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

[snoopy]

I beleive the term is appropraite here because it describes a very specific characature that this statue repesents. If you want to see what it refers to, follow this link (I will not post the actual image here as it is too offensive, I provide the link here only so that people who aren't familiar with the term will know what we are talking about)
http://www.chgs.umn.edu/Histories__...alizing_Otherness_III_Set_/glassesholderA.jpg

I thought it was a statue of a kid fishing?

I've never seen nor heard of a "Sambo". I have heard of lawn jockeys, haven't seen one in years.

As far as what should the OP do, perhaps since the people are Russian they don't understand that this is something inappropriate, and maybe a nice chat with them might set them straight?

 

[LukenDC]

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?

I do remember Sambos in the 1970s in San Diego. I was a small child and I liked the tiger mascot, but my parents would never take me there. Now I can appreciate why. Not sure if Sambos became Denny's, but it is definitely a relic of the past.

 

[Pig Pen]

This is what people should find offensive.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/eve...oDMTA5bGcyMWMzBHNlYwNzc25hdg--?sp=-1&lsp=6000

 

[KristaTX]

Similar cast-iron statues began appearing in the decades after Washington's crossing of the Delaware in jockey silks

Wow. I never realized that Washington crossed the Delaware in jockey silks .

Interesting info on the jockeys, btw. I've always just thought they were weird things people put in their yards like fake deer or flamingos.

 

[GoofItUp]

I've never heard of or seen a Sambo's (restaurant, statue, or otherwise) or a lawn jockey. I guess if I saw one in somebody's yard I wouldn't realize I should be offended. If I saw a lawn jockey I would probably just figure it was a black family that lived there and it was just something they liked.

I think there are people who looked to get offended by things. But, to be honest, I also think that a lot of this is dying out as generations who lived through any type of segreagation or racism die out. (And I don't mean that harshly, either.) I know I never experienced any of it, and it's not something I really think about one way or the other.

 

[WDWHound]

I thought it was a statue of a kid fishing?

Yes, but the OP made a point about the exagerated features. Statues with faces like the one a Linked to have been called Sambos.

 

[DemonLlama]

There are still many of the lawn jockeys around this part of the country. Oftentimes you see them paired, one painted white next to black, two little boys with cane poles dangling their bare feet and wearing straw hats.

The Sambo caricatures, however, capture all the racist fervor in the exaggerated features that resemble apes. For many years, the Klan and other racist organizations linked African heritage with monkeys and apes, and this was born out in the Sambo statuary. It is offensive and vile, even if whomever owns the piece now just has it as a "piece of history."

Like the confederate flag and the swastika, these symbols of hatred may not "mean anything" to some, but for others are deep and abiding symbols of hatred, intolerance, and murder.

If the kindly Russian neightbors had draped the swastika, which in Hindu cultures has been a symbol of the sun and energy for millennia, it would still convey Hitler's Nazi Germany and the extermination of 6 million Jews to too many people to be appropriate for a lawn decoration.

I feel the same way about Sambo statuary -- it should be removed after having a neighborly and concerned chat concerning its meaning with those who don't realize the implications.

On a related note, I'm not really seeing how it is a hardship for whites to be excluded from a beauty pageant as opposed to the continued systems (judicial, penal, educational, housing, car buying, etc) that continue to judge a man on the color of his skin rather than the content of his character. That's why African-Americans have to continue to point out racism, even in the seemingly "meaningless" things like lawn ornaments and restuarant names. The Indian origins of the Sambo story, for instance, were changed significantly in the early part of the 20th century to resemble the poor slave stereotype, which is what a large part of the American audience remembers, even it that is not accurate to the origins of the story.

Sorry to have gone on so long, but I teach this subject to college freshman who have similar sentiments along the lines of some of the posts in this thread. They don't see racism as an issue, apart from a few who focus on the reverse discrimination in affirmative action. For these students, it is very eye-opening to study the real and abiding problem of racism in this country, now that it has gone off the radar for many people.

 

[swilphil]

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?

We have had a few in our neighborhood and they offend me. I imagine the African-Americans in the neighborhood are even more offended. I think it would be appropriate to let the Russian neighbors know that lawn jockeys and Sambos are left overs from the days of slavery in America. The lawn jockey represents the slave who would greet the guests on the lawn. They may be unaware that the statue is offensive and what it represents. If they painted it peach-colored I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[mrsv98]

I am the OP...

Well, the neighbors had a garage sale so I could slow down and take a look without being obvious and I have to say, of the two, the Lawn Jockey is extremely offensive. It is the truly traditional kind, with huge exaggerated features and a ridiculous expression. The little boy fishing isn't as bad but the two taken together are pretty bad.

I think what I will do is write them a friendly, nonthreatening note, maybe include a print out of some of the history and put it in their mailbox. I would do it face to face but there are two issues: 1) I have stopped and said hello and got the impression that at least the wife's English is limited and 2) I feel like a note is nonconfrontational...they can do what they like with it but at least I have brought the issue to their attention.

