Month: March 2005

Arthur Chrenkoff has been focusing on the “Good” news that is coming out of Iraq. Over the past few months, he’s noticed an increase in stories reported with a positive spin. Does that mean that the situation in Iraq is really getting better, or is it a sign that news journalists are getting increasingly optimistic about the conditions there? Whatever the answer, it’s good news.

Back in print and on sale in Tokyo.

A popular, long-selling children’s picture book will again go on sale in early April in Japan after its printing was halted in 1988 due to protests that it fanned racism against black people, the book’s new publisher said Thursday.

The book is “The Story of Little Black Sambo,” written by British author Helen Bannerman during a trip to India. It was released in Britain in the late 19th century.

In Japan, it was first issued in 1953 by Tokyo-based Iwanami Shoten Publishers under the Japanese title “Chibikuro Sambo” (Little Black Sambo).

Tokyo-based publisher Zuiunsha said it has received many orders from bookstores for the newly revived book.

Iwanami Shoten’s version of “Chibikuro Sambo” sold more than 1 million copies. The book carried illustrations by Frank Dobias and the text was translated by Natsuya Mitsuyoshi.

Civic groups protested that the word “sambo” had become a derogatory term in the United States for black people, prompting Iwanami Shoten to halt printing of the book. More than 20 other companies that released their own translated editions of the book followed suit.

Zuiunsha President Tomio Inoue has said he believes it is worthwhile to pass on the book to the next generation, adding, “I think it’s necessary to think deeply about what constitutes discrimination. In India, ‘sambo’ generally refers to a child’s name.”

The story tells the tale of a boy named Little Black Sambo who was taking a walk when he met a tiger which took away his red coat, blue trousers and purple shoes, but the boy later used his wit to retrieve the clothes.

Does this mean that we’ll finally see the comeback of one of America’s finest eating establishments?

Back in its heyday Sambo’s restaurant chain had more than 1,200 shops coast to coast. It was a place where you could get a dime cup of coffee and a stack of hotcakes with a smile. The name Sambo’s was the derived from the names of its founders Sam Battistone and Newell “Bo” Bohnett.

Their logo of a little black boy was borrowed from a children’s book written by Helen Bannerman at the end of the 19th century called “Little Black Sambo.” It was the tale of a young Indian boy who loses his clothing to some browbeating tigers. They wind up chasing each other around until they melt into hotcakes and butter, which Sambo winds up eating.

The illustrations in the book depicting Sambo made him look African and the term Sambo was a racist epithet as well. In 1957 when Sambo’s Restaurant first opened in Santa Barbara, California this was not a major concern to anyone except African-Americans and a few “communist agitators.”

It was a seemingly perfect theme for a restaurant. The chain eventually collapsed and the only shop to survive was the original one in Santa Barbara, which is now considered a landmark.

OK, maybe they won’t be opening up again anytime soon. But, for those who remember and wish to reminisce – here you go.

Iranian Female Police Cadets – in color. I especially like the third photo from the top. Blues Brothers deja vu – “hut hut hut hut hut”.

La Shawn started it…then, I went and read this, and this, which led me to this, then this. Then I stopped.

All the hysteria surrounding the presidential aspirations of Condoleezza and the coronation of Hillary is just nutso. Read this exchange between Tim Russert and Condi this morning on Meet the Press. Here we are, measuring each word, each nuance, each denial and each non-denial denial. Yikes.

And why have we suddenly decided that 2008 will be the year we run and elect a woman to the presidency? I’m not against it, I just wonder why it seems to be assumed so matter-of-factly right now?

I know Bush is a lame duck, but sheesh.

We’ve just finished a presidential campaign…why are we so anxious to start the next one?

James Joyner’s 15 minutes is preempted.

Next time, it’s a Windows machine for Dan Gillmor.

CNet does a fair job of covering the crosstalk in the aftermath of the controversial court ruling issued yesterday.

As Brian Nichols was being taken into custody this morning, Geraldo Rivera was speeding to the scene of the arrest. By violating various traffic laws, he helped FOX become the first of the major networks to scoop the story.

Are you a blogger? Just who is a blogger? Dave Pell asks the question.