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The 9 Most Racist Disney Characters

By Ben Joseph January 21, 2008 476,636 views
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These old Disney movies are a little bit like your aging Uncle Frank. Honestly, he means well when he points out that Will Smith is "well-spoken." It's just that he, like the assemblage of clips below, dates from a time when people were unfairly characterized by their ethnic background (the acceptable methods are, of course, religion, geography, sexual preference and income).

#9.
The Merchant from Aladdin

The opening musical sequence from the hugely popular 1992 animated film had to be edited due to protest from Arab-American groups for saying about the Middle East what most of us were merely thinking.

Lesson Learned:
The Middle East is a barren wasteland where the justice system runs on a clear and simple limb-removal policy.

Best (Worst?) Moment:
"Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face" is the offending line, which was changed on the DVD to the much less provocative "Where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense." Whatever. Our question: In a city full of Arabic men and women, where the hell does a midwestern-accented, white piece of cornbread like Aladdin come from? Here he is next to the more, um, ethnic looking villain, Jafar.

#8.
Sebastian from The Little Mermaid

In this 1989 film, a Jamaican-sounding crab teaches Ariel that life is better "Under the Sea," because underwater you don't have to get a job.

Lesson Learned:

Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea!

Are we reading too much into it? Do you see anything wrong with how they've drawn "the duke of soul" at 1:57?

Still too subtle? How about at 2:01 when the "blackfish" appears?

Best (Worst?) Moment:
As far as Disney movies go, you've got two choices: unforgivably offensive and just slightly racially insensitive. Sebastian definitely falls into the latter category. So while making Sebastian a charming, party-loving stereotype is a baby step forward for Disney, it's still a stumble backwards for civil rights.

#7.
The Crows from Dumbo

In this 1941 classic, Dumbo the flying elephant runs into a band of jive-talking black crows who sing, "I'd be done see'n about everything/when I see an elephant fly!"

Lesson Learned:
Come on, blackbirds acting in a manner stereotypically assigned to African-Americans isn't that offensive. At least they didn't just get some white guy to do his best "black voice." Oh, really? They did? And, they called the lead character "Jim Crow?" Um, hey, look over there! It's a convincing, logical end to this argument!

Best (Worst?) Moment:
So many too choose from. The crows are very specifically depicted as poor and uneducated. They're constantly smoking; they wear pimptastic hats; and they're experts on all things "fly," so it's really a team effort contributing to the general minstrel-show feel to the whole number. You could pretty much pause this video at any second and use it as evidence in your hate-crime lawsuit against Disney.

For its time, though, the portrayal of the crows was almost progressive. The crows band together and help Dumbo learn to fly, so they're counted among the heroes of the film. Remember, this was just a couple of years after somebody introduced a bill to outlaw lynching and congress voted it down. So, you know, you take what you can get.

#6.
King Louie from The Jungle Book

Having outgrown the crude portrayal of African-Americans as black crows, in 1967 Disney decides to portray them as monkeys instead.

Lesson Learned:
All animals in the jungle speak in proper British accents. Except, of course, for the jive-talking, gibberish-spouting monkeys. Did we mention they desperately want to become "real people?"

Best (Worst?) Moment:
Fine, so an ape singing, "I wanna be like you" might be a little subtle, in a "we own multiple copies of Catcher in the Rye" conspiracy theory kind of way. Still, considering the author of the The Jungle Book also thought up "the white man's burden", we don't think it's too much of a stretch.

#5.
The Siamese Twin Gang from Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers

Overt racism against African-Americans was obviously intolerable by the time this Chip n' Dale series began in 1989. Overt racism against Asians, luckily, was still on the table.

Lesson Learned:
Even as criminals, Asian-Americans immigrants, represented here by a gang of cats, have become integral parts of American culture. Kidding! They own a laundromat, run an illegal, basement gambling operation and speak in horribly mangled "Engrish." It's like a designer of World War II propaganda posters accidentally quantum leaped into the body of a late '80s cartoon writer.

The video becomes cringe-worthy about six minutes in:

Best (Worst?) Moment:
The Siamese Cats sell their karate expert Juice Lee, a Japanese fighting fish, for a suitcase full of dead fish. If you can't find something offensive in that sentence, congratulations. You're a cyborg.

#4.
Sunflower the Centaur from Fantasia

Of all the items on this list, this is the one Disney has tried the hardest to make us forget.

Lesson Learned:
Even in Fantasia's beautiful, magical landscape, African centaurs are hoof-polishing handmaidens for prettier, Aryan centaurs. Also, 1940 was a great year to be a centaur fetishist and/or Don Imus.

Best (Worst?) Moment:
It was insulting enough for Disney to include the smiling servant stereotype to begin with, but, to make matters worse, they started categorically denying Sunflower's existence with the Fantasia re-release in 1960. How does that possibly make things better? "No, you misunderstand. In our perfect, Fantasia world, Africans aren't servants. They don't fucking exist."

#3.
The Indians from Peter Pan

In this charming musical number, the "Red Man" explains his people's history and culture.

Lesson Learned:
Why do