Al Jolson sheet music signed by child star removed by eBay for offensive material

[rebekaj]

 This item was removed from my store for being racist, but even a cursory search for Al Jolson
Returns hundreds of results that are actual photographs of him in black face, rather than a background illustration in this sheet music that is very abstract 

i’m assuming somebody reported the listing, maybe somebody who also sells autographs, and I’m wondering if I should contact eBay because reading the scope of the rules this does not violate any rules

[simba6]

eBay is quite "touchy" about such photos.   Best to find another place to sell it.

[whatmorefabric]

My neighbor has a   statue of a black faced Al Jolson style  singer in his front yard pointed in my direction.

My dad was black,  my Mom white.      

He is not doing it because of any love of me or black people.   His frequent complaint of having N ***** across the street is voiced after a few beers. 

There are some people who still use these articles to hurt and intimidate.      Personally,  I think my 5 ft wrought iron flamingo is much nicer.

[luckythewinner]

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@rebekaj wrote:

this does not violate any rules

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"Items with ... racist ... or otherwise demeaning portrayals, for example through caricatures or other exaggerated features"

Are you seriously suggesting that blackface is not demeaning and is not a caricature and does not exaggerate African-American features?

[usapicker101]

Not entirely true.

I had two items pulled due to a single complaint by an airline relating to some  

airline promotional items which were labeled as "counterfeit".

These were items that were originally bought and received from the same company.

As eBay 'vaporizes' these pulled listings, instead of relegating them to the unsold bin, 

there is no way to check the listing for any discrepancies.

[bonjourami]

Agreed, its ugly and racist, and would hurt and offend a large part of Ebays population.

[fern*wood]

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@rebekaj wrote:

 ... rather than a background illustration in this sheet music that is very abstract 

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I really don't think that is quite abstract enough.  It's rather easy to see.

[inhawaii]

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@usapicker101 wrote:

I had two items pulled due to a single complaint by an airline relating to some  

airline promotional items which were labeled as "counterfeit"

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Pure speculation.

You have no idea how many people complained about your listings.

[mam98031]

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@usapicker101 wrote:

Not entirely true.

I had two items pulled due to a single complaint by an airline relating to some  

airline promotional items which were labeled as "counterfeit".

These were items that were originally bought and received from the same company.

As eBay 'vaporizes' these pulled listings, instead of relegating them to the unsold bin, 

there is no way to check the listing for any discrepancies.

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That is likely equal to a Vero violation which is very different.

Yes Ebay does delete these listings as you should not ever attempt to post them again unless you want more trouble for the health of your selling account.

As Elizabeth explained above, one person can report a listing and if the team that reviews these [not a bot] determines it does break an Ebay rule, they will take down the listing.  But if it doesn't they won't.

[ms.rodriguez*]

On Halloween, I would buy a disguise and steal that statue and throw it away.   A moron nearby has one too but his mean pitbulls roaming in the front yard keep me from going Trick or Treating this year.

[reallynicestamps]

nobody is in black face,

Ummm.

Check out the upper left of the cover page.

Don't be disingenuous.

[powell-memorabilia]

Well, I don’t think that eBay should be in the business of deciding what is offensive, but I can see why they pulled your listing.  It is obviously blackface.

[maxine*j]

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@rebekaj wrote:

...  nobody is in black face... 

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Then what is this?

[simply-the-best-for-you]

OP knows there is blackface on the cover, they referred to it by saying " rather than a background illustration in this sheet music that is very abstract",  so they clearly know it's there 😞

[ampgroup2021]

I had a copy of 'My Mammy (The Sun Shines East, The Sun Shines West), the sheet music was signed by Al, I listed it on ebay one year ago for a reasonable figure of $499.00, it was closed down in fairly short order, I could never get a straight answer as to why, from ebay (twitter, FB etc.), I consigned with Bonhams NYC, it sold for $7500.00.

[mam98031]

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@powell-memorabilia wrote:

Well, I don’t think that eBay should be in the business of deciding what is offensive, but I can see why they pulled your listing.  It is obviously blackface.

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Easy to say until you get sued.