‘Tigers’ Revisits the Controversial ‘Black Sambo’ Story

A new exhibition of the works of award-winning children’s book artist Jerry Pinkney kicks off Saturday at Every Picture Tells a Story with a celebrity reading by actors Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance of the book “Sam and the Tigers,” a retelling of the controversial “Little Black Sambo.”

Pinkney, who is also noted for his National Geographic illustrations and commemorative stamp designs, has won top honors for his imaginative watercolors in such notable children’s books as Robert D. San Souci’s “The Talking Eggs” and Julius Lester’s “John Henry.” He and Lester recently collaborated on the retelling of Helen Bannerman’s “Sambo,” a 1899 book that, through the years, became “the symbol of people’s insensitivity to people of color,” Pinkney said, because of the demeaning illustrations and language in many later versions of the book.

Pinkney and Lester, both African Americans, wanted to tell the story of Sambo (whom they renamed Sam) without an onus of racism.

“It was about, one, simply recognizing the value of the original story,” Pinkney noted, “and, secondly, actually going back and revisiting and redeeming a story that has so wounded African Americans.

“We had a copy in the house when I was growing up, and I remembered it vividly in terms of the colors and the story and the fantasy of tigers turning into butter. I thought it would be a good idea to at least pursue the possibility of redoing that.”

In “Sam,” Pinkney’s elegantly sumptuous illustrations of people and anthropomorphic animals complement the wit and dignity of Lester’s Southern-style tale-spinning. Here, a young boy in the mythical land of Sam-sam-sa-mara comes out on top after being bullied by clothes-stealing tigers.

The period look of the new book’s illustrations was inspired by Pinkney’s fascination with ‘20s and ‘30s portraiture of African Americans. “I am struck with their sense of pride and dignity and with their style,” he said. “I was always looking for a vehicle to express my feelings about that time.”

Pinkney represents the story’s “fantastical element” in his finely drawn, subtle-hued watercolors depicting a coastal community where an umbrella can be “as green as a satisfied mind,” a coat can be “as red as a happy heart” and tiger butter is delicious over striped pancakes.

Pinkney said he doesn’t “try to sidestep what happened with the original story, especially in this country where the illustrations became very vicious; there are over 57 different versions.” But he’s happy to be part of a positive revival that gives all children “a wonderful story of total fantasy.”

* “The Art of Jerry Pinkney,” Every Picture Tells a Story, 7525 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Saturday-Feb. 21. Gallery hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday reception with Pinkney and celebrity reading: 6-9 p.m. Free. Information: (213) 932-6070.

*

Music Makers: UCLA launches its latest family offerings with “Homemade Music From Around the World” at Veterans Wadsworth Theatre in West L.A. on Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. First, noted musician and educator Dr. Craig Woodson will help the audience make “drumpets,” a combination drum, trumpet, strings and more. Then the acclaimed Kronos Quartet--violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, violist Hank Dutt and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud--will perform, after which audience members will be invited to sit in with the quartet to try out their new instruments in a joint concert.

* Tickets: $22-$25; half-price for ages 16 and under. Information: (310) 825-2101.