Texas school administrator placed on leave after 'Sambo' reference

Associated Press ^ | 09-17-03

[MineralMan]

"There "used" to be a restraurant chain called "Sambo's". Used to be..."

Still is. The original Sambo's is still open along the waterfront in Santa Barbara, CA. They still have illustrations from the book on the wall.

Incidentally, "Little Black Sambo" was written about a boy from India.

[Kevin Curry]

Merely posting that picture is a hate crime. You are aware of that, right? FR's very own hate crime police will be along in a moment to bust your kneecaps.

[Calpernia]

Did you even know the real definition of sambo then? Seems like a pretty noble word, See post 39.

[MineralMan]

"An unintentional hate crime in progress.

Let's get outraged, shall we?"

I'm only outraged that so few folks know about the book about the Indian boy who outsmarted the tiger.

I'm mildly outraged that people didn't know that the original Sambo's Restaurant is still in operation on the waterfront in Santa Barbara. Great place for breakfast!

[Porterville]

Little Black Sambo had to be a South Asian, Asian, or Russian... so, I doubt she was using the term correctly. I like to think of Little Black Sambo as a Russian living in Siberia.

[TLI]

He was tossed for a martial art?
http://americansambo.com/

[rw4site]

Here is the story and a link to in in the local paper.

http://www.news-journal.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/09/16/1063770639.19830.9099.0104.html

9-17, Local: LHS official placed on leave for comment By MELISSA TRESNER

An administrator at Longview High School was placed on paid leave for about a week last month after making a comment some teachers believed was racially offensive and culturally inappropriate.

The incident occurred Aug. 11 when Debby Deck, the director of career and technology education, was leading an inservice session at the school.

According to letters from two LHS staff members, during a discussion of gaining respect from students, Deck said "How can you stand up here and teach when you have a Little Sambo sitting in the back of the room pulling up pictures of naked people?"

Deck did not immediately return calls Tuesday, but according to records obtained through the Texas Public Information Act, she sent a letter of apology to all who were present.

"It was brought to my attention that inadvertently I have offended some of you by a name I used in an example yesterday. In no way would I ever intentionally hurt your feelings or be disrespectful to anyone's culture. I am asking you to forgive me for such a grave mistake," Deck wrote in a one-page letter on Aug. 12.

Superintendent Dr. Dana Marable said officials interviewed everyone involved and determined that Deck had a slip of the tongue.

"We felt like this was something that was one of those things that just came out without thinking," Marable said Monday.

The term "sambo" has had negative connotations for many years.

In the mid-1990s, particularly, criticism arose over a children's book called "Little Black Sambo" written by Helen Bannerman more than 100 years ago. The story is about a boy from India named Sambo, who goes into the jungle and loses his clothing to sly tigers. But the tigers argue over who is the grandest and chase each other around a tree. They eventually melt into butter, which Sambo puts on his pancakes and eats.

Barbara Allen, a permanent substitute teacher at the school, wrote a letter to Deck and other administrators about the comment, which she said was offensive and considered derogatory to any educated persons.

"The action of the child is understood to be inappropriate: however, the name or term selected to describe the child was in very poor taste," Allen wrote.

Sybil Blacklock, who teaches family living courses, also found the remark offensive. In her letter to Deck, she said she was appalled.

"I am very careful before I write letters to my superiors, but in this instance, I feel compelled to further explain that the statement ... is not appropriate in a staff meeting dedicated to helping teachers improve their discipline," Blacklock wrote. "To an Afro-American, the Sambo stereotype is one of a dark-complexion male with exaggerated features, including a broad nose, big lips, protruding eyes and a large head. He is one who is lazy, shiftless, dumb and unable to achieve academically."

Deck said in her letter that she didn't know the term had negative cultural implications.

"I obviously was unaware that the use of the name ‘Sambo’ would mean any more than Joe or Suzy or Sam. The sensitivity to something I have neither read nor seen is something that, as was pointed out to me, I do not understand," Deck wrote. "I am not a racist in any way. I respect and love all my teachers and my students."

[Porterville]

"To an Afro-American, the Sambo stereotype is one of a dark-complexion male with exaggerated features, including a broad nose, big lips, protruding eyes and a large head. He is one who is lazy, shiftless, dumb and unable to achieve academically."

But He is Asian Not African!!! God Those Liberals Are Such Racist To Assume Anyone With Skin Pigment Is From Africa!!! :) Damn Racist Liberals.

[rw4site]

Re: Deck said "How can you stand up here and teach when you have a Little Sambo sitting in the back of the room pulling up pictures of naked people?"

Someone should tell this teacher that it is OK to study nakedness as long as it is not used in a religious context.

[nonsporting]

"...'Sambo' was INDIAN not BLACK."

How niggling.

(I hope this won't be miscontrued.)

[Inspectorette]

There's one, privately-owned in Lincoln City, Oregon. It burned down a couple of years ago, and during the process of rebuilding there was a lot of controversy about changing the name.

We were up there a couple of weeks ago and went by it - it's still Sambo's.

[yankeedame]

Sambo was a black child who outwitted a tiger. some negative stereotype...

And don't forget the melted butter and pancakes! Umm..Yummmy! (My tummy is starting to growl)

[Post Toasties]

Well, that's clearly an Indian kid.

[Charles Martel]

This guy is lucky he didn't talk about being niggardly.

Or going on a picnic.

Foreign language (well, "alternate" language in the Southwest) teachers have to be especially careful. Say the words "pequeno nino" too fast and you've got trouble.

[TexasRepublic]

How about "Amos", or how about "Andy" or how about "Amos and Andy"???

Nothing more than Laurel & Hardy in blackface. White idiots, black idiots, what's the difference? Comedy derives from absurd situations at somebody's expense. The best comedians laugh at themselves. Neither series was mean-spirited. ANY race that can't laugh off comical stereotypes is an insecure and small people.

[duckln]

Sounds like it could be Elmer Fudd, but he's white. Or
how about Mr. McGoo. Both IMO, along with Sambo, are
likable enjoyable charactures.

[WestPacSailor]

There "used" to be a restraurant chain called "Sambo's". Used to be...

Check out this link for a little history.

[WestPacSailor]

The funny thing about this is that "Sambo" was INDIAN not BLACK.

When the book Little Black Sambo was written, over 100 years ago, Indians, Pakistanis, and the like were also considered "black" or "colored" by the British.

[ladylib]

"I obviously was unaware that the use of the name ‘Sambo’ would mean any more than Joe or Suzy or Sam. The sensitivity to something I have neither read nor seen is something that, as was pointed out to me, I do not understand," Deck wrote. "I am not a racist in any way. I respect and love all my teachers and my students."

Yeah, and I'm sure your black students are going to be absolutely thrilled with you.

If she never "read it or seen it before," how come she said it? She had to "read it or seen it before" or even heard it somewhere. She didn't pull it out of thin air. The woman is a liar.

[Dog Gone]

You can't say "Sambo", but Sheila Jackson-Lee wants "black names" for hurricanes.

I suggest we change Hurricane Isabel to "Sambo" to appease her.