6 ms·
I will always remember fondly the story of "Little Black Sambo". I was at that point in childhood where judgement was not yet developed but I could appreciate a
by giardini 6mo ago
I will always remember fondly the story of "Little Black Sambo". I was at that point in childhood where judgement was not yet developed but I could appreciate a good story, especially if fantastic things happened. After all, I was a little boy like Sambo.
So I feared for Sambo when he encountered the tigers. I was elated when he eluded them by first racing around the tree and then climbing it. I was mystified how tigers running round and round a tree could turn to butter (but set that aside so I could continue the story and reduce my fearful suspense). I was relieved to see that Sambo was safe. I identified with Sambo (although I am neither black or brown).
Hoorah for the fantastic tales from many lands that filled my childhood and those of my brothers and sisters with wonder!
I am still a child when I read fairy tales and fables.
- davidw 6mo agoIt's not the plot/story that are racist. It was the slurs and illustrations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Little_Black_Sambo#Modern_versions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Little_Black_Samb...
- shermantanktop 6mo agoSame. From a child’s perspective, that’s what the story was. But walking into a Sambo’s meant being immersed in the visual world, which was loaded with racist tropes. Sambo was depicted as a foolish child with dark skin and either a giant grin or eye-popping fear. Again, I was a kid in the 1970s and I knew it was racist.
- giardini 6mo agoI would send you a DEI medal but I ran out early, so I'll give you an "attaboy" for "knowing" instead.
- shermantanktop 6mo agoThis precedes the modern era by many years so unfortunately I was only motivated by basic decency. But if you ran out of medals you should probably give them out less often. Just a thought.