Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Manjari — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:12:30 GMT

Erin - you're right! I apologize.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Kelmendi — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:07:40 GMT

CJsDaddy: I had never seen Kettle Head before. Wow... just, wow. I have no words to describe that story. Even if you ignore the creepy racism (which, frankly, is so blatant I don't see how anyone *could* ignore it), it reads like Stephen King does Roald Dahl.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

CJsDaddy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:41:01 GMT

I appreciate the straightforward commentary and discussion on this book. I'd never seen it before, even as a child. My parents would never have paid money for a book that had a black child on the cover.

A friend showed me a version that I recall had updated illustrations - me wondering what I thought. At the time, I had no background, so I said it seemed borderline. She insisted that since the story is flattering to the child (he's so clever!) that it could not possibly be racist. It didn't take much research to determine the origins and history. Then I found this website that describes more books from the same author including Kettlehead.

www.sterlingtimes.org/kettlehead2.htm

The subtitle of the book is "An Awful Warning to Bad Babas" - as in - if you're a bad girl, you might black!

Now, I just could not fathom reading either of these books to my daughter.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Shannon LC Cate — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:27:02 GMT

It is heartening to hear the many sarcastic twists on "that's white of you." I assure Kate, however, that the original is a well-used southern expression. There's racism in all 50 states, but this particular phrase can be legitimately traced to its origins among southerners. Personally, I've never heard it either, but my entire extended family is from the south and my mother remembers hearing it frequently growing up. It isn't just "an expression my friend uses."

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:18:26 GMT

Where I live "That's mighty white of you" means "You are a jerk pretending to be generous." This is in New England.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

victoria — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:09:25 GMT

Well said. I haven't read this book, but I vaguely remember my mom reading Noddy to me when I was a child, and I loved it, but at some point it disappeared and I forgot all about it. I later learned that my mom eventually saw it with "fresh eyes" (it was read to her as a child, too) and realized there were some fairly overt racist undertones so she tossed it.

I'd be interested in looking at it now from an educational point of view, but as a parent, I would never read it to my own, very young, kids. However, I do think books like Noddy, and the one you reference above, are powerful educational materials and could spark interesting discussion between parents and their older children/teens.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Nancy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:26:10 GMT

Christina, I agree completely about the endless supply of white baby faces on this website. It's a cute baby but who wants to look at any one picture so frequently? And certainly Babble readers are more diverse than what is represented in this case.

Please, please diversify the baby photos.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Lula — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:02:13 GMT

Yeah, what is up with that baby? :/

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Christina Shaver — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:26:13 GMT

Given this particular post, I find it interesting that these comments have a picture of a white baby as an icon! Hm...

Can we get some diversity out there?

Sincerely,

a biracial Asian/White mom raising two boys who are African American and White

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Trope — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:17:39 GMT

Julie asked, <i>Does a retelling from an African American author remove the stigma? Or just sanitize its history of racism?</i>

I'm inclined to go with "sanitizing," just because so many parents of my generation still remember the story with all its racist overtones. There are so many other brilliant stories for young kids. Let's give "Sam and the Tigers" another twenty years before we resurrect it.

Shannon, I came to comment on your excellent essay--it's tough to talk about racism and young kids with such balance and sensitivity. It was a delight to uncover this in Strollerderby. Thank you for writing.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Lula — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:03:54 GMT

Being lucky enough not to encounter "Sambo" in childhood, my primary wince-maker is "Gone with the Wind". Can't read that book or see that movie anymore without wanting Prissy to rise up and torch Tara to the ground with the entire O'Hara clan within.

I have heard the version of "That's mighty white of you" of which you speak, and I have also heard it used to mean "You are being waaaaaay too uptight." I believe the latter is a much more recent development.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

tammi — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:17:37 GMT

As a white mother of biracial children, I wrestle with many of the same issues and appreciate your perspective on this and many issues. The idea of someday explaining so much of our history to my children makes me cringe. I think you are right on the need to talk rather than sweep it under the carpet.

For what its worth, my only experience with "that's white of you" is not a positive commentary on the object of the comment. Around our house it is a sarcastic comment regarding people blindly (or not) wielding their white privilege and with extra emphasis (i.e. "That's mighty white of you!") I have no experience with "mensch".

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Kate — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:00:14 GMT

Great commentary, I agree with you completely. Except for this statement:

"* For the lucky ones of you who haven't heard this, it's a fairly common southern expression meaning roughly, "you're a mensch!""

Lived in the south my entire life and have never heard that. Let's not implicate a whole section of the country based on a phrase your friend uses.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Erin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:57:57 GMT

Manjari,

Where in my post did I say I would read it to my child? I said it was read to ME as a child and that I loved it. I just remember that part about the tigers turning into butter. I said I understood the Catch 22. Please watch whom you quote!

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Bunny — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:40:43 GMT

This book belongs in a museum, for sure - not particularly in a children's library.

