Murzynek Bambo isn’t racist
"Murzynek Bambo" (Bambo the black child) is a children's poem by Jewish-Polish author Julian Tuwim (September 1894 – December 1953), written in 1934. It is about a little black boy called Bambo, who lives in Africa.
When I hear people talking about how ''stereotypical'' and ''racist'' the poem is, I wonder if we read the same thing.
Here it is, in its uncensored glory.
Murzynek Bambo lives in Africa,
our friend's skin is black.
He studies diligently all mornings From his first book.
And when he comes home from school, Mischief, fooling - it's his job.
Until mom screams, "Bambo, you rascal!" And Bambo puffs his black face.
Mum says: "have some milk" And he runs away up a tree.
Mama says: "Come take a bath" And he's afraid he’ll turn white.
But mom loves her little son. Because he's a good black boy.
It's a pity that Bambo doesn't go to school with us.
Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka ,
czarną ma skórę ten nasz koleżka. (koleżka - friend)
Uczy się pilnie przez całe ranki
Ze swej murzyńskiej pierwszej czytanki.
A gdy do domu ze szkoły wraca ,
Psoci, figluje - to jego praca.
Aż mama krzyczy: "Bambo, łobuzie!'
A Bambo czarną nadyma buzię.
Mama powiada: "Napij się mleka"
A on na drzewo mamie ucieka.
Mama powiada :"Chodź do kąpieli",
A on się boi że się wybieli.
Lecz mama kocha swojego synka.
Bo dobry chłopak z tego murzynka.
Szkoda że Bambo czarny , wesoły
nie chodzi razem z nami do szkoły.
I couldn’t find any official English translation. Probably the internet wants to bury it and poem isn’t know outside of Poland that much.
The poem is supposed to teach Polish youth tolerance towards Black children, suggesting they are not different from their Polish counterparts. Historians note that Tuwim, who faced strong antisemitic sentiments during the interwar period, espoused liberal views and was strongly opposed to Polish nationalist politics and its discrimination against ethnic minorities.
The word Murzyn/Murzynek isn’t as bad as Nigger. Czarnuch is more offensive. Murzynek is a cute way of saying it. Also murzynek means chocolate cake.
Bamboo doesn't want to take a bath, because he doesn't want to turn white. It is supposed to showcase that he likes how he looks and that children believe stupid things.
Climbing the tree bit might be considered racist today, but back in the day climbing trees was a thing that all children did, including the white ones.
Stop censoring/burning books. It was written almost 100 years ago.
