I stayed at the Grand Chancellor last weekend and as soon as I walked in, right in front of me were two horribly racist "Blackamoor" statues in the lobby. These statues hugely offensive and also highly racist. It was really shocking to see something like that in such an otherwise nice hotel. Blackamoor statues are still made to this day but are generally frowned upon by the African and African-American communities. Frequently, these items reflect racist ideas about black people through offensive and dehumanising caricatures. While Blackamoor statues have been around for centuries, During the 19th century, several offensive stereotypes became commonplace, including male savages or brutes, subservient Toms (like those in the lobby) and mammies, sexualized Jezebels, pickaninny children, and ignorant “coons.” Most of these featured the same physical traits—very dark skin, oversize red lips, and bulging eyeballs, again, just like the ones in the hotel lobby. Eventually, familiar characters like Golliwog, Aunt Jemima, Little Black Sambo and Blackamoor statues were created as amalgamations of various racial stereotypes, having a very negative impact on the black community and contributing largely and negatively to Black stereotypes. I spoke with two Caucasian women in the elevator who also expressed their dismay at the statues and also found them very racist so it's quite clear I am not just being overly sensitive as some have suggested. Considering The Grand Chancellor is a large hotel and caters to international guests, as well as the fact that the statues are horribly racist, they should be removed immediately. I was able to speak with a nice woman over the phone in response to my initial complaint and have been told that my original complaint is being passed up the chain but it appears as though a hotel aesthetic is going to take priority over racism, facts and the outrage of the black community. Action needs to be taken and these statues should be removed.