Darkie Toothpaste Box
Identifier
TBAFB0003
Title
Darkie Toothpaste Box
Description
Cardboard box. The front of the box is primarily white, with a black banner covering the top inch within which is the white text 'Darkie.' The white portion contains, below 'darkie,' the text 'tooth paste.' Below this is a cartoon bust of a black man wearing a tuxedo and top har, smiling wide with pure white teeth. Below this bust is the insignia of the brand Hawley & Hazel Black & White, and at the bottom of the box is the text 'Hawley & Hazel chemical co. ltd." This is mirrored on the back of the box. All other sides of the box are primarily green, and bear the text "Darkie toothpaste." The other long sides of the box read "contains fluoride" and "141gm." The top and bottom of the box read "economy." Inside the box is the full tube of toothpaste along with a newspaper clipping about the sale of the toothpaste. On the top inside flap of the box, the following is written in pencil: Brussel Chinese supermarkt auf. '86."
Creator
Darkie (Darlie)
Type
Cardboard Box
Relation
Facing Blackness is a multimedia exhibition that takes the public through the obscure history of portraying Black people from the colonial period to contemporary society. Using unique archive material and visual art, we show how anti-black racism became part of the Dutch 'cultural archive' and our everyday ideas, customs and utensils. On the other hand, the exhibition shows how there has always been 'everyday resistance' to various forms of racism and how Black people themselves have given and continue to give meaning to their culture and identity.
Source
The Black Archives
Format
Toothpaste Box
Subject
Black Man, Black Caricature
Date
c.1933-1989
Physical Dimensions
18x4x3
Country of Production
Hong Kong
Place of Production
Hong Kong
Keywords
Caricature, Toothpaste, Advertising
Copyright
Hawley & Hazel
Rightholder
Hawley & Hazel
Archived By
Richard Weaver
Bibliography
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2176817/how-darkie-now-darlie-became-east-asias-favourite
Collection
Citation
Darkie (Darlie), “Darkie Toothpaste Box,” The Black Archives, accessed April 22, 2025, https://collection.theblackarchives.nl/items/show/3437.