Yes, I know the origin of Little Black Sambo being Indian and not African, but many Indians and Africans have very dark skin colors and were both portrayed as “black”.
As I recall (well over 50 years ago), the Little Golden Book really didn’t make the distinction between the two continents. Little Black Sambo was just, well, black. The tiger that turned into butter wasn’t identified as being from India or Africa, either.
Remember Sambo’s coffee shops? I recall their murals being non conclusive as to Sambo’s origin as well. But that was in the early 1970s, so these memories aren’t recent either.
Are there tigers in Africa?
Do you mean the Sambo’s family restaurants? They were named for their owners - Sam and Bob.
I do, indeed. at the one on Sixth Street in Los Angeles, if you ordered coffee, you could never drain your cup--the wait staff was so efficient that they would keep it full.
I believe the only Sambo's left is in Santa Barbara, Calif.