Yes, I mean isn't "Sambo" intended as a compliment? You know, like the way that "Sambo" triumphed at the end of the story? And, hey, Sambo is South Indian, he's not even black, right?
I guess Salt is arguing that he should just be able to walk up to any black person, slap that person on the back, and call that black person "Sambo" as a compliment.
After all, that black person can "take it however you want, friend".
That black person's "opinion doesn't really matter to him in this case".
That black person can't "define for me or others what Sambo means".
If that black person "wants to be that offended that he would try to assault someone he doesn't even know over it, that is his prerogative".