by Imani Muhammad
Sambo is an ugly word used towards African-American males during the slavery and post-Civil War era. Sambo in the United States depicted the African-American male as one who was irresponsible, ugly, big lip, non- articulate, This narrative in the United States began in 1808 with a short story by Reverend Edmund Botsford called, Sambo and Toney. Sambo and Toney was a story of a conversation between two slaves. The two characters were depicted as subservient, ignorant and inarticulate linguistically. This was the beginning of negative stereotyping of the African-American for the enjoyment and entertainment of white audiences.
This culture in North America would continue with books written by authors such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote, Uncle Tom's Cabin, it was published in 1852. The character in Uncle Tom's Cabin of Sambo was an overseer on the plantation ran by Simon Legree. In 1899 Scottish author Helen Bannerman who was living in India wrote the book called, Little Black Sambo
Little Black Sambo is about a, " South Indian boy who lives with his father and mother, named Black Jumbo and Black Mumbo, respectively. While out walking, Sambo encounters four hungry tigers, and surrenders his colourful new clothes, shoes, and umbrella so they will not eat him. The tigers are vain and each thinks he is better dressed than the others. They chase each other around a tree until they are reduced to a pool of ghee (clarified butter). Sambo then recovers his clothes and collects the ghee, which his mother uses to make pancakes." Wikipedia
Little Black Sambo is about a, " South Indian boy who lives with his father and mother, named Black Jumbo and Black Mumbo, respectively. While out walking, Sambo encounters four hungry tigers, and surrenders his colourful new clothes, shoes, and umbrella so they will not eat him. The tigers are vain and each thinks he is better dressed than the others. They chase each other around a tree until they are reduced to a pool of ghee (clarified butter). Sambo then recovers his clothes and collects the ghee, which his mother uses to make pancakes." Wikipedia
The derogatory images, stereotypes and stories about African-American males and females would continue on through minstrel shows during slavery and the post-Civil War era. This was used to convince a white audience on the support of slavery. Minstrel shows, 1880's-1900's, after the Civil War turned into Vaudeville shows,1880's-1930's, again in the entertainment of white audiences. These shows showed the white male in stereotypical blackface, even though this practice goes further back, it can be traced back to 1827 to Thomas Dartmouth Rice.
The portrayal of white actors in blackface continued into the 20th century with actors such as
Shirley Temple
Al Jolson
Mickey Mouse
The list goes on with Eddie Cantor, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hope, Robert Downey Jr. Just google actors who have played in black face and a list will come up. You can also click here to see that this pratice still continues over seas. This was and still is a racist tactic to depict a group of people. The damage of the portrayal of African-American people in North America has set into motion. What's really disheartening is the African-Americans who have jumped upon this band wagon and choose to act this way.
Was there an actual Sambo in History?
Actually, yes there was. In the book, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Their History and Iconography, is an account of a Buddha known as Sam Bo. Sam Bo was a deity in Hinduism.
from Anacalypsis
If you ever noticed in children's books written on the Sambo, he always had a tiger or tigers around him. It was not coincidental. They discovered what you know not.
"In Nepal, Colonel Kirpatrick found Maha Muni, Maha Deo or Buddha, under the name of, Sumbo or Sambo Nath; that is the Lord Sam Bo." The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its.., Vol. , page 20. Written in 1816-1862
The images that Americans have been shown so long of their version of Sambo was to make African-Americans feel denigrated, inferior and used as a form of racism from one group to another. You were not to know about a melinated Buddha because it would strengthen and empower you. You are not inferior. You had your feet on every continent. This is Sambo. Are you still ashamed?
I also suggest checking out the website Black Buddha and the Israelite Buddhist. The above quote from Anacalypsis was borrowed from this page. This site goes more in depth of the Black Buddhas in the East.
Sambo the Black God of Asia and Africa
The Secrets of Ancient Black India
Other Books of Reference
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