I am all for "getting on" and not being offended by every little thing as some posters have said. However, there are some things that simply cannot be ignored and this is one of them.

 

[Aidensmom]

It's not just a black boy fishing though, it's a caricature so it has all the "stereotypical" features---usually very dark skin, wide nose, big lips. I hope this description doesn't offend anyone, just wanted to explain to Beauty why they are considered offensive.

And so if someone has stereotypical features, is that offensive? I myself don't understand this, why it is offensive, and I am not the least bit racist. I honestly don't think anyone has these statues because they are trying to make a racist statement, but rather because they think it is an attractive thing to have in their yard. Someone else said it represented someone uneducated. Well, my very white DH goes fishing all the time, and it does not reflect on his intelligence. I think someone at some point just said "oh, this is offensive" so now the PC thing to do is to agree.

 

[DemonLlama]

So the connection that the Klan makes between the black man being an animal and exaggerating features to mock the differences between the bone structure of people is just political correctness run amuck?

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I used to go to Sambo's all the time when I was growing up. It was Village Inn that was Sambo's not Denney's (At least here in Central Florida)

 

[Poohbear123]

wow--thanks Carolyn.

It is amazing how something has its origins for non-offensive purposes gets turned around and is taboo.

Yes, things get 'turned around' a lot lately. I DO have a "sambo" but it is well hidden in my BACK yard, as I live in a black neighborhood. My Mom had one circa 1945-1975 and it was placed on the front porch of the house we lived in. Times they have a changed.

 

[daddydisneyworld]

So the connection that the Klan makes between the black man being an animal and exaggerating features to mock the differences between the bone structure of people is just political correctness run amuck?

yes, it is.

 

[Pongo69]

I will probably get flamed for this but I feel I must speak my .02!! Why is it that black people are so quick to claim discrimination? I mean ***?? A lawn jockey in a front yard?? They say that is discriminatory or the name Sambo? It just erks me to no end when they cry wolf about this stuff. What about us white folks that feel the NAACP is discriminating us? Can we have an association for white people? Why is there a black Miss America pageant and no white Miss America pageant? They can compete in the white one but there are no whites in theirs?? Sometimes I feel discriminated against when all these sensitive issues are brought to light. Why can't they just get over it and get on with life? Life is too short to moan and groan about what statues are in front of a neighbor's house or an old restaurant name!

As far as the lawn jockey go I could care less what you put on your lawn.

I like Aunt Jamima pancakes and Mrs.Butterworth syrup. I don't see anything wrong with that nor do I look at white people crazy for buying it.

As far as the, Why is there a black Miss America Pagent and No white America Pagent take a look back in history. Minorities were not allowed to participate in these pagents which I'm sure you knew this.


You all had the White Miss America Pagents for years while minorities stood on the sidelines. Now some of you claim to not understand *WHY* African Americans have our own Magazines,Award Shows,Cothing lines, Pagents and the Naacp ect... If you don't understand why--maybe it's not for YOU to understand.

Another thing, don't show ignorance telling people to get over something when you have no clue of what minorities went thru back in the day, and still going thru now in some parts.

Even though there is still racism though not as bad as it was during the times of slavery, as a black woman I would never tell someone who went thru slavery to "get over it" no more than I would tell a Jewish person to get over their feelings about the Holocaust.


BTW, I must say I find it very ironic that years ago and today we black people were made fun of for our skin tone, full lips, hair and everything else you can think of, but now -and-*** NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE HERE**** you have these white woman all over having butt and body fat injected into their lips for a *fuller pout* and other parts of their body.

If big lips are so bad why do you want them and please tell me why is tanning such a big deal

I'm not trying to offend anyone with my question but I would really like to know..anyone?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

BTW, I must say I find it very ironic that years ago and today we black people were made fun of for our skin tone, full lips, hair and everything else you can think of, but now -and-*** NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE HERE**** you have these white woman all over having butt and body fat injected into their lips for a *fuller pout* and other parts of their body.

If big lips are so bad why do you want them and please tell me why is tanning such a big deal

I'm not trying to offend anyone with my question but I would really like to know..anyone?

I don't get the whole voluptuous lips thing---to inject crap in to make bigger lips--just seems silly.

And while I do not go and get tans---I do believe that those who get them...are not trying to turn themselves into a black person.

 

[Pongo69]

I don't get the whole voluptuous lips thing---to inject crap in to make bigger lips--just seems silly.

And while I do not go and get tans---I do believe that those who get them...are not trying to turn themselves into a black person.

I don't believe they're trying to turn themselves into black people either.

What I don't understand is why a "color" which was and still is despised by so many is so important.?

Then again maybe it's not for me to understand.

 

[shortbun]

yes, it is.

DDW-are you KKK? Seems like you might be and I just want to know.

 

[lulugirl]

DDW-are you KKK? Seems like you might be and I just want to know.

Well, that's about the only post on this thread I find offensive.
You are really out of line.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Well, that's about the only post on this thread I find offensive.
You are really out of line.

I agree VERY uncalled for.