Since the beginning of our generation’s time, Disney’s animated movies have been a substantial part of our childhood. Girls fantasized about being princesses, while boys wanted to be the heroic prince charming. As children, we didn’t see the racial insensitivity that has been put in Disney movies. But now, as adults, unfortunately it feels like a piece of our childhood has been taken away from us. Here are 10 Disney movies that you probably didn’t know were racist.
Painfully Racist Disney Moments They Wish You Would Forget
#1 Dumbo
The crows alongside Dumbo are depicted as uneducated and lazy, as they speak in jive slang and are led by their leader, ‘Jim Crow'.
#2 The Little Mermaid
In the "Under the Sea" singing scene, a crooning blackfish briefly appears then leaves the screen. Some say it isn't racially sensitive. What are your thoughts?
#3 Fantasia
The character "Sunflower" in Fantasia is a black centaur who seems to be elated to serve the white centaurs.
#4 Aladdin
Though the movie is set in Arabia, Aladdin is seemingly unfamiliar about his Arabic culture, while Jafar, the villain, is dark complected and possesses stereotypical Arabic traits.
#5 Peter Pan
It is said that the tone of the songs performed in the movie have a racial connotation to them.
#6 Mickey’s Man Friday
In the 1935 film, Mickey's Man Friday, Mickey saves an African native from cannibals, then tells him, "You be my man, Friday," before patting him on the head.
#7 Lady and the Tramp
The Siamese cats were said to be portraying Asian stereotypes: slanted eyes, bucked teeth, and poor English. Not to mention, they possessed a shifty, evil nature.
#8 The Three Little Pigs
There's a scene where The Big Bad Wolf is dressed up like a Nazi. Disney's rebuttal is that this was filmed before Hitler.
#9 Song of the South
Well, if it isn't painfully obvious. Set on a plantation in Georgia, Uncle Remus is presumably a former slave who tells stories to entertain a young, white boy, while singing songs about "the good old days."
#10 Pocahontas
Pocahontas' happy ending whitewashes history by failing to acknowledge that white settlers brutally slew and oppressed Native Americans.
