For Christmas I remembered Tuwim's charming poem:
Black Bamboo in Africa lives, Black's got our buddy's skin. She learns diligently all the mornings From his black «First Reading». And erstwhile he comes home from school, He's playing tricks. It's his job. Until my parent screams, «Bambo, you rascal!» A Bambo's a black man. Mom says, «Come to the bath», And he's afraid they're white. But Mom loves her son, Because he's a good boy, the black guy. Too bad Bamboo's black, cheerful, He doesn't go to school with us.
I think the poem is on the index as "racist". I think it's stupid due to the fact that I don't see any racism. besides the word “black”, now forbidden, has no pejorative tone.
But I am puzzled by the careful avoidance of African themes by Polish media. The deficiency of bringing Africa's problems closer to us besides reflects a deficiency of policy towards Africa.
Today, the population of this continent is about 17%. In 20 years, it'll be 25%, and in 30 more than 30%.
Nobody says it's Africa's problem. Now all problems are global. It's time to get into Africa.
Michał Leszczyński
