How would you feel if there was a "Sambo" in your neighborhood?

[mrsv98]

A few houses down from us, a Russian couple bought a house a couple of years ago. They have put a tremendous amount of work into it and it looks great. Earlier in the summer, I noticed a cute little bridge among the landscaping, it looks almost like it would go in a Japanese Garden if you can picture that. Ok, all is well.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I almost crashed the van when I saw they had installed a little "Sambo" statute, that is, a characature black boy, bare feet and all, "fishing" from the bridge! AND THEN, they got a lawn jockey for next to the front step!

How offensive would you find this? Would you say anything if you did? Do you think it is a cultural thing and they don't realize the racial implications? We live in a predominently white neighborhood, but there is an Afircan American family just down the street. Honestly, it makes me cringe everytime I drive by, but I am not sure I have the "right" to make a comment. Your thoughts?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It would make me uncomfortable, but I don't think I would say anything.

A BF in college had a friend who collected these things. The friend did get told what I thought about it.

 

[mick67]

I would go steal them at 3 o'clock in the morning.

 

[Cindy B]

My neighborhood is full of older people, mostly retirees and the occasional young family in with the crowd.

I have seen a few Sambos in the neighborhood and honestly, considering the neighborhood, it doesn't bother me. These older people will never change thier minds and whatever I say wouldn't bother me.

Its a statue pure plain and simple.

We have a pretty Catholic presence here as well and many people have those HUGE Mary altars in thier front lawns. Its a statue. It doesn't bother me in personal property setting, but to put it in a public place bothers me. (for example some well meaning person last year kept on putting a Mary statue in front of the public school)

 

[pat fan]

Hopefuly it's a cultural thing and they don't understand the implications. Unfortunately, I can't use that defense with someone who lives down the road from us. They should know better and they have the lawn jockey, I cringe every time I drive by

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm embarrassed to ask this - but what is a Sambo?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My mom had the little black jockey. It was an antique. Her possession of it had nothing to do with her feelings about other people.

So I guess I woudl think the "sambo" odd if I saw one but the jockey wouldn't bother me so much.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sambo's is a negative portrayal of african American's.

I believe that Denny's used to be Sambo's and they had to change their name--anybody else remember this?

 

[Cindy B]

My mom had the little black jockey. It was an antique. Her possession of it had nothing to do with her feelings about other people.

So I guess I woudl think the "sambo" odd if I saw one but the jockey wouldn't bother me so much.

My grandparents (now deceased) had the jockey as well. A lot of families had them in that neighborhood and time frame.

 

[Beauty]

I don't know what exactly a Sambo is but if its just a little black boy statue fishing it wouldn't bother me. Whats the difference in a little white boy or a little black boy? I think they would be cute. It would bring back memories of childhood. I can remember going fishing many many times with my grandaddy by the side of a creek and throwing my sandals off. I live in the South where we are SUPPOSED to be really racist and I don't see anything racist about it.

 

[Cyndiu]

I wouldn't like the statues and if I was friends with the neighbors I'd probably tell them. It's their property though and if they want to put a little statue of a KKK member on their lawn, I guess we can't stop them.

By the way, I find "Sambo" inappropriate. Where I come from, it's only a step or two from the "N" word. (Although I'm sure you didn't mean it that way.)

 

[Pugdog007]

I know I used to eat at Sambo's and it was pretty good. And it had neat drawings all over the wall... like scenes from Tarzan. I didn't think it was racist.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My grandparents (now deceased) had the jockey as well. A lot of families had them in that neighborhood and time frame.

She had one used as a doorstopper. Purchased in a South Carolina antique store or flea market. I don't think she'd be so want a piece of history to go as far as a lawn ornament though.

 

[mrsv98]

I don't know what exactly a Sambo is but if its just a little black boy statue fishing it wouldn't bother me. Whats the difference in a little white boy or a little black boy?

I guess the difference is the history. These statues have a negative connotation and perpetuate the stereotype of the uneducated, poor black child.

By the way, I find "Sambo" inappropriate. Where I come from, it's only a step or two from the "N" word. (Although I'm sure you didn't mean it that way.)

So do I but I thought that was what the statutes were called. That is what I always heard them refferred as. Of course I meant no offense and I hope none taken.

 

[jellymanoffspring]

I ate a sambos once in Colorado....i was about 10 or so and even then (since I was from the NY area)..I remember finding it strange and somewhat offensive
I knew the story...but it was wierd..... didn't he run around a tree and turn to butter or something like that....

I did not know they still sold those 'Lawn jockey" things.....
have not seen one in ages...
I remember thinking it very strange when folks started painting theirs white!!??
That had some kind of twisted story about the boys loyalty ..right?? He stood in the cold and froze holding the horse for his boss( Owner, master??)

 

[Aristocath]

I remember the Sambo's restaurants from the seventies. It was like a Denny's or Shoneys. They had a little black boy and a tiger as the logo. I assume the OP is referring to a statue that would be similar to this. The restaurant had to change the name or went out of business because the name was deragatory.

I liken this to the controversy over the confederate flag. IMO, it is a historical symbol and should be preserved as such, in museums for example. I think it is inappropriate for Confederate flags to be displayed by a school or a home or the like.

I'll stop rambling now.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://www.ishipress.com/sambo.htm
the story of little black sambo....

Not sure the validity of this--but something interesting that it says on here:

NOTE: The "Story of Little Black Sambo" is rarely told any more, because it is presumed to be racist. However, examination of the story shows that it is about India, not Africa. The story refers to "ghe", a type of butter used in India. Also, tigers exist in India but not in Africa. The only thing African about the story is the "mb" sound in Sambo and Jumbo, which is a sound commonly heard in African languages.
The story is no more racist than the Story about Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which is a story about a little blond-haired girl who steals things from a family of bears.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I remember eating at Sambo's on a road trip once and getting a stuffed Tiger. It is from a book called "Little Black Sambo". He is an african boy who has a run-in with a Tiger; I remember it ends when somehow he gets the Tiger to run around and around a tree so fast that it turns into butter. Don't ask me how that works. I heard it is almost impossible to find that book today because it seems so racist now.
My mother had a lawn jockey, but in 1967 when there were race riots in Detroit (we are in Toledo area), she freaked out and gave it to my uncle. She thought someone would get offended and set out house on fire. The weird thing is my uncle lives practically in the inner city of Toledo!
Robin M.

 

[Beth76]

By the way, I find "Sambo" inappropriate. Where I come from, it's only a step or two from the "N" word. (Although I'm sure you didn't mean it that way.)

I believe that's what these statues are called. So, I don't think it's inappropriate to use the term here. I do think it's inappropriate to have the statues. Someone in our neighborhood actually has a couple of these. I really didn't think people had these anymore. So you know how rare they are.....I couldn't even find a picture of one on the internet.

 

[Beth76]

I remember seeing the book "Little Black Sambo" at my grandparents house when I was little. It was my dad's book when he was a kid way back in the 40s. I remember my parents commenting how bad it was and shocked that it was ever considered appropriate.