"Murzynek Bambo" (Bambo the black child) is a children's poem by Jewish-Polish author Julian Tuwim (September 1894 – December 1953), written in 1934, which tells a story of a fictitious African child named Bambo.[1] Tuwim's poem, which was said to have been written to promote tolerance toward other ethnicities during interwar Poland, is seen by many as highly controversial with critics accusing the author of perpetuating harmful racial stereotypes.
The poem is sixteen lines long, arranged in eight rhyming couplets. It is said to have been written by Tuwim to teach Polish youth tolerance towards Black children, suggesting they are not different from their Polish counterparts.[2] Historians note that Tuwim, who faced strong anti-Semitic sentiments during the interwar period, opposed Polish nationalist politics and its discrimination against ethnic minorities.[3] According to Jakub Wojas, Tuwim was widely known for his anti-nationalist and anti-racist views.[2]
The meaning of Murzynekedit
The poem refers to Bambo as Murzynek, the diminutive form of Murzyn. Murzynek can be translated into English in a variety of ways, such as "black child". The word "Murzyn", which traditionally had not been considered offensive, has come to be seen as increasingly discriminatory and derogatory during the 21st century.[4] The word was derived from borrowing the German word Mohr, which derived from Latin maurus, similar to the English word 'moor'.
Accusations of racismedit
In recent decades, Murzynek Bambo has been accused of racism and of presenting a culturally and socio-economically demeaning view of Africans. Writer Patrycja Pirog notes that the poem is a "story of an enlightened Europe trying to civilize a savage" which, despite its seemingly innocuous nature, perpetuates harmful primitivist stereotypes of European colonialism and contributes to promoting racist attitudes toward Black people in contemporary Poland.[4] In the opinion of Margaret Ohia,[5] who researched racism in the Polish language at the University of California, the protagonist of the poem is presented as inferior to the presumably white reader. The phrase Murzynek Bambo is often used in children's name-calling when the target is a black child.[6]
Other Polish critics contend that the contemporary claims of the poem's seeming racism are exaggerated and anachronistic.[7] Referencing Alan Gribben's controversial attempt to expurgateMark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, conservative journalist Adam Kowalczyk dismisses the notion that Murzynek Bambo promotes racism in Poland.[8] A reader of Gazeta Wyborcza, a major liberal newspaper in Poland, Ewa Trzeszczkowska, describes in a letter how she identifies with Bambo: "For me, this work was and is a cheerful story about a naughty boy from a distant, exotic country, that, although so distant – both the country and the boy – is also similar to me. He has a joy of life which is expressed, amongst other ways, in the climbing of the trees (I climbed them too), and has a slight note of defiance, independence, liberty. Which was and is close to me!" She writes that she does not suspect "the author of these words of bad intentions", though she admits feeling discomfort reading that Bambo fears baths because he might become white.[9]
Textedit
A little Murzyn Bambo lives in Africa Our little friend has black skin He studies all the mornings His Murzynian ‘The First Textbook of Reading Skills’
And when he returns from school to home He makes mischiefs, rollicks – it’s his job Even mummy cries ‘Bambo, you scoundrel!’ And Bambo inflates his black face
Mummy says: ‘Drink some milk” And he runs away on a tree Mummy says ‘Go wash yourself’ And he’s afraid he would get white
But mummy loves her son Because this little Murzyn is a good boy It’s sad that black, cheerful Bambo Doesn’t go with us to our school
^Maciej Tramer, "Bambo zrobił swoje", Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Litteraria Polonica, vol. 26, issue 4, 2014, pp.149-160 (in Polish)
Quote: Jego pierwsza prezentacja nastąpiła rok wcześniej [1934] w "Czytance dla II klasy szkół powszechnych miejskich" opracowanej przez Mariana Falskiego [pl]
^ abWojas, Jakub (2023-06-12). "Czy "Murzynek Bambo" jest wierszem rasistowskim?". Kurier Historyczny.
^Karol Grabias and Mikołaj Mirowski. "Tuwim – poeta uwiedziony. Losy powojenne. Rozmowa z Mikołajem Mirowskim". Teologia Polityczna. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
^ abPiróg, Patrycja (2010). ""Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka", czyli jak polska kultura stworzyła swojego "Murzyna"". OPPOSite.
