A store in Surrey has been accused of racism over an “unacceptable” picture which seems to indicate black individuals engaged on a tobacco plantation overseen by white males.
Farrants in Cobham is being urged to take away the “incredibly triggering” image, which covers a wall behind a money desk and contains the phrases “we sell tobacco”.
Misan Harriman, the chairman of London’s Southbank Centre and a photographer who’s a good friend of Prince Harry and Meghan, criticised Farrants after visiting the shop whereas searching for toys for his daughters, including: “I can’t believe what I just saw.”
Former Chelsea footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink mentioned on social media he had beforehand complained about the identical situation in 2020 – and was informed the shop would “replace” the big sepia picture.
Mr Harriman, who has taken portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – together with Princess Lilibet for her first birthday – and who can also be an envoy of Save the Children UK, posted a video on Twitter which has been shared hundreds of occasions.
He mentioned: “I saw the most triggering thing, I’ve just come in to try and get toys for my girls, and I just saw the most incredibly triggering imagery. Luckily, my children are not with me.
“There’s an enormous picture – of what seems like a tobacco plantation with 4 damaged males, black males that appear to be me, and their white overseers – vastly on the place the place you pay.”
He added: “So this store, in the midst of a Surrey excessive avenue, thinks it is regular to have that sort of images subsequent to the place I might go and purchase toys for my kids… in 2023.
“I don’t shock easy. I can’t believe what I just saw.”
He wrote within the put up: “This is in a family store, this imagery is massive triggering and racist. And there is no conceivable reason it should be there!”
Prince Harry and photographer Misan Harriman in April 2022
Following Mr Harriman’s video, Mr Hasselbaink wrote on Instagram: “Stories come and go. This needs some attention (Farrants), I think it’s time you followed through on your word from 2020 and replaced this image.”
On its web site, Farrants says the store has been a “familiar site” in Cobham High Street since 1896 and has a specialist tobacco room promoting cigars and equipment.
The BBC reported Farrants has a poster subsequent to the image explaining why the shop selected to show it.
It reads: “This image was selected as the main display feature in our store to honour, respect and recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by all those involved in the development of the iconic Havana cigars available in our Tobacco Room today.
“The {photograph}, which we have now cropped for our show, was taken on the Pinar del Rio plantation in 1907 and is without doubt one of the earliest examples of shade grown tobacco cultivation.
“Unlike other crop harvesting industries, the tobacco plantation owners of Cuba refused to use slave labour, insisting instead on employing free men.”
Sky News has contacted Farrants for a remark.
Content Source: information.sky.com