Talk:Little Black Sambo

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'Little Black Sambo', in order to be politically correct in todays world of intolerance, should probably be retitled to 'Little Tanned Kid'. This is because, according to my grandmother who, while growing up in India in the late 1800's to early 1900's, knew both the author and the child 'Little Black Sambo' was based on. This particular child played outside a lot and had developed quite a healthy tan even for a person from that part of the world. As a result in order to differentiate this child for others in conversation he was referred to as 'black' because nobody used the term 'tanned'. The name 'Sambo' at least when the book as written was a general name given to children much as we use the them 'kid' today.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.26.155.144 (talk) 16:38, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

At least one American edition from 20 years ago leaves Sambo's name as "Little Black Sambo", but changes his mother's name from "Black Mumbo" to "Mama Sari" and his father's name from "Black Jumbo" to "Papa Simbu".


As a child, I had a "Golden Book" that told the story. The illustrations were credited to "Suzanne." (no last name given). In the Golden Book version, Little Black Sambo looked decidedly Indian. The current article doesn't mention this book.

I had a copy of this when I was a little kid, and looking back I really enjoyed it. I can understand how the illustrations, especially in the US version, can be considered offensive, but the story to me has always seemed to be an anti-colonial allegory. The tigers represent the 'world powers' of the day (Great Britain, France and Germany) and Little Black Sambo represents the oppressed native. (Note also that the tigers are aggressive, quarrelsome and easily duped and Sambo is intelligent and canny. And that Sambo wins and the tigers, no matter how strong and terrifying they are, are defeated.) Coder Keitaro 14:13, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Is Sambo really Shambo?

I know Shambo is a real Indian name. I suspect Sambo may be a british spelling. Sometimes the H's are very subtle so words like Satya can also be spelled Sathya. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.177.9.220 (talk) 12:42, 16 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Possible Culture Reference

  • I remember reading an early Peanuts strip dating to 1957/8 where Lucy retells Little Black Sambo to Linus, and after telling him that Sambo eats the pancakes with the ghi, Linus comments "How can he eat so much after such an emotional situation?" Should we add this comment to pop culture references?

-Rex Imperator 14:47, 28 Febuary 2006

[edit] Misuse of "African-American"

This article mentions that "sambo" is used as a "racial slur against African Americans". However, the Wikipedia article for "sambo" mentions that the word is used as a racist remark in the United Kingdom, as well. I tend to think that the line should mention that "sambo" is used a racial slur against black people, not just "African-Americans", since a black person in the UK most certainly would not want to be called "African American". —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 192.158.61.167 (talk) 13:48, 4 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Merge suggestion

No need to rehash the account of why people object to Sambo. I'd rather see it all in one place. By the way, the book didn't become controversial; people objected to the hero's name and stereotypical appearance. We also might mention that White Britishers referred to Indian natives as niggers. Just thought I'd fan the flames a bit here. I hope it makes you hot enough to melt you into ghee. --Uncle Ed 15:28, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

I don't know how to do it, but the reference to "Sambo's grave" on this page should be amended and/or linked to the rather different information on the entry under Sambo's grave (nothing there about being shunned by the people of Heysham, for example). Rosina

IMHO, this article is about the book Little Black Sambo, and quite distinct to the discussion on the term Sambo, and therefore should remain separate. They of course overlap on the use of the word Sambo, but thats not reason enough to merge the two. Suffice to mention each in the other. --Iaindb 01:48, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Clearly, the word "sambo" has deeper roots than the story "Little Black Sambo" therefore, the articles should be kept separate. And it should be addressed that black people living in other parts of the world, besides the United States, are not considered African-Americans. In fact, none of the black people I know refer to themselves as African-Americans. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.241.96.119 (talk) 21:19, August 30, 2007 (UTC)

[edit] scans wanted?

I have a copy of a 1979 print of the book, which looks like an "original" (ie. it resembles the description of the original given in the article). Would it be worthwhile providing scans of any of the images, or copies of the text, copyright permitting?--Iaindb 01:48, 25 June 2007 (UTC)