Rep. Greg Pence criticized for racist items sold at his mall

[Nevilledog]

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/rep-greg-pence-criticized-racist-items-sold-mall-72103276

EDINBURGH, Ind. -- U.S. Rep. Greg Pence is coming under criticism for allowing the sale of objects with racist depictions of African Americans at a sprawling antiques mall he co-owns — and the issue has taken on particular significance as the Republican defends his congressional seat in Indiana amid a national reckoning on race.

The Exit 76 Antique Mall in Edinburgh, Indiana, has more than 4 million items for sale by the merchants who rent booths from Pence, the vice president's older brother, and his wife — including porcelain dinner sets and vintage clothing, Civil War relics, first edition classic rock records and thousands of old baseball cards.

But sprinkled throughout the mall's 72,000 square feet (6,700 square meters) are also dozens of objects that trade in Jim Crow-era caricatures and stereotypes, like a coin bank featuring an exaggerated, straw-hatted Black figure biting down on a watermelon or “Mammy” biscuit jars depicting smiling Black enslaved women. Some are hard to find, while others are clearly on display.

Jeannine Lee Lake, Pence's Democratic challenger, drew attention to the objects recently on social media, but customers say they have complained to management at the mall about the items as far back as 2008.

*snip*

[Blue Owl]

1. What is it with Pences and "Mammys"?

[lettucebe]

2. Black memorabilia has been hard to find for a long time

I don't have a problem with memorabilia. It is history. I own a few things myself, which I wish I could show people because it's so blatant but I'm too chicken to get attacked for even having it.

For context, my son's late father was black. His step-sisters and brothers are black (6 sisters, 2 brothers). He identifies more as black than white. I learned so much about black/white relations married to him. He was at the March on Washington, told me only a few rows back from the front though I've never managed to find a photo that includes him. He experienced racism firsthand, born 1933 and growing up in Queens, NY. I grew up in a suburb with zero black families. None. We had one Chinese family and they owned the berry fields.

I sought out black memorabilia because it fascinated me and that's why I discovered it was hard to find, and really expensive when you did.

[Dial H For Hero]

3. Nazi memorabilia is much the same.

Genuine Nazi issue handguns, daggers, uniforms, and even ordinary field gear can command extraordinary prices.

[haele]

5. My great-aunt had a "winter house" near Montego Bay.

She saw herself as being very progressive, in a 1930's/1940's socialite sort of way. She fancied that by not being fussy, showing interest in the servants and tipping well, she was respecting their heritage and showing proper respect for their humanity.
I daresay she was liked by those who kept her house, and she did leave them a stipend in her will, but she was still very much of her era, and there was still a class divide between her and them.
Anyway, she gave my grandmother a framed picture from the 1950's with five matted "lives of Jamaican locals" ink etchings from a local artist who produced art postcards that I ended up with (along with a bunch of Hummels) that I have no Idea who might have an interest in.
They border, but not quite cross into "Song of the South" territory. They are a historical representation of the era, but how?

Haele

[Dial H For Hero]

6. Given that from your description the etchings aren't racist caricatures as such, I suppose you could

put them up on Ebay. From what you said of it, I would guess that it's not that collectible, though. I suspect you'd have a hard time finding a museum which would have much interest in it.

[lagomorph777]

4. Little brother Mikey must be so proud.