Yes, there you go, the word racist is bound to secure many views

But on a more serious note, I had this discussion 2 years ago at the local village Autumn fair, there was a game, called Mohrenkopfschleuderer, acurately translated "Moor head slinger" Anyway, I found this appalling, I happen to also be one of the 9 Non European descendant residents of our village, and the only one that speaks enough German to understand what the game means.
Recently I had this discussion again, with my close friend and her husband. On both occasions, I was basically told with alot of tact that I was being over sensitive. That children, dont think so far ahead, and definately do not associate the name Mohenkopf with anything negative. I ended both discussions with the fact that a long as they have never been discriminated on the colour of their skin, that is really not their place to determine how over sensitive I am. Which left a sense of uneasiness.

I do think its a racist name, especially one which children are exposed to. That is also up there with the kindergarten game' Whose afraid of the black man?' What I cant understand is, why are so many people hanging on to something so outdated and irrelevant? I cant imagine that Mohrenköpfe is part of the Swiss culture.

Naturally, a very large percentage of Swiss find nothing wrong with the name, and will always call the candy Mohrenkopf. A survey was taken by 20min, in which 10 000 people where asked if they thought the name was rascist, and only 2 percent said yes. ( i was one of the 2% )

What do you think?

Here is the article, sorry its in German.
http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/28495503

I, as a kid and now, never associated a dark skinned person with the "Schwarze Maa". I rather had the impression it was either a/the Bölima (child abductor/pervert) with a black coat or than a chimney sweeper looking for more child workforce See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_schwarzen_Br%C3%BCder

To translate Mohrenkopf literally and think they actually represent the head of a black person is as ridiculous as to take the following literally: corn dog, pasta alfredo, angel food cake, bloody mary, berliner, and specially Swiss roll, Swiss chard, and Swiss cheese. Whereas the last one is a total insult.

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What?

I am really offended by French fries. I cannot believe that this is still allowed in Switzerland.

I was going to post the std image of a storm in a tea cup, but not sure the colour of the clouds would be acceptable

A Dutch company made it a couple of years ago public that people called them racist for selling these things under the name "Negerzoen" (Negro kiss), quickly the internet, newspapers and telly programs run wild with supporters and anti's, lot's of people bought these things and the whole country knew again these things existed, and the firm announced that due to social pressure they decided to change the name.

Turned out to be self-inducted by the firm, and the best free publicity stunt possible.

As for my opinion, there's a group of people who always will find a new thing to be sensitive about, we better don't give them the publicity they so urgent seek.

Am I still allowed to order a zigeunerschnitzel? I could order an untouchable schnitzel but how would I eat it

you can but need to be clear that it is better than a wiener schnitzel.

Are there people who believe otherwise

Now I have to think of a Dutch Sketch where comedians act like Dutch Soldiers in their show and serve wiedergutmachungsschnitzel to the audience.

I suppose you could order a Cinto-Ethnischer-Minderheit-aus-der-Gruppe-der-Sinti-und-Roma Schnitzel with chips red/white and a salad. Easy on the Ketschap.

Some years back, I was having a conversation on a train with an individual who referred to himself as a Gypsy. He got very worked up about the terms Roma and Sinti saying he associated with neither group and using those terms to refer to Gypsies in a blanket way was very offensive and excluding of other groups.

The comparisons made in this post (that many approved of) was the original response to the OP.

To put «mohrenkopf» on the same level as a «berliner» for instance is to refuse to recognize the meaning of «mohrenkopf» and all it stands for.

We cannot change history, nor is it wise to «clean it up», but we can do better going forward.

....and the very fact some refuse to see the issue, or do not understand the difference is the critical point, the crux of the matter.

I'm still not convinced that the name conveys an intention to offend, rather than just a name that was applied in naive innocence at a time that people had other worries.

I wonder how many other names may at their root, if you dig deep enough, be offensive. Many names, be they brands, or place names, or surnames even, we accept at face value without thinking where they come from or what they may mean, or have meant in the past. Or could mean if analysed with a certain intent.

Let us take the Starbucks logo for example. An awkwardly styled mermaid, probably hailing to the days that coffee came by ship, and thus representing the figurehead of a sailing ship. Now if you consider the trade triangle, the same ship that brought us coffee would on another leg of its triangular round trip have been a slave ship. That thing on your disposable coffee cup is the figurehead of a slave ship.

Where is the outrage?

One point that is spectacularly missed is that cacao beans are harvested,predominantly in West Africa by children working under terrible conditions and for a pittance.
The faux outrage directed at the producers of Mohrenkopf would be far better directed at the chocolate companies who profit from this child labour.

Obviously what anyone else thinks won't influence how you feel. I personally think it's innocent.
As a side note - I never ate any and I live here for quite some time.. lol Need to see what is this all about. Or is that chocolate coated thing with tons of sugar and a white filling?

Yes.

Obviously not. Otherwise I wouldnt have posted the thread. Otherwise I would have continued believing that I am right and the others not.
I genuinely would like to understand the other side of the coin.
Just out of curiosity, are there other items that are screaming white and named after white ppl?

yes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodenkoek

The fact that every other European nation that has them has changed the name to something else (lots over twenty years ago) apart from the German-speaking part of Switzerland tells you something about the Swiss-Germans' in itself.

Although I've never eaten one, we've got a packet in the cupboard which weren't there yesterday so it must have been a gift from a grandfather.

They're from Migros and called Party-kisses on the packet so I guess over time, the Mohrenkopf name will disappear.

Yes, that they don't succumb to pc black-mail!

Still Moretto in Ticino.

Tom