from a calendar...are they vintage? Might try "vintage Little Black Sambo"-like" (hopefully, that's not a VERO violation) and list under "collectibles...cultures/ethnicities.
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amber
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posted on October 3, 2008 06:54:15 AM new
blueyes: No, it is not a calender, it is vintage iron-on transfers for embroidery. I saw some on eBay a while ago that sold quite well, and then I found these, but I don't remember what the seller called them.
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neglus
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posted on October 3, 2008 08:00:11 AM new
They aren't "Little Black Sambo" - those illustrations would show tigers and new clothes and butter (as I remember the story). "African Child Days of Week Iron-on embroidery transfers" or something like that?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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zippy2dah
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posted on October 3, 2008 08:11:09 AM new
I think people expect to be offended by many of the items in the Black Americana category but they also understand that the sellers are not responsible for the nature of the products and you won't be run out of town for using words in your listing that you would never use in polite conversation.
Even "pickaninny" seems to be acceptable in an historical context.
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amber
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posted on October 3, 2008 08:24:28 AM new
zippy: That was the first word that came to mind, we used it many years ago in England, and it certainly was not offensive then. I just don't want to upset anyone. I often use a word that I think is perfectly alright, and get "MOTHER!" from one of my children.
Thanks neglus, I think your suggestion would work fine.
It seems that the older I get, there are more and more words that used to have a perfectly good meaning, but are being used for something quite different these days.
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zippy2dah
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posted on October 3, 2008 09:03:27 AM new
I recommend using "Black Americana" in your title even if you list it in that category.
"I often use a word that I think is perfectly alright, and get "MOTHER!" from one of my children."
They're programmed to do this. Ignore the little buggers.
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neglus
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posted on October 3, 2008 10:02:52 AM new
I wouldn't have a problem titling them "Black Americana" if they were black americana, but it looks to me like they are more African or maybe "black native" than Americana. Maybe I am wrong on this?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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amber
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posted on October 3, 2008 10:30:17 AM new
neglus: I think you are right. There is one sitting in a cooking pot, probably not African American. I am thinking of using "cute African babies", they look like toddlers
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sthoemke
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posted on October 3, 2008 11:18:52 AM new
African native children
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zippy2dah
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posted on October 3, 2008 12:43:23 PM new
Black Americana can have an African theme.
I assume the transfers were made by Vogart or Aunt Martha or a similar American company?
That means they are Black Americana.
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tomwiii
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posted on October 3, 2008 01:51:39 PM new
Anybody remember Jerry12's solution to this same conundrum?
I laughed so hard I thought I was getting a hernia!
GRAND OPENING of RALPHIE'S EMPORIUM of EARTHLY DELIGHTS~All Vd'ers get 50% DISCOUNT!(except electronics)
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on October 3, 2008 02:05:54 PM new
"Babies" or "toddlers" sounds ageist to me.
They could just be height-challenged. Let's show some sensitivity here.
fLufF
--
Planning to visit New Mexico? Beware of fake Native American jewelry!
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davebraun
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posted on October 3, 2008 06:30:46 PM new
The characters name is Lulu the Zulu. My uncle had a collection of items in this design in the 1950's.
His favorite were a set of bar swizzle sticks (stirrers)showing Lulu at various stages of her life.
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neglus
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posted on October 3, 2008 06:52:09 PM new
aha! I googled "lulu zulu swizzle sticks" and found them on Ruby Lane ($85). They were classified as "Black Memorabilia". That would settle the "americana" question.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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amber
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posted on October 3, 2008 07:11:36 PM new
fluffy: At least if I use baby or toddler I don't think they will be offended. Maybe I am being paranoid! I have had some nasty emails from people over words I have used in the past quite innocently.
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pixiamom
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posted on October 3, 2008 07:30:17 PM new
Just had an embarrassing flashback - In the 1950's a neighbor and I (we were 5 & 6) spread mud on our faces, tied a bandanna around our heads and traipsed off to visit our rich neighbor's cook- who was a dead ringer for Aunt Jemima. Thank God she had a sense of humor...
Edited to add, it seems that derogatory Black Americana postcards reached their peak 5 years ago on eBay when a single postcard of Coon Chicken Inn usually sold for $60. Then folks started selling reproductions as vintage and the market died. Good riddance. Much rarer and sought-after are non-derogatory postcards depicting Afro-Americans.
