Song of the South might still be useful for teaching about past racist attitudes and how mainstream they were – but there are probably better ways of doing that.
“Song Of The South” shouldn’t be labeled as offensive by anyone. Even if they find it so, that’s their problem. I see stuff every day that offends me. I get over it, they can too. Nothing offensive about “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” either. Whether by design or accident, it ended up reincarnated as “Sanford and Son.” Maybe “Song,” will resurface too, with Snoop Dog singing “Zippity,” which will make it politically correct.
Good grief, I still can’t believe Song of the South is blacklisted. In this day & age people are that sensitive to any perceived racial stereotypes depicted in this film ? Just about every other movie ever put out by Disney has been readily made available on home video & Song of the South should be allowed to be sold. If I’m not mistaken hasn’t Birth of a Nation been available to be purchased which is by far a very hurtful film complete with the racist Ku Klux Klan ? Any film that is not available to buy is censorship.
I saw this picture when I was about 10 over 40 years ago, although the picture is older than that. I don’t see what makes this picture so racist. I came away thinking that Uncle Remus was a wonderful person. He was smart, funny and kind, but you also see his bitterness later in the film. There may have been things that went over my head, but I remember having a lot of affection for him and thinking I’d like to be like him and have stories to tell. While this film’s attitudes may not be fully modern, it’s also not a belittling attack on black people.
I believe it was a rabbi who said "choose your enemies carefully because one day you will be just like them. Search the internet, I found and downloaded a copy from there some time ago…
Exactly. And if the beholders are black, and are fighting cultural stereotypes, it can be offensive. The stereotype portrayed in “The Song of the South” is that of “Uncle Tom.” Among other things this contains the idea that blacks were happy as slaves. It connects to ideas that blacks should be obsequious to whites and white culture. The phrase comes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom’s_Cabin.
While I think there is a lot of value in the film, and I certainly don’t think anything was done by anyone to intentionally denigrate, I can understand why some people find it offensive.
For an even more obscure Disney racist footnote, Google “Safflower.” I actually saw this, in the theatre, over 25 years ago. It was either a rogue print, or Disney hadn’t cropped it properly, yet…
edclectic almost 11 years ago
Aunt Tempy & Br’er Frog?
Linguist almost 11 years ago
Doo Da, Doo Da !
Sherlock Watson almost 11 years ago
It’s true. It’s actual.
davidh48 almost 11 years ago
I tried to get a copy from overseas, $60 for something which wouldn’t play. Flew to Disneyworld from Seattle and was told the movie was “blacklisted.”
All I wanted was the “zipadee doodah” part, having seen it the drrve-in with my grandparents.
farren almost 11 years ago
Geez, sir, you couldn’t get much more backwards if you tried.
cdward almost 11 years ago
Black people hanging from trees while white people watch is our history.
vwdualnomand almost 11 years ago
didn’t walt disney admired the nazis?
the old professor almost 11 years ago
Song of the South might still be useful for teaching about past racist attitudes and how mainstream they were – but there are probably better ways of doing that.
ForeverAllstar almost 11 years ago
If we ignore the past we cannot learn from it.
michaeljy almost 11 years ago
“Song Of The South” shouldn’t be labeled as offensive by anyone. Even if they find it so, that’s their problem. I see stuff every day that offends me. I get over it, they can too. Nothing offensive about “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” either. Whether by design or accident, it ended up reincarnated as “Sanford and Son.” Maybe “Song,” will resurface too, with Snoop Dog singing “Zippity,” which will make it politically correct.
KEA almost 11 years ago
you must be carefully taught – South Pacific
Dapperdan61 Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Good grief, I still can’t believe Song of the South is blacklisted. In this day & age people are that sensitive to any perceived racial stereotypes depicted in this film ? Just about every other movie ever put out by Disney has been readily made available on home video & Song of the South should be allowed to be sold. If I’m not mistaken hasn’t Birth of a Nation been available to be purchased which is by far a very hurtful film complete with the racist Ku Klux Klan ? Any film that is not available to buy is censorship.
JR6019 almost 11 years ago
I saw this picture when I was about 10 over 40 years ago, although the picture is older than that. I don’t see what makes this picture so racist. I came away thinking that Uncle Remus was a wonderful person. He was smart, funny and kind, but you also see his bitterness later in the film. There may have been things that went over my head, but I remember having a lot of affection for him and thinking I’d like to be like him and have stories to tell. While this film’s attitudes may not be fully modern, it’s also not a belittling attack on black people.
craigwestlake almost 11 years ago
I believe it was a rabbi who said "choose your enemies carefully because one day you will be just like them. Search the internet, I found and downloaded a copy from there some time ago…
MyTBaron Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Exactly. And if the beholders are black, and are fighting cultural stereotypes, it can be offensive. The stereotype portrayed in “The Song of the South” is that of “Uncle Tom.” Among other things this contains the idea that blacks were happy as slaves. It connects to ideas that blacks should be obsequious to whites and white culture. The phrase comes from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom’s_Cabin.
While I think there is a lot of value in the film, and I certainly don’t think anything was done by anyone to intentionally denigrate, I can understand why some people find it offensive.
FlaviaR almost 11 years ago
For an even more obscure Disney racist footnote, Google “Safflower.” I actually saw this, in the theatre, over 25 years ago. It was either a rogue print, or Disney hadn’t cropped it properly, yet…