^Note: Margaret Amaka Ohia-Nowak, Poland-born of Polish mother and Nigerian father, linguist, Polish philologist, Ph.D in Polish philology, thesis "Językowe mechanizmy dyskryminacji rasowej" [Linguistic Mechanisms of Racial Discrimination]
^Murzynek Bambo dla licealistów? 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine, Colemi.pl (in Polish)
^Huckleberry Finn a Murzynek Bambo, Debata.olsztyn.pl (in Polish)
^Trzeszczkowska, Ewa. "O Murzynku Bambo raz jeszcze - list". Gazeta Wyborcza. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
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January 01, 1970
murzynek, bambo, bambo, black, child, children, poem, jewish, polish, author, julian, tuwim, september, 1894, december, 1953, written, 1934, which, tells, story, fictitious, african, child, named, bambo, tuwim, poem, which, said, have, been, written, promote, . Murzynek Bambo Bambo the black child is a children s poem by Jewish Polish author Julian Tuwim September 1894 December 1953 written in 1934 which tells a story of a fictitious African child named Bambo 1 Tuwim s poem which was said to have been written to promote tolerance toward other ethnicities during interwar Poland is seen by many as highly controversial with critics accusing the author of perpetuating harmful racial stereotypes Contents 1 Analysis and controversy 1 1 Historical context 1 2 The meaning of Murzynek 1 3 Accusations of racism 2 Text 3 See also 4 ReferencesAnalysis and controversy editHistorical context edit The poem is sixteen lines long arranged in eight rhyming couplets It is said to have been written by Tuwim to teach Polish youth tolerance towards Black children suggesting they are not different from their Polish counterparts 2 Historians note that Tuwim who faced strong anti Semitic sentiments during the interwar period opposed Polish nationalist politics and its discrimination against ethnic minorities 3 According to Jakub Wojas Tuwim was widely known for his anti nationalist and anti racist views 2 The meaning of Murzynek edit The poem refers to Bambo as Murzynek the diminutive form of Murzyn Murzynek can be translated into English in a variety of ways such as black child The word Murzyn which traditionally had not been considered offensive has come to be seen as increasingly discriminatory and derogatory during the 21st century 4 The word was derived from borrowing the German word Mohr which derived from Latin maurus similar to the English word moor Accusations of racism edit In recent decades Murzynek Bambo has been accused of racism and of presenting a culturally and socio economically demeaning view of Africans Writer Patrycja Pirog notes that the poem is a story of an enlightened Europe trying to civilize a savage which despite its seemingly innocuous nature perpetuates harmful primitivist stereotypes of European colonialism and contributes to promoting racist attitudes toward Black people in contemporary Poland 4 In the opinion of Margaret Ohia 5 who researched racism in the Polish language at the University of California the protagonist of the poem is presented as inferior to the presumably white reader The phrase Murzynek Bambo is often used in children s name calling when the target is a black child 6 Other Polish critics contend that the contemporary claims of the poem s seeming racism are exaggerated and anachronistic 7 Referencing Alan Gribben s controversial attempt to expurgate Mark Twain s Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn conservative journalist Adam Kowalczyk dismisses the notion that Murzynek Bambo promotes racism in Poland 8 A reader of Gazeta Wyborcza a major liberal newspaper in Poland Ewa Trzeszczkowska describes in a letter how she identifies with Bambo For me this work was and is a cheerful story about a naughty boy from a distant exotic country that although so distant both the country and the boy is also similar to me He has a joy of life which is expressed amongst other ways in the climbing of the trees I climbed them too and has a slight note of defiance independence liberty Which was and is close to me She writes that she does not suspect the author of these words of bad intentions though she admits feeling discomfort reading that Bambo fears baths because he might become white 9 Text editA little Murzyn Bambo lives in Africa Our little friend has black skin He studies all the mornings His Murzynian The First Textbook of Reading Skills And when he returns from school to home He makes mischiefs rollicks it s his job Even mummy cries Bambo you scoundrel And Bambo inflates his black face Mummy says Drink some milk And he runs away on a tree Mummy says Go wash yourself And he s afraid he would get white But mummy loves her son Because this little Murzyn is a good boy It s sad that black cheerful Bambo Doesn t go with us to our schoolSee also editLittle Black Sambo Washing the Ethiopian whiteReferences edit Maciej Tramer Bambo zrobil swoje Acta Universitatis Lodziensis Folia Litteraria Polonica vol 26 issue 4 2014 pp 149 160 in Polish Quote Jego pierwsza prezentacja nastapila rok wczesniej 1934 w Czytance dla II klasy szkol powszechnych miejskich opracowanej przez Mariana Falskiego pl a b Wojas Jakub 2023 06 12 Czy Murzynek Bambo jest wierszem rasistowskim Kurier Historyczny Karol Grabias and Mikolaj Mirowski Tuwim poeta uwiedziony Losy powojenne Rozmowa z Mikolajem Mirowskim Teologia Polityczna Retrieved 23 January 2022 a b Pirog Patrycja 2010 Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka czyli jak polska kultura stworzyla swojego Murzyna OPPOSite Note Margaret Amaka Ohia Nowak Poland born of Polish mother and Nigerian father linguist Polish philologist Ph D in Polish philology thesis Jezykowe mechanizmy dyskryminacji rasowej Linguistic Mechanisms of Racial Discrimination Uwiera mnie Murzynek Bambo wyborcza pl Retrieved 2019 12 14 Murzynek Bambo dla licealistow Archived 2012 03 27 at the Wayback Machine Colemi pl in Polish Huckleberry Finn a Murzynek Bambo Debata olsztyn pl in Polish Trzeszczkowska Ewa O Murzynku Bambo raz jeszcze list Gazeta Wyborcza Retrieved 29 January 2022 lt Alphabetized gt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murzynek Bambo amp oldid 1220386819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
