This post would have taken place much sooner but for technical issues I was having with my accounts both at OpenSalon and at Amazon.com. Add to that the other banned book stories that popped up and you have this belated discussion of Herge's Tintin in the Congo, or Tintin au Congo.

For those with who haven't been following the lead-up to "A Year of Reading Dangerously," here's a link to my former post on this book. The post contains a link to the original New York Times story in its City Room blog about the Brooklyn Public Library's issues with this graphic novel.

While this project will rely heavily on the holdings of the St. Louis Public Library (a venerable institution with which I am again in communion, having coughed up a book I'd almost lost and over $20 in late fees), it did not have the offending text.

I am now the owner of a 1991 hard-bound copy, translated by  Leslie-Lonsdale Cooper and Michael Turner.

Finally, I may review this work in good faith, while introducing my "Raised Eyebrow" rating system.

Digressing a bit from  "Tintin," I want to explain my system. Shouldn't take more than a few sentences, bear with me. Simply written, my rating system for all of the texts covered in the "Year" will range from one "raised eyebrow" to ten. One meaning least offensive to my own sensibilities. Ten meaning I never want to own said book, would have some issues with my own child (if I had one that wasn't illiterate and four-legged) and which I am personally sorry to have read.

Easy enough? Excellent! Now! (ominous 1950s bad African adventure film soundtrack, preferably with pounding drums)  To the Congo!

Now, there's a lot of ground to cover. I will try to keep this brief but pointed.

Anyone who has read King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild may have a difficult time not cringing on reading this book. My copy is old enough that Herge' revision of a scene where Tintin gives a geography lesson remains, rather than the more politically correct math lesson that was inserted later. 

The novel includes these following things that had me pursing my lips and furrowing my brow:

- the cover art features the predominant depiction of the Africans with whom Tintin interacts: nappy-haired, big lipped, vacant eyed servants. It's the same kind of black face depiction that haunts many publications and even some politicians who may have once upon a time participated in minstrel shows.

-nearly all the Africans are servants, referring to whites and Tintin as "Master."

-none of the Africans in the story speak as well as the whites and are clearly not as "educated."

-Tintin frequently is shooting and killing some kind of animal (as if one hunt scene weren't enough)

-There is a witch doctor who exclaims "Me top juju man!" 

-Later when the witch doctor (who is naturally evil) is spared by the compassionate Tintin, he declares "Now me your slave, o noble white man." That was enough to turn my stomach a tad.

-The pygmy tribe Tintin encounters makes his dog their king. (roll of eyes)

-Somehow Al Capone is in on all of the schemes our Belgian reporter foils?

-Africans, lamenting Tintin's return to his home, send messages about it by "Tom-Tom Special." I don't know who that is more insulting to, Africans or Native Americans.

I would give this work about five raised eyebrows, due to the numerous examples of problems and what I perceive as an overall disrespect of native African cultures. 

Even Herge had doubts about the story. As in much of his writing, Herge often tried to satirize attitudes of his time. However, he was also, like most writers and artists, a product of those same attitudes and times.

In a note, the book's translators acknowledge issues with it. They point out that Herge' admitted to depicting the native residents of the Congo with the distorted attitudes of his time. The original series ran in October of 1930. Herge did revise the text and, again, often tried to use satire. It is likely he did not succeed in Tintin in the Congo and the book represents more of a time capsule than a timely critique.

I would not recommend this for younger readers but, in keeping with my own personal stance, don't think the book should be locked up in a vault or restricted to request only status.

As I will come to end most posts: It's only a book, after all. Just words and pictures on a page. A book didn't colonize the Congo. People did. 

Below is a little Belgian propaganda from its colonial days. Reflect, shudder, enjoy. Up to you.