Damn It Josh, You Made Me Think

On the Friday night after the Presidential Election, I was at work late waiting for Suzanne to get to New Carrollton Metro. Rab called from Boston to discuss a Michigan trip. The conversation turned to the election and my Mississippi roots and my blog about voting for Obama.

Somehow we talked about my black Standard Poodle that I bought for my family's protection over 30 years ago. Rab's Blackberry connection was not great and I talked louder than usual to compensate.

I told Rab the story of naming this beautiful dog Black Sambeau of Southside. Rab, being the normal Yankee, was amazed. I didn't understand.

Suzanne and I grew up on the story of Sambo, an Indian Prince who had to give his fine clothes and slippers to the tigers to keep from being eaten, and we read the story to our children over and over.

I didn't spell the dog's name and I didn't think anything about the conversation until Rab and I hung up. That's when Josh met me at the end of the cubicle aisle.

Josh said "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation, Bill". I apologized for speaking too loudly and explained the bad connection. Josh said "That's not what I'm talking about, Bill. You know that Sambo is an offensive term don't you?"

I really didn't know it was offensive and I don't think I had ever been confronted about a racial issue in my life. I lamely directed Josh to my blog about voting for Obama http://billburnette.blogspot.com/

All that weekend and since, I've thought about what Josh heard and thought about my attitude. The story of Sambo was not written to be offensive, or thought to be offensive when it was written. That came later and I missed the change.

Suzanne had a tradition in her family of naming all dogs Beau. There had been Beau and Red Beau and many others.

Our Standard Poodle was black and we lived in the part of Columbus, Mississippi, known as Southside. It seemed natural to name the dog Black Sambeau of Southside in his registration papers.

I'm a lover and not a fighter and I never try to offend anybody on purpose. So, Josh, I most likely today would not name a black dog Sambeau. Thirty years ago in Mississippi, it seemed natural to call a black dog Sambeau. Today, not so much. Thanks for telling me what you thought and felt.