In 1956, Bannerman's Little Black Sambo was required in grammar schools. Why was it removed from schools?

Answer 1

To be racist is to have intent.
The classic, Little Black Sambo never had the intent of anything except a writer constructing a wonderful piece of Americana. Other classics have been removed because of the political left wanting to appease persons they need to gain votes from. In America, we have a history. My black lady friend, who is a fellow PhD and from Alabama, has said it is sinful to drain history from America. She now questions the Black History Month issue, saying one-sided history is contrary to the intent of educators.
The issue is about Little Black Sambo being removed from the required reading lists of schools. This is not helping anything. When one side decides they don't like something, the will yell racism. But the factor nobody sees is a few black private schools making Little Black Sambo a part of their reading schedule. The intent is to never cheat the minds of the students from any pertinent material. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
There are many universities that will use Little Black Sambo in their Sociology classes.
It seems we have gained Black History Month and are forgetting the entirety of American diversity. That is sinful.
By the way, some children would like to learn more about the Koran, but there is no room for the subject; schools want to appease too much.

Answer 2

I REMEMBER that little golden book ! I LOVED it.
In our rush and need to always be polictically correct the classics are being banned ? In the times that the book was written all was "okay" with calling the child Little Black Sambo, it was NOT a racial slur. Those who have nothing else to do are the ones making the loudest noise over all this "political correctness" mumbo jumbo. I didn't think badly of any group of people as a child 'cause I read that book - I doubt our children of today would be !!

Answer 3

Because it spurred racist overtones, that, at the time of its writing, children hearing or even reading the story, really couldn't understand where it was coming from. Kindergarden youths back in the day, didn't know what racism was, but the parents did! I found a copy of the book at my fathers house and re-read it I found it to be very racist, and insulting. At the time of the writing of Black Sambo, America was one sided; "White America", and blacks had no say so and were separated as if they were on another planet. So, the book was accepted and used in schools until people began to understand what racism really was, and didn't/wasn't going to tolerate it anymore.

Answer 4

The original illustrations are considered racist; Bannerman did the illustrations herself. If you take a look at a reprint of the original, I think you'll see why. There are other versions now available including one by African American artist Jerry Pinkney and African American author Julius Lester; this version is entitled "Sam and the Tigers." Lovely illustrations, too.

Another recent version, and a personal favorite, is "The story of little Babaji" which uses Bannerman's original text albeit with changing the characters' names (Sambo is Babaji) and with Fred Marcellino's WONDERFUL illlustrations. I love his satisfied fat faced tigers and the simplicity of the language.

Answer 5

WOW! great drawings, but, oh so contrary to race relations. Do you remember Sambo's Restaurants? The little guy danced across the walls...I never could understand how that was socially acceptable to people!
Never saw a book titled "Little White Susie" or Little Yellow Sari" or even "Little Brown Sonya"...thank goodness that book was not a trend setter!
Although color is beautiful, color does not describe the person...

Answer 6

because of fears that it was racist. it was re-named Sam and the Tigers. my mom has the little golden books original copy of Little Black Sambo. I read it as a child.

Answer 7

It's extremely racist by today's standards.I have an even older copy before the above mentioned golden books version.
And it's been packed away for 30 years...

Answer 8

presents a patronizing view of blacks, some educators recommended that the book be removed from library shelves; others defended the book as a harmless product of a bygone era.

Answer 9

apparently the overtones are racist. i still own the book that i found at my grandparents house.

Answer 10

It was considered racist