I just watched Gandhi. Help me understand this slur.

Cafe Society
1

After completing a self-guided reading of The Bhagavad Gita for class, I put some “Indian-themed” movies on my Netflix list. I just finished *Gandhi *last night. Wonderful, powerful, moving. Kingsley was fantastic.

But I have a question: what is the origin of the racial slur “sammy”? As much as I’ve enjoyed ( :rolleyes: ) googling racial slurs, I can’t seem to find an answer. I’ve never heard it before, ever. Can anyone explain?

Also, I’m open to any other Indian movies and/or biographies you might suggest on Gandhi. Do you suppose the movie accurately captured his excellent sense of humor? Thanks.

2

It comes from “swami”, Hindi for “master”. It was South African slang for an Indian.

3

Ah. Odd. They were so rude to him on that train.

4

What’s odd about their rudeness?

5

Are you sure about that etymology?

I had always assumed that it referred to Little Black Sambo.

6

I had heard the other origin, but that’s possible.

7

Sorry, I meant it was odd that the term came from a Hindi word.

8

Oh, ok. Although, remember that the South African slur for blacks, “kaffir”, came from an Arabic word.

9

Thanks,** Larry Mudd.** I finally got a chance to read about Little Black Sambo. I’d never heard of this book, and I may try to find it at the library just out of curiosity.

10

You can read the original illustrated version online here. It’s a quick read, and if you have time, you can even check out the cover illustrations from some of the author’s less memorable stories, such as:

Little Black Mingo
Little Black Quibba
Little Black Quasha
Little Black Bobtail

and the more experimental:

Little White Squibba.

(You can read the text of Little Black Mingo here.)

11

Interesting-- the plot of Little Black Sambo was kinda cute. I liked how the tigers were so wrapped up in arguing about who was the grandest that Sambo was able to get all of his clothes back. However, I can see how the names and illustrations would offend. Thanks for those links.

12

Kids used to call me Little Black Sambo when I was a keebler. Because of my last name. I’m not even part black. Go figure.

13

Keebler like elf? Or keebler like small child? Were you ever mugged by tigers who demanded your clothing?

Oh – and now my husband confesses that he *had *the book as a small child! Thanks for sharing so late in the game now, dear. :dubious: