Museum object · Racist and Stereotypical Objects
Little Black Sambo
1943
Smithsonian NMAAHC collection
Source catalog description
This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.
A hardcover, first edition version of Helen Bannerman's "Little Black Sambo" with movable paper illustrations created by Julian Wehr. The book tells the story of a little boy in India who loses his fine new clothes to the tigers. The front cover has a yellow background and blue border with wavy edges. It features an illustration of the titular character, “Little Black Sambo,” seated in front of a bush. He is wearing a red jacket, white shirt, blue pants, and dark purple and red shoes. In his proper left hand, he holds a closed green and white umbrella with an orange handle. The heads and tails of four (4) tigers with orange with black stripes, are crouched behind the bush. Black, red, and blue text reads [LITTLE BLACK / SAMBO / ANIMATED! ANIMATED! / BY HELEN BANNERMAN / ANIMATIONS BY JULIAN WEHR]. The book has a red plastic spiral binding.
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Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: 2007.7.382
