Playmobil, the toy company at the centre of allegations it is selling racist products in the US, including what appears to be a shackled slave figure, has received fresh complaints from a UK parent.
Rachel Abramson, a teacher from Merseyside, told the Guardian she had complained to Playmobil previously about the lack of representation of non-white figures in other sets, which instead frequently appeared in serving roles.
“I am astonished at how barefaced and unashamed Playmobil are in representing every ethnicity except white as uncivilised, unworthy of a home or vehicle, and only fit to work for the white people,” she said after shopping for a Playmobil hotel set for her children.
Abramson added that on close inspection she saw the toy hotel was entirely populated with white figures, aside from a black figure depicted serving food.
She added: “I find it astounding that Playmobil have not considered the responsibility which they have to promote ‘good’ play, and instead seem to be investing their time in perpetuating ugly stereotypes.”
Apart from stone-age figurines and a ‘Red Indian’ family, Abramson said she was unable to find a single modern-day family that appeared to be any other ethnicity apart from white.
Discussion forums on parenting networks, including Mumsnet, have previously raised concerns about the seemingly negative depiction of non-white toy figurines produced by Playmobil.
In response to complaints about the holiday hotel toy set, Playmobil said in a statement to the Guardian: “Some of the workers and guests in the hotel are tanned to reflect the fact that holidays are often taken in sunnier climates.
“The characters in the hotel range reflect a mix of ethnicities, from the guests in sets such as the Children’s Club with Disco and Luxury Hotel Suite, right through to the porters in the hotel and drivers for the hotel shuttle bus.
“We fully support creating an imaginative environment for all children and would hope that in their own small way our sets deliver this in a believable way.”
The fresh claims add to other recent complaints against the German toy company. Ida Lockett of Sacramento, California, made headlines in the US after she was shocked to see a plastic figurine in her five-year-old son’s Playmobil pirate ship, which she said was a slave with a neckpiece that looked similar to a slave collar.
The character, appearing to be dark-skinned, with black hair, no shoes and tattered pants, came with instructions to put a grey choker-like piece around its neck.
“It’s a racist piece. It’s a racist toy,” she told local CBS TV.
Responding to her criticism, the company said: “If you look at the box, you can see that the pirate figure is clearly a crew member on the pirate ship and not a captive. The figure was meant to represent a pirate who was a former slave in a historical context. It was not our intention to offend anyone in any way.”
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