4Real Forums: Little Black Sambo

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Picture Book Discoveries
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Topic: Little Black Sambo

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Cay Gibson
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Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 6:35pm \| IP Logged

After noticing this discussion happening under Rabbit Trails and under the history thread, I took liberties to combine the thread into one.

It is a fascinating discussion and, since I own the book Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester/ Jerry Pinkney, I took further liberties in posting (on my blog) the author's message found at the back of the book.

If you don't read anything else, read the last paragraph by Julius Lester.

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Cay Gibson
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Rachel May
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Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 7:28pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Cay!

The author's note was very interesting. Little Black Sambo was one of my childhood favorites too, so when I met my husband, it was with so much sadness that I realized that story--and Brer Rabbit--would have to be put aside. What a blessing to have these versions available!

As a kid, after Mass on Sundays, my parents sometimes used to take us to a restaurant called Sambo's. I can only vaguely remember it as it didn't last long, but I do remember loving the pancakes with tiger butter.

I also appreciate you combining the threads. I was wondering to myself today if there were a way to do that.

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Rachel
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momwise
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Posted: Feb 13 2006 at 8:39pm \| IP Logged

Cay Gibson wrote:

If you don't read anything else, read the last paragraph by Julius Lester.

I read the whole, very thoughtful letter. I never gave it a thought myself because I never saw the book growing up. I saw the restaurants of course, but I never knew the name came from a storybook

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Erin
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Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 12:40am \| IP Logged

Cay
How fascinating this discussion was/is. I have just been reading all the links. We had Little Black Sambo on record at home and played it over and over. To this day when we all get together we often burst into song and can sing the whole thing

Big memories here.

It wasn't till I was an adult that I thought about the name being racist. Why are the Unlce Remus stories considered so? Obviously I haven't read them for years either.

I am fascinated by the bi-racial stories of your families. What a rich treasure of culture and history. Doesn't it say something about the catholicity of the Catholic Church,"Go ye and tell all nations".

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Erin
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ALmom
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Posted: Feb 14 2006 at 4:31pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Cay. At least now I know what it was that was offensive and appreciate it. Do you know more specifics where the name Sambo came from in 1700 and beyond as I had never, ever heard that term related to blacks. I think that would help me give specifics when we address this with dc. I have one of the older versions from an old book that belonged to my dh and I tend to like reading originals better than remakes and funds are limited but I would like to at least let my dc know the history of why it comes across as offensive to some. It has been one of those things I've wondered for years - ever since I realized that some people really think it terrible that we have that book and read it and yet I could never get anyone to tell me what was really wrong. I am at least sensitive now to the issues involved. Thank you. There was some controversy here about Mark Twain as well and these were pulled from all our libraries. They may still be on the forbidden list at the schools. It is sometimes hard to sort out all the issues.

I know my dh family have addressed racism with regard to Asians. My dh was cast in a play one time and was supposed to say a line that was kind of imitation "Chinese" but stereotypical and somewhat offensive. I though dh parents were quite clever in how they handled the situation without creating a big stir - they talked to dh about the problem and suggested that he at least learn real Chinese and make the character real instead of funny. The Asians in the audience really appreciated the on the fly re-make. No one else noticed the difference.

We've had some great conversations at our house bridging observations of two cultures.

Janet

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