Old book, new controversy
December 15th, 2003
Yesterday’s Boston Globe featured a story about the recently published Handprint Books edition of The Story of Little Black Sambo and the controversy surrounding this book. The book is illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning artist Christopher Bing and has been listed as a Kirkus 2003 Editor’s Choice book. Bing uses the original text by Helen Bannerman but illustrates it in a new way with the main character being an African boy in India.
Although the book is receiving many accolades, it is also prompting many debates. The Boston Globe reported in October on the controversy surrounding a library-sponsored display of illustrations from the book in Lexington where Bing lives. Supporters argue that Bing’s new treatment of what has been a controversial text deserves praise and attention while critics argue that new illustrations cannot erase the painful history of the book.
I don’t know where I stand on this issue. At the Boston International Book Fair this past October, Little Black Sambo (and all of its variations) seemed to be the book of the show–in fact, I overheard two people speculating that it was this year’s book of the show. I have seen this book before, but somehow seeing it in abundance made me feel uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed. I was quite surprised to see that this book, by its presence alone, could cause such a reaction in me.
Of course, the books on display at the fair featured the racist illustrations and stereotypes that have riddled this text’s history. Much has been said and written about the history, message, and impact of these illustrations. However, now, as attempts are made to divorce the story from its illustrated past, the debate becomes more complex, leaving many to wonder if a book that has been associated with such imagery can ever be divorced from it and if such a separation should happen at all.
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1. Desultor | December 18th, 2003 at 1:18 pm
I found an old copy of that book, and snapped it up because I thought it was interesting and I like children’s books, especially the ones I encountered at some point as a kid. But that one is really pretty appalling, and it can’t be shelved with my other children’s books - they’re on the bottom shelf for my niece and nephews to reach. Sambo is on the top shelf.
I have similar feelings about “The Belgariad”, an adventure fantasy series I liked a lot as a boy. When I read it now all I can see it as is a veiled racist, imperialist allegory - it’s full of crap about defending the West against swarthy people with harsh accents.
I am pretty capable of forgiving long-dead authors their sins, because I think we’re products of our societies - if you think too far outside the bounds you’re crazy by your society’s lights. So Shakespeare’s racism doesn’t bother me nearly as much as this. Sambo, being modern, is a raw reminder of a lot of very real pain that’s still a huge factor in all of our lives, and it hits me entirely differently. And especially painfully, given that it’s a book I had read to me once - I would like to love it for its merits, and be proud of having been influenced or expanded by it, like I am with other books. Instead, the thought that it may have influenced me makes me queasy.
I wonder if, in four hundred years, when the wounds of our horrible history have had some time to heal, this book will be lovable again?