[ edited by pixiamom on Oct 3, 2008 07:46 PM ]
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mcjane
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posted on October 3, 2008 09:27:50 PM new
Tom & Ralphie,
I remember jerry12's solution very well.
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zippy2dah
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posted on October 3, 2008 11:19:39 PM new
"That would settle the "americana" question."
Ruby Lane is now the definitive authority on eBay keywords? I guess I didn't get that memo.
On eBay:
Black memorabilia = 164 results
Black Americana = 1486 results
I know which one I'd pick.
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neglus
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posted on October 4, 2008 04:14:20 AM new
You're right zip - the most logical way to title would be "Black Americana" to sell on eBay. I am sure you won't get cranky emails Amber, as long as your description is respectful and not derogatory. I have sold some cute but disturbing (in my opinion) Black Americana postcards. I have heard Oprah has a huge collection of Black Americana Memorabilia.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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neglus
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posted on October 4, 2008 04:35:24 AM new
Here' on of these "Tropical Babies" (looks the same anyway) currently listed on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330275869823
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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neglus
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posted on October 4, 2008 04:38:38 AM new
The current ebay one is not as old as yours though (baby is not black) - here's a website with ones that are closer:
http://www.grandmashouse.ws/Transfers/Transfers.html. She called them "Cannibals"
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
[ edited by neglus on Oct 4, 2008 04:40 AM ]
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amber
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posted on October 4, 2008 05:42:38 AM new
neglus: Thank you SO much for that, that is exactly mine on there. That is such a useful site, I have lots of transfers to sell. I must say her prices are very high, there is one there of Holly Hobbie that I had in my store for months a few years, and finally discarded, and then found another last year and tried again, still no sale. She has it for $30, mine didn't go for 2.99.
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ggardenour
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posted on October 4, 2008 06:18:36 AM new
Amber,
We had a saying in automotive retail that "If you don't ask for the business you don't get the business" Same with the price you don't ask you don't get. Kinda like sex after being married 20 years.
Anyway I have used African American, Negro, What is PC today sure wasn't differs greatly from 50 years ago.
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amber
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posted on October 4, 2008 07:13:42 AM new
ggardenour: I figured that if someone wouldn't pay $2.99 for it, putting it at $30 (which it is on the website), certainly wouldn't sell.
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dejapooh
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posted on October 4, 2008 08:12:09 AM new
So, what was Jerry12's problem and solution...
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zippy2dah
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posted on October 4, 2008 08:32:26 AM new
"I am sure you won't get cranky emails Amber, as long as your description is respectful and not derogatory."
I agree. I've sold a lot of the stuff over the years and have never received a nasty or cranky email.
The last BA thing I sold was a 1890's puzzle entitled "Chopped Up Ni##ers." (Yes, the dreaded N-word.) I fully expected to arouse some disgust or anger with that one but I didn't hear a peep.
People do seem to understand that we are not responsible for the original production of these things.
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photosensitive
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posted on October 4, 2008 11:27:30 AM new
I have sold a few things that had potential to offend. I added a line about older, less sensitive times and what I think is the historic value of items that show what was culturally acceptable then. I think you will find that many "black memorabilia" collectors are people interested in the history of race relations in our culture.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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LtRay
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posted on October 4, 2008 09:16:45 PM new
Amber- "I figured that if someone wouldn't pay $2.99 for it, putting it at $30 (which it is on the website), certainly wouldn't sell."
You are thinking too logically. If you place a low value on something that others value highly, the public will not trust your item.
you may run the risk of it turning some buyers off if you over-value your item but it may attract others who wonder why it is valued so highly.
I have seen reverse psychology work many times in retail. I have had inventory sit for months with no buyers. I change the display and increase the price and it sells within a week.
why the sale? who knows? timing? bad chi on the previous display? higher price stimulates the fear response of inflation?
It is can be fun playing with pricing and display. think outside the box. If another seller has it for $30, set your price at 28.99 with best offer. Retake the picture so the item looks fresh. Rewrite the description, etc.
If yours is one of 100 on ebay, toss it and move on but if yours is 1 of 10, you have an opportunity to redefine the market.
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amber
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posted on October 5, 2008 05:31:26 AM new
LtRay:Thanks, it's worth a try. There are less than 10 as far as I can see. I once put a craft book on meaning it to be 4.25, but accidentally put 425.00. That certainly got some interest, no bids of course.
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