Song of the South

[Wilt Dasney]

Just to throw this out there: The NAACP has no mention of this film anywhere on its website that I could find.

I also found this in a 2002 newspaper article about Song of the South:

At the time of its release, "Song of the South" gamered serious objections from groups such as the NAACP and the National Urban League, although these days the NAACP staunchly insists that it has not threatened boycotts, protest or any other actions against Disney if the company decides to release the film now.

Nevertheless, representatives of the organization did take part in protests against a Disneyland attraction with a "Song of the South" theme a few years ago. So it's easy to understand how Disney might fear political-correctness repercussions from those who inevitably would be offended by a modern release.

This makes me think Disney is being even more craven than I originally suspected. Unless the minority groups are saying different things behind the scenes, then Disney is sitting on this movie because of protests, boycotts and bad PR they think might occur, not because of any threatened action.

 

[the-reason14]

Come to think of it, I think I remember seeing this on vault disney years ago. Back when the disney channel was watchable. I dont know if it was the entire movie, or maybe an excerpt, but I remember seeing Brer Rabbit singing bout his laughing place.

I also remember seeing the entire movie for the first time at school. Im thinking it was a vhs, but I remember seeing it, and I was in the 7th grade.

 

[agent86]

Come to think of it, I think I remember seeing this on vault disney years ago. Back when the disney channel was watchable. I dont know if it was the entire movie, or maybe an excerpt, but I remember seeing Brer Rabbit singing bout his laughing place.

You might be thinking of one of the Disney Sing-a-long videos.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Or it could have been a special like One Hour in Wonderland (which HAS been released to DVD) which contain excerpts from the movie (about 10 minutes worth). Like the first Disneyland episode The Disneyland Story (also released to DVD).

But ya, the sing along songs have included excerpts from the movie too.

 

[trr1]

As I was trying to say before that's the PROBLEM people have with it, rather than the film being racist. It gives the wrong impression of inter-racial relations within a community. Imagine if Disney made a film about concentration camps and showed Nazis and Jews being all happy, happy, happy. (Yes I might be using an extreme example but it showcases the point). SotS ignores the existence of a huge chunk of American history.

well maybe if Disney just put it out directly to dvd and not to the theaters

 

[The Disney Kid]

I'm a little drunk right now, but all I have to say is that kids growing up without knowing the origins of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, How Do You Do and Everybody's Got A Laughing Place is a terrible terrible thing. Best songs evar!!!! :ROFLOL:

Well, I'm stone cold sober and I agree with you!

 

[trr1]

I see that Disney is remaking witch mountain so maybe they can remake SOTS

 

[marcriss]

Ah, the ever popular "How are we supposed to explain it to our kids?" argument. At what point in society did we shift from sitting kids down and explaining things to them, and instead just expecting everyone else to adapt so that we don't have to explain things to kids?? Why do the rest of us have to bend just because there are parents who don't want to communicate with their kids??

It's not about not explaining to your children. It's about what they are exposed to and where. It's hard enough to monitor the violence they are exposed to when they're not with you (tv, video games, etc) and whether or not someone has guns where they're going to play. It's not about shielding them, it's about making sure that what they see is presented in the right context. Not everyone will do that. I wouldn't want my son exposed to Mel Gibson's father either.

 

[glitzybabes]

If you would like to watch the movie , here is a link with the movie on it and other disney stuff

http://bobbyskids.com/disneyandmore.html

 

[devoy1701]

Plus Leonard Maltin get his introductions where he can put the film int context and all is well.

Does anyone else love Leonard Maltin as much as I do?! I have about 10 different Walt Disney Treasures Sets and I always look forward to him reminding me that times were different back when these cartoons were made so be careful and aware of racial and ethnic slurs that were not seen as offensive at the time... :king:

I love Song of the South (sweet potato pie and I shut my mouth :lookaroun)...my gf has a non-pirated version of it on VHS that she got from her grandparents...I think its the UK or Australian release from years ago. She has family in both places. And I love the Tar Baby part...but only because it's kind of funny...being only 20...I had never heard the term "tar baby" be used as a racial slur... :veryconfu

Take Your Frown, turn it upsidedown and you'll find yours I know, I know... :sohappy:

 

[MousDad]

Why can't they just put a disclaimer at the beginning that says "This film has been released for collector purposes only and may be unsuitable for ... because of ..." like they do on all the old Warner releases?

 

[mcjaco]

I just try to drop all pre-conceptions and watch it through the eyes of a child. Will they understand any of the racial stereotypes? I don't think so.

I saw this in the movie theater as a child, about 25 years ago. I can tell you, that it's the only time I've seen it (and I have it on DVD), and as a child, I didn't pick up on any racial themes. I was too oblivious to them at that age (around 6-8). I only remember the characters, and the music.

I still remember the theater, where we sat, and that my parents dropped me off at my grandparents for the evening afterwards. Seeing SoTS in a theater was a big deal even then, which I did pick up on.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Why can't they just put a disclaimer at the beginning that says "This film has been released for collector purposes only and may be unsuitable for ... because of ..." like they do on all the old Warner releases?

Even with a disclaimer, they'd get lots of groups pretty PO'd. And Disney doesn't want any more boycotts. Remember, I think it was the Baptists that announced a boycott against Disney and the parks? I think that's who it was. The boycott ended when Disney put out The Chronicles of Narnia. Not that every Baptist adhered to that boycott, but still. It's the point.

I'm sure they feel that the profit they would get from a release probably wouldn't outweigh the potential grief it would cause. I can see the headline in the Slantinel right now... "Disney - STILL RACIST!"

No need to kick the sleeping tiger.

 

[MMFanCipher]

I thought I read an article a while back about this and that it said the Disney company was re-thinking it's SOTS policy. Did this go no where? :shrug:

 

[MousDad]

Even with a disclaimer, they'd get lots of groups pretty PO'd.

Has this happened to Warner (or whoever releases their stuff now)?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I thought I read an article a while back about this and that it said the Disney company was re-thinking it's SOTS policy. Did this go no where? :shrug:

Yes, it went no where in particular because Bog Iger thought it was a bad idea. New merchandise for it was sold on Disneyshopping.com that year though. Disney has done everything for this film but release it in region 1, I'd laugh but it's just gotten sad at this point.

 

[tirian]

I've never seen the whole film but that's the impression I got from clips on Youtube. But again the portrayal of African Americans in that film does not offend me. I mean I can forgive it since it was 1946. I also looked on imdb they said the NAACP currently has no comment on the film.

What if he's from South Africa? :wave:

Sorry, I've got friends from South Africa who find the American usage of "African-American" EXTREMELY hilarious.

 

[MMFanCipher]

Yes, it went no where in particular because Bog Iger thought it was a bad idea. New merchandise for it was sold on Disneyshopping.com that year though. Disney has done everything for this film but release it in region 1, I'd laugh but it's just gotten sad at this point.

I know writing campaigns usually don't work, but is there an address or E-mail
account that letters could be sent to? I know, always the optimist!

 

[Roxas]

Its a lot easier to get hold of here on the other side of the pond, although I don't believe it has been released from the vault for several years.

 

[brerroadrunner]

Just recently,my DS in college working on an ed degree took the book Brerr Rabit for a speech. His teacher said "Don't you know that's racist" He had a discussion with her about it. Then in another class, a different teacher just saw him carrying the book and approached with the same response.

Does anyone remember when Lion King came out. There was an uproar about the Hyenas depicting black people. Whoopi Goldberg had the main character voice there. Why would she have taken a part if it was so terrible? Someone on the View should ask her that.

I got a DVD copy and VHS copy both at yard sales this past year. SOS was a very good movie.