When I was rummaging through the attic of my ex-mother in law a couple of years ago, I came upon her old elementary school geography textbook. I was mildly interested to see what the level of education had been in the fifties, so I flipped through it idly. One page literally made me do a double take. Times certainly have changed.

I swear this is completely authentic and the translation is accurate.

The caption reads "East African negroes and their travel paraphernalia."

Linguistically negroes are divided into two categories: Sudanese negroes and bantu negroes, with the latter living in Sudan and the former in the rest of Africa south from Sudan. Physical characteristics are very varied, especially among bantu negroes. Their language is one common characteristic, as the languages of the bantu negroes are quite obviously related.

Negroes are cheerful and and carefree by nature, and they greatly enjoy making music and noisy activities. Characteristic to them is a very low motivation for work, considerable selfishness and sudden bouts of cruelty which can be attributed to their childlike congeniality. Their senses are very acute, as with all primitive people, and their mental faculties are not as dull as commonly thought.

Due to the climate negroes often dress themselves only in a loincloth or a belt of some kind. A very common custom is to wear all sorts of ornaments, and even the skin is often painted and decorated in many ways. In regions where many europeans live, negroes find it enjoyable to dress in European clothing. The dwellings are very varied in different parts of Africa. Sudanese negroes live in huts built out of clay bricks. Building materials include trees and leaves in regions with forests, and reeds when near rivers. Due to natural enemies and predatory animals, negroes prefer to live in large villages where the huts are almost attached to each other.

 Back to front page.