“The Japanese people can be racist when it comes to Koreans living here. But racist against blacks? We have no experience in dealing with black people. Where would we get it from?â€
Psychologist Kazuo Mori saying that most Japanese were surprised to learn that “Little Black Sambo” — back on the best-seller list after being withdrawn in 1988 — had racist overtones.
Hmm…
Bunny says
Extraordinary! After nine years there, I am still baffled by Japan’s eccentricities.
badly dubbed boy says
Racism doesn’t have to be “learnt” – it can just simply boil down to a dislike for the unlike.
SpeakY10k says
I’ve never read the book, so I’m no authority, but to ask a question before damning–could it be that it’s only racist from an american standpoint–what would be infered as a comment about all blacks to an american reader could be just personality traits of one character in another cultural standpoint. Someone who has read it, maybe respond?
schizmo says
I grew up with the book and ate at the Sambo’s Restaurant chain, which was decorated with pictures from the book and specialized in pancakes.
The story itself is actually quite charming. Little Black Sambo Sets off one morning to get some butter for his breakfast. In the jungle he is set upon by several tigers who want to eat him. He tricks them into chasing each other around a tree. The tigers run so fast that they turn into butter. And then Mama uses said butter on Sambo’s pancakes.
The story isn’t the racist part. Its the name “Little Black Sambo”– quite offensive. And the illustrations depict the stereotypical image of Black people as thick lipped, pickaninny savages. Certainly no worse than old WWII Popeye cartoons that had him fighting buck toothed, slant eyed, bespectacled Japanese soldiers. And we don’t show those in the states anymore either.
I seem to recall that there was some attempt to come out with a new version where they dropped the “little black” part and they had new illustrations that were not so offensive. But the new version lost its charm.
lirelou says
Actually, the whole little black sambo story fascinates me as to it’s origin. My suspicion is the Americas. Under latinamerican racial classifications, a “zambo” is a half black half amerindian person (versus a mulatto or a mestizo), a not unknown mixture in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, or coastal Colombia, Venezuela, or Peru. The term is not perjorative. Then add the tigers. Tigers do not exist in Africa, whereas the Jaguar is known in Spanish speaking America as a “tigre”. It was apparently well established in the U.S. until the 1960s, when it got singled out for its alleged racial stereotyping, along with such more modern icons as the Amos and Andy show.
packaging tape says
I read the book (chibikuro sambo) when I was young. I liked it especially the pictures.
I personally don’t think it is a type of racism. At least I did not develop any perception againt black/African people by reading this book. I doubt others did so by reading the book.
I see people are recognizing the name as a problem. The word “chibi” is indeed has a bit of negative connotation, but it’s not bad. In fact, it sounds (by ear/brain) better than trying to use another word instead. “Sambo” makes no sense to Japanese. I see “Zambo” is considered above, but the word was probably made up rather from “Samba” or something else (it does not matter “Samba” has nothing to do with a little black child). I think you people are right that there are a lot of ignorant racisms, and this is probably qualified as one as you say. Yet, maybe you are trying too hard to claim something of the sort. (though you would say, you don’t have to try hard at all, this is so obviously racism.)
Varchesis says
I have read this. I’ve seen the original book imagery. It is not originally a racist title. It does however carry racist baggage. Also, the artwork on this Japanese version clearly borrows from American racist memorabilia. Is that wrong? Probably not. The author may have used the simplest visual effect to gain the greatest attention from Japanese readers. That’s the publisher’s job, to sell more books; artwork is a major part of the equation. The character depicted is clearly a racist icon.. to AMERICANS, but to the Japanese, who knows?
Also, I’m not too sure about the name Sambo. The characters in the book are Sambo, Mumbo and Jumbo. If that isn’t writing for kids, what is? I think lirelou is on to something. Racist book (in this context), I say nay.
Nathaniel Gardner says
Intresting…so as an African American living here in Phoenix, Arizona, (one of the main states for Japanese Interment Camps during WWII) and since Japanese people have no problem with “Little Black Sambo” then it’s ok for me to call Japanese People “Japs.”? And Peter Lorre’s “Mr. Moto” isn’t racist, so therefore if the US Film Industry did a remake of the movie in 2009, there would be no repercussions from Japan or Japanese Americans? We have a saying here in America. “What’s good for the Goose is good for the Gander. ” Of course, the other solution is to stop the vicious cycle of racism. Also, not to sound cruel, but did the Japanese really learn anything from Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Do they and the rest of the world understand that we are doomed to use Nuclear Weapons again if hatred and misunderstanding like this between other cultures continues?
Victoria says
Ugh, what a disgusting response.
Lioni says
The Japanese would probably follow the whites too. They don’t know anything about Blacks and what they went through. And I thought those Anime Wannabes were smart.