Darkie Toothpaste Box

Darkie Toothpaste_3.JPG
Darkie Toothpaste_1.JPG

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

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

Citation

Darkie (Darlie), “Darkie Toothpaste Box,” The Black Archives, accessed April 22, 2025, https://collection.theblackarchives.nl/items/show/3437.
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