John Anerley

“The Crescent Library. Fine, full-length modern Stories of School and Adventure. Well written, wholesome and inspiring in character.”

It’s imperialist propaganda for children. The author sets out his stall in the prologue in which a roomful of Whitehall types lay their plans for Africa. It’s the most sinister passage I’ve ever come across in a children’s book. Because “some of them are still definitely addicted to things like human sacrifices and black magic” “it is obvious, therefore, that the control of the natives by white men must go on until they have learned the arts of civilisation”. In other words, they need to eradicate the Africans’ culture and beliefs. This needs to be done in central Africa so the tribes don’t invade South Africa. Luckily, they “like the African. He is intelligent and a good sport generally” so this pacification can be done by educating the kings’ sons. “It would take a few years in England to wipe out the inherited instincts of generations of savagery.” Although the author doesn’t explicitly say this, I can’t help thinking that you generally will keep quiet if you sons are essentially hostages in your conqueror’s homeland. And you have to pay for the privilege.

So young Ormeru is packed off to public school where he is subjected to some racism by the bad boys who call him a ‘nigger’. The good boys and the teachers call him a “savage”, which is the polite term. Luckily, Ormeru has “the quickness of eye which gives the coloured man an advantage over the white man in cricket” and it is by this method that he wins his classmates over. I notice that sport is still a method today by which black people are permitted to obtain respect in the West.

Unfortunately, some scoundrels are plotting against him. In a passage which I think shows some insight on the part of the author, most people can come to accept one black person, but as soon as a second one is sighted in the village they all go off their heads and are greatly disturbed because they can’t tell one from the other.

The prose is stilted and the intentions suspect, but this would make an excellent primary source if you’re studying colonialism or a related subject. I have given an extra star for the cover art.… (plus d'informations)