The racist portrayal of Topsy, Little Black Sambo, Black Mumbo and Black Jumbo in this book are outrageous from modern perspective, but there they are, stereotypes in ink. Drawn and written by people who thought that they were accurate and comical. Incredibly popular with white parents. It is important to see the past for what it was, so that we work to make it better, not pretend that we don't need to change anything currently. Despite the tone being jovial and carefree, there is subtle language in this that betrays the white supremacy of the time. This ought not be forgotten because those who fail to remember the past are currently repeating it.

Horrible debasing illustrations. Horrible debasing interpretation of an otherwise funny folk tale. For sure made to the taste of many in 1908.
Good to read to make you truly understand the racism of many at that time. We have been coddled in a tolerant society in the 21st centrury, but beginning of the 20th in the US is truly reveled in this book...very ugly. Now that is real racism.

I'm so surprised this hasn't been censored yet. The left wing is slacking off big time. It's an ugly part of our history but it's still part of our history.

Despite unfortunate illustrations and more than a few unfounded assumptions from readers who are unfamiliar with the setting, the character of Sambo is from the south of India. Thus we have mention of the tigers (which are not indigenous to Africa), and the reference to melted butter, called by its Hindi name, ghi (ghee).
It's a shame that people can't get past the name (and I'm counting the illustrators among them), because discounting that, it's a rather nice little tale with nothing racist about it. Read it for yourself.

A very interesting booklet that reflects societal attitudes of the times. Published in 1908, this definitely has a negative stereotype to it. But it is also important from a historical perspective. These stereotypes were the norm in those times. The illustrations depict a kind of silliness in the characters that was accepted. But the story is still good. It has a good point about greed and want. My guess is these booklets were read more by African Americans to their children than in the white community. The name "Little Black Sambo" was at times used negatively toward African American children. We can't change the past. But we can look at it to see what happens when you normalize discrimination. And that will remind us how toxic it can be.