If anyone felt like opening up this conversation even farther: how do you feel about negative, sexist portrayals of girls and women in children's books? I was reminded of this recently when I reread "Misty of Chincoteague," a childhood favorite - the little girl in the book is domestic and meek and doesn't get to do anything fun, while her brother gets to wrangle wild horses, get dirty, and save the day. I adored that book as a kid but as an adult, the sexism really overshadowed the charm and I'd have a hard time letting any child of mine read it, now.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

elswhere — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:15:36 GMT

I find "Sam and the Tigers" much less offensive not necessarily because the author & illustrator are African-American, but because the illustrations and text humanize Sam--he's a kid in a quest/adventure story, not a grotesquely-depicted stereotype. "Sam and the Tigers" is a bit wordy for my taste, but that's a small flaw compared with having a version of this story that I can share with kids without cringing at the racism.

BTW, I'm white, and so is my kid. I'm a librarian and have strong feelings about banned books. If my daughter came across the old version of the book at the library & brought it home, we'd talk about it. But I'd never voluntarily introduce it to her in that form.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Julie — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:16:22 GMT

I am left wondering what your opinion is of the Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney version of Sambo? "Sam and the Tigers"

Does a retelling from an African American author remove the stigma? Or just sanitize its history of racism?

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

MomofBeans — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:42:44 GMT

I concur with Manjari. I'm a person of color and I find it to be offensive. That being said, I won't introduce it to my own kids, but I am NOT saying that it should be lit on fire.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Manjari — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:39:33 GMT

I'd be willing to bet that those of you who think it's not racist are white, right? I imagine most people of color would be very offended by those illustrations. The names in the book are also racist. I do not believe that all racist words and images from the past should be erased from our society, because we can't ignore the unfortunate aspects of our history. I don't think that this book should be read to young children, though. A child of Indian or African descent will likely feel the way Leahsmom did reading this book as a child. A child of European descent just might end up internalizing the idea of "black" (whether Indian, African, or anyone not white) people as ridiculous and unattractive. Little Black Sambo may have a place in the discussions of adults, but it has no place in a child's library. I don't know if I'm more offended by the book itself, or by people like Erin, Laura and Kate who, in 2008, can say they don't think the book is too offensive to read to their children.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Shannon LC Cate — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:25:31 GMT

Kate,

It doesn't matter where the story came from (which I mentioned in my post--perhaps you missed that). What matters is how it is used in any given culture (in this case, 20th and now 21st century America). It's use in that context is simply racist.

I also think it's a clear case of white privilege not to "think of it that way." A Black child would not have the luxury of "not noticing" the racism of this kind of cultural product.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

ginag — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:01:38 GMT

I'd like to know if any African American people would say that they don't see this book as racist. I would highly doubt it. I'm horried by it.

When I was a child I loved watching Shirley Temple movies but as an adult watching the way that AA's are portrayed in those movies makes me ashamed.

I do believe that most people are clueless about the implications of these sorts of characters. My guy has a very good fried with a bi-racial baby. She emailed him a picture of the little girl holding an actual Sambo doll and when he emailed her to tell her that was racist and that she shouldn't give those kinds of toys to her kid, she told him he was crazy and didn't speak to him for months. Later, she did research herself and finally agreed with him, replacing the doll with a different one for her little girl.

Those things have no place in 2008.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Lisa — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:37:20 GMT

Interesting and thought provoking...

I remember a chain of restaurants called Sambo's. It even included little black Sambo and tigers as part of its decor (lest you be confused which Sambo they were referring to). I liked the place because they had pancakes and, yes wait for it -- buttahh. Looking back, it was probably cheap margarine and yes, it could have only been more racist had they included lawn ornaments in the parking lot. I never saw black people eating there either (not to say that none worked there in the back). Yup. And this was Arizona folks. don't get me started on that....

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Lambmom — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:56:51 GMT

A few daycare workers read this to me as a kid, and all I can remember is wondering if I looked like Sambo, whom the other kids deemed "ugly," "dark," and "weird." I won't read this book to my daughter. I fear a depiction like this would be damaging to her self esteem. I'd rather show her books that feature more realistic, and less stereotypical versions of people with dark skin.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

Kate — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:59:54 GMT

I was just going to comment on the whole Babaji update with new pictures. Does this make you feel better? I'm honestly curious?

My son loves the Sambo version because of the Tigers. He calls it TIGERS! He begs and pleads for us to read TIGERS!

I never once thought of it that way. Somewhere in the back of my head I just realized that it was done a long time ago and that's just the way art was then. That's how it came across to my young mind, at least.

I think they can be exposed to things like this and other, newer, works. Let them see the change. When they're old enough let them see what used to be and what is. Give them hope and purpose and, of course, love.

re: Banned Books Week: Is Racism Packaged as Children's Literature Defensible?

laura — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:13:43 GMT

I think it's so interesting that _Little Black Sambo_ was written by a British author and is actually about Indians, rather than Africans or African Americans. Any particularly American racism is largely in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. That said, if you like the story but are offended by the ethnic/racial tones, check out _Little Babaji_, which is the same story, illustrated to reflect the original Indian background. I have never personally found anything to be offensive about the story at all; if anything, the offense would come in the "black-face" depictions of the characters.