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The question of understanding racial profiling in Sweden as a poster is withdrawn after debate on racism escalates

Tuesday, 11 September 2012
As the Swedish society evolves, the question of whether Sweden, popularly described as an open and free democratic country is gradually getting advanced in racial profiling. This discussion has erupted again after a children's book and film depicting a black girl, in what has been described as derogatory was exhibited recently.

The air around Sweden, a country that has a growing population of "non-Swedes" is becoming advanced in designing stuff that remains people of whom they are and where they come from. People are being reminded of their history, how they should be perceived, and where their place is in the Swedish society. Therefore, such people could be knowing or not be ridiculed just because of the way they look.

The advanced implicit position of racism in Sweden is known, though not much is talked about. This makes the Swedish people find it easy to loosely let racist words out of their mouths - be them police officers, politicians, members of the public or academic who even carry out studies to show that some races such as the black race are not worth the trouble.

In places such as the UK, racism is taken very seriously and racist there are even ashamed to express their feelings in whatever way but not in Sweden. Apparently, Sweden is more advanced than Britain in terms of human development

Now in designing a film, which an author thought would be great for young kids to learn about the society, a poster was designed to promote the project. Immediately some authorities did not like the look of the poster and started talking about it.

"Caricature", "racist", "stereotype" was what was levelled at the black figure in the "Lilla Hjärtat” - "Little Heart" denominated in Stina Wirsen new children's film which was being promoted.

On the poster shown here above, is the figures of the film "Little Heart". The black girl designed with thick lips and a lot of braids that stand out from the head - a stylized animation, just like the other characters - but with external features that are associated with significantly less housebroken depictions of blacks has attracted intense critique.

On websites, blogs and social media, debates have flared up, and Little heart is compared with racist blackface depictions such as similar to golliwogg characters and such that depict black people in a demeaning way

"We want the exact opposite and are very sorry if some have felt offended or think that this reinforces a racist image. We do not want to fight, and therefore the posters have been withdrawn," says Stina Wirsén, the animated film's director and creator, also known children's author and illustrator to Swedish daily, Dagens Nyheter.

The story continues that the film producer, Linda Hambäck was meeting with many, including several African-Swedes, about the portrayal of "Little heart" and the limits of what one can do in depicting people and their sensibilities.

"We have met so many people who have welcomed "Little heart," and that there are dark skin children in children's literature."

But Nathan Hamelberg, board member of the Association "Mellanförskapet", "The Betweenship" and one of those who have reacted strongly to the picture, do not buy the argument:

"Based on several assumptions, it is strange, there's nothing that says you have to make a stylized figure like this - now it looks as if it was made before decolonization, and the civil rights movement. See, for example, "South Park," which does not shy away from controversy, there are black people designed as white. I read Stina Wirsen books and seeing her movies with my kids fill me with sorrow that this happened."

However, Linda Hambäck emphasizes the importance of also highlighting the discussion a notch:
"Often the images are so doctored, and they never show dark skin people in a loving way but mostly on all that is sensitive."

Other authorities have been critical in the way images are used especially for the education of children. One specialist pointed out that if the artist tries to justify their drawing based on the way society is, why would books not show images of parents smoking in their home with their children even though in reality such things happen.

Such images stay with the children as they grow up and it will guide them in making decisions about their knowledge of other races that live with them.

This is how the Swedish race relation looks and given that only less that 1 percent of the Swedish population is made up of black people, the concern is why does it consume most of the time in Swedish people memory when it comes to race relations?
By Scancomark.com Team

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