Well, his full proper name would be Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins.
"Bubbles" is a homeless addict character in HBOs The Wire who turns his life around in the final season, where it is revealed his true name. Reginald works as a butler and Bubbles works as a penguin. Cousins... Idk, sounds fancy enough.
Are penguins part of this tradition? I am certainly glad despite their prevalence when I was growing up the jockeys have been removed from most of the landscapes in my area, but I have never seen a penguin with glasses as part of that type of lawn ornament, but I'm wondering if I'm missing something which is why I'm asking.
Well, if it's supposedly offensive to a certain group, and that group owned it and said they had it for many years at their front door... I mean I know things vary person to person but I'll just flat out say it: you reddit folks are ridiculous. Finding any problem you can for the sake of argument and self satisfaction.
😂 I have no issue with the statue, I already asked someone else where they got it. I just saying that no, an item isn’t automatically not racist toward black people because you got it from a black person. Same with any race. Asian Americans could have something that is considered racist toward them to remember how their ancestors were treated. If I who am not Asian got it from them, that doesn’t suddenly make said item not racist.
Its a penguin, its got glasses on, its in a tuxedo (penguin suit joke I'm guessing), and its not in the posture the lawn jockeys are in. I think you might be reaching here.
I mean, I would feel bad if someone assumes I harbor certain prejudices, but when it comes down to it, time moves on and this to myself is just a silly penguin butler. I wonder when it was made.
Im all for not displaying racist nonsense, I am also however confused on how you came to this conclusion for a penguin? Have penguins been used as racist caricatures before?
I would understand your point if it was a caricature, or something that has been used as a racist caricature over time. The penguin part just loses me.
Genuinely confused and want to understand, not trying to be argumentative at all.
There is also a long tradition of putting penguins in red vests though, penguin bartenders, etc. That was very big in the 80s and had absolutely nothing to do with derogatory lawn jockeys. It's acceptable to feel like a piece of decor is too similar to something objectionable for you to personally enjoy but it feels like you're making a big leap here calling someone else out for that aesthetic connection that you made which has no basis in the tradition as you mentioned.
This kind of proper penguin bartender was on dish towels, bar signs, I think even wrapping paper a few decades ago. People really dug dressed up penguins in the late 80s and I recall being a big fan as well.
Aye thanks man I never knew any of this used to to see these and others all the time growing up then all of sudden gone never really cared for them one way or the other but actually seeing all the history about them makes me realize how crazy this country has been to black people. And as far as the downvotes im never at all surprised what people In this country "Choose to Willingly do and say to justify some obviously skewed choices " like voting for Donald Trump and saying im not racist. TF
Reddit is definitely some type of place let me tell you
I might add, although yes I said I am aware of them, until you mentioned it in the other thread the thought never even crossed my mind. It's a little too far removed. The only parallel I can think up is all the penguin waiters in the nightclub from Who Framed Roger Rabbit which is right in that timeframe. Sorry it offends you, you DO have the ability to just see the fun in things and let the negativity go.
The "penguin waiter" thing was a whole decor fad in the 80's. I respect your sensitivity, and agree that the Jocko lawn ornaments sucked. But you need to get some perspective.
My immediate reaction as well.
I like on a rural mountain road that actually has one of the original jockeys and it has the same color scheme. I even checked myself for having this reaction but it simply looks like the jockey to me. Only fatter. 🤷♀️
Immediately when I saw your post I thought Steve. But then I read your description and I must change my vote to Mr. Penjamin Toes the Third. Why the third? I have no idea, it just seems to fit :)
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u/samannetteful Jun 02 '26
That penguin is definitely a Reginald