Little Black Sambo
When I was little, one of my favourite books was the story of Little Black Sambo. From memory, I think his mum was Black Mumbo and his dad Black Jumbo. Maybe because I grew up with this book, I don't see it as racist - after all the boy is the hero of the story, outsmarts 4 tigers, gets his new clothes back, and ate lots of pancakes at the end. Coming from my (somewhat) poor white kid background, I wished I was him.

Unsurprisingly, it has been heavily revised since its original version.

I still think it is a top book - good story, good pace to the tale, clear pictures. So I read the original to my own kids - hope they don't say something by mistake at school and get in trouble.


PS I just found out it has its own wiki page - original 1899, and used to be on recommended reading lists so some of you may know it
PPS If you are wondering how this ties to grandparents, I reckon the book I had came from my grandparents. Plus it was read to me by my kids grandparents, so the chain is going strong
PPPS I have realised I am turning into my parents - this may not be a good thing
(Skippyfillet, Fri 28 Oct 2011, 14:30, 3 replies)

it may or may not be racist
but it introduced racial stereotypes and the word Sambo was used by many as a racist insult.

with many of these books and images from the past - its not that they are particularly racist its that they have been used by racists to insult, mock and hurt.

at school kids used to shout "ooooookkkkkkayyyyy" at me because Lenny Henry had it as a catch phrase, it hurt and was said in order to take the piss out of my colour. Pretty sure Lenny Henry did not intend it to be a racist term but it was turned into one.

you could always explain to your kids that the book is good but some people have used the term Sambo to insult etc....
( sutit only the crumbliest, flakiest posts, Fri 28 Oct 2011, 20:25, closed)

Agreed
It looks like this book was a victim of its own success. It was a successful story featuring a black character (albeit Indian rather than African) with a distinctive name, so that name got used in a derogatory manner, so became a derogatory term. Shame really.

Much like the terms spastic or mongoloid were used (originally clinically) for people with certain problems, they became derogatory, until they had to go for something so long and boring and generic that it can't be used like that (learning challenged), or else be condemned to changing terms every few years. Unless society can change.

I have never seen someone referred to publically as a Sambo (although I am sure it used to happen) - it is probably time passing and society has changed somewhat by now, and I am not one for name calling in any case (but that is another story) so my kids should be pretty safe from falling into bad habits.
(Skippyfillet, Sun 30 Oct 2011, 14:40, closed)

:(

( Wicca'd Witch needs ideas for a new sig on..., Fri 28 Oct 2011, 20:31, closed)