Surrey shop removes image of tobacco plantation

[El Presidente]

This was an interesting article for me. 

I have a large Habanos print behind the main desk at czars showing a scantliy clad woman and cigars. I love it. No doubt I could be called out for sexist exploitation. I will wear it. Anyone who would take offence is unlikely to ever be in the store.

This one though? I would not have displayed front and centre. It is an actual photo that is bound to trigger hurt. Removal is better late than never.

I don't think the store owners need to have any action taken against them however. 

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-surrey-66458711

Surrey shop accused of racism removes image of tobacco plantation

•  

 

Image caption,

The poster was on display behind the till at Farrants in Cobham, Surrey

By Christian Fuller

BBC News

 

A shop that faced racism allegations over a poster showing "broken black men" on a tobacco plantation has removed the image.

In a video shared on social media on Tuesday, Misan Harriman said the signage behind the counter at Farrants in Cobham, Surrey, was "triggering and racist".

"There is no conceivable reason it should be there," he said.

The shop has since apologised for displaying the image.

Farrants sells a selection of confectionery, greetings cards, newspapers and toys, as well as hosting its own tobacco room, which offers cigars and tobacco.

The image appeared to show black people working on a tobacco plantation overseen by white men, which the store said was taken at Pinar del Rio plantation in Cuba in 1907 - 21 years after the abolition of slavery in the country.

 

 

Image caption,

A poster next to the image explains why the shop chose to display the picture

But Mr Harriman, the chairman of London's Southbank Centre and a photographer who has taken portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said that it was irrelevant if the image actually displayed indentured servants or slaves.

"This is in a family store. This imagery is massively triggering and racist," he said.

"It's an image of black men, broken black men, at a tobacco plantation with their overseers next to them. I kid you not."

In a statement released on Instagram, Farrants said: "The image that has caused offence has been removed.

"We apologise unreservedly for any and all distress that it caused."

A statement previously displayed next to the image in the shop said it was displayed to "honour, respect and recognise" those involved in the development of Havana cigars.

 

Surrey Police said while no formal reports had been made, officers had spoken with the shop's owner.

[MrBirdman]

I am glad the shop tried to use it as an opportunity to educate people rather than just taking it down. 

[99call]

Hmmm? this is an interesting one.    

My gut call is old school tobacco shops should be places of education, about the craftsmanship of tobacco production and its history. Images of cultivation are part and parcel of that   but there is so much more to say.   

The production of tobacco did involve slavery, but more troublingly, I bet you could take present day pictures in Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Dominican Republic,  etc etc, that still look like troubling images of slavery, indeed they are, the people may be 'free' but they are enslaved to poor wages.    We should be far more concerned about that. 

Surrey and the home counties, are known for being very "Jeremy Clarkson". i.e. people who would never in a million years consider themselves to be racist, but habitually say stuff.....they don't really mean......or are said in jest.....or were meant to be seen affectionately.  It's bullshit!

My thoughts on this are very much in line with decisions certain German museums made about WWI era Sculpture.  If you are going to show it, show its full context, and history, take the opportunity to educate people about history,  don't try and hide it, that's the worst thing you can do. 

I feel the same way about the sculpture of Churchill in Westminster Square.   Yes, he was integral in defeating the Nazi's, but he was also incredibly racist towards Indians etc.  There should be a full narration board there, detailing his highs and lows.  History should be warts and all. 

I think the removal of this image was a silly over-reach, it would be much more useful if the person who was triggered by it, asked the owners why it was up? and were able to receive the positive answer. 

Likely problematic is the actual text "We sell tobacco"  who are "We". it clumsily draws a continuation link between the white people in the image, and those likely behind the counter in 2023. 

This is really sad instance where everyone loses, but racism is on the rise, homophobia is on the rise, anti-semitism is on the rise. if there was only some way of working out why that was? 

 

[Nevrknow]

Agreed. History is to LEARN from so you don't repeat it. Sadly, tis not the case.

[gustavehenne]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Surrey Police said while no formal reports had been made, officers had spoken with the shop's owner.

Unsurprising the UK police continue to focus on this type of stuff rather than doing things like say, stopping real crime.

I don't find the art particularly tasteful but like others have said, history is there so we can avoid the mistakes of the past. Consigning it to the 'never to be seen again' category won't serve the purpose - in my view - that they seek.

Sadly, the wokerati that prevails across the West now will see many more of our language and history consigned to the 'not acceptable' realms - an overreach en-masse.

 

[Arabian]

I didn't think of racism, until the news mentioned the art is showing racism. 

[BrightonCorgi]

I would not have removed it and suggest Mr. Harriman shop somewhere else. 

[chris12381]

You know, I could have sworn I recognized that image from somewhere.  It turns out I was right.  

I think the inclusion of that very photograph by Habanos SA in their 10-part "El Habano" series (Image 1 in red) is quite telling, as ALL of the photos seem to have been chosen for their historical significance and national pride. 

I realize that Misan Harriman is a Nigerian-born photographer for Harry and Meghan and a self-proclaimed social activist.  His life experience has offered him a unique perspective on race, slavery, empire and colonialism.   Cuba and Cubans have their own unique take on it as well.  Based on the use of that very photo in a retrospective of the tobacco industry, it would appear to be quite different from Mr. Harriman's. 

All that is to say, when it comes to cigars, the history of tobacco and the Afro-Cuban diaspora in general and whether the image in question should be considered " triggering and racist",  I'd be more interested in what Cubans say about it.