Depicted in illustrations with black faces, frizzy hair, thick red lips, and white teeth, these figures are widely considered to be racist caricatures of Black people. About That Viral Meme Alleging Colonial Egyptian RootsThe etymological origins of the word "golliwog" have been debated for years. Whidden said terms like "wily oriental gentleman" were later inventions, while the early use of the term "wog" was for "workers on government service." He then attributed the word golliwog to the Uptons, and added that, by 1907, it was in "generic use" for anything Asian. In the year 2000, a British police officer was fired for referring to an Asian colleague as a wog ("British policeman", 2000).

Source: The Guardian April 20, 2023 20:35 UTC