Let’s get the bad ones out of the way first.

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There is no denying that both signs are racist.  In fact the tobacco shop’s sign is so breathtakingly offensive that I am amazed that it is still openly displayed.  The “Big Mama” sign however, is a bit tricky since it is a shop run by Africans, selling African products to Africans (particularly food and beauty care).  Is it less racist because it is a name and picture chosen by a member of the racially depicted group?

Quickly add an example which is lot more politically correct but more importantly morally correct:

A sign for a fair trade shop.  They used to be called “Third World Shops” (Dritte-Welt-Läden).

And now for something completely different: animals on shop signs for a café and a dog grooming salon:

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I also like this sign on a (cheap) hotel:

But there should always be this:

Linked to Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Shop signs.