'Monkey' Africans book row

Alerted to the 'racist' Tintin children's story when a Sky Tv researcher telephoned with an invitation for me to appear on an afternoon discussion programme.

The offending book was first published in 1930 and is called Tintin in the Congo. It features the Tarzan 'Dark Continent' stereotypes of monkey-like Africans and superior white colonial characters. There is animal cruelty as well, with a rhinoceros blown up by Tintin who hurls a stick of dynamite at the poor beast.

This enraged Scandinavians so much this nasty episode in the book was removed. Pity the same Swedes and Finns who protested didn't care as much about the insulting Black Sambo image on their Fazer liquorice sweet wrappers (see The-Latest stories about this).

Apparently, Borders have upset the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) by stocking the volume. The high street chain store later moved the book from the children's section to the area reserved for adult graphic novels. In a statement, a spokesperson for the CRE commented that "the only place that it might be acceptable for this to be displayed would be in a museum, with a big sign saying 'old fashioned, racist claptrap''". Borders said that they were committed to let their "customers make the choice".

Retailer WH Smith said the book is sold on its website but with a label which recommends it for readers aged 16 and over.It reminded me of my exposure of posh people's store Harrods, of Knightsbridge, London, doing a brisk under the counter business in notorious The Story of Little Black Sambo book, a decade ago. After a public outcry, the book was eventually withdrawn from sale.

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