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Questions About The Story of Little Black Sambo

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Answered Questions (2)

Would 21st century Black children (and their parents) find this classic children's book offensive? Was Sambo portrayed as stupid or clever? Or is he merely a stereotype for patronizing whites?

Keith Scholey It is not so much the story as the illustrations and the names of the characters which are offensive in the original (which is still in print). The ex…moreIt is not so much the story as the illustrations and the names of the characters which are offensive in the original (which is still in print). The exaggerated features and the 'comedy' walk of the boy and his family are mocking and dehumanising. Sambo was already established as a generic term for a person of colour - like Jock or Taff. But applied universally it certainly is a term of abuse. The parents' names are mumbo and jumbo. I shouldn't need to say but this is again clearly derogatory. Mumbo-jumbo means nonsense, implying that these people talk rubbish and are rubbish. All you have to do is compare with the revised version "Little Babaji" - a really charming story. Although the central character displays no particular resourcefulness or talent and is essentially saved solely by good luck, so it is still not a modern children's tale.(less)

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In the review above it says the boy is Indian, but if you open preview you can see this isn't so. Hasn't the wrong version been reviewed? Long ago, I ran into a copy where Sambo is Indian with beautiful Indian mother. The illustrations were a masterpiece. The book shown here is illustrated with coal black kid with coal black parents named Jumbo, Mumbo or something.

Keith Scholey There are many, many versions of this book (some very very appalling). In the original, the boy is supposed to be Tamil (south Indian - hence the tige…moreThere are many, many versions of this book (some very very appalling). In the original, the boy is supposed to be Tamil (south Indian - hence the tigers and the ghee) but has a western name (Zambo was originally a term for a person of mixed native-African origins). The author was married to a Raj overlord - to them all 'blacks' (southern Indians can be very dark skinned) were the same. They enjoyed patronising southern Indians - northerners were way too close to Europeans. Little Babaji is indeed a masterpiece. (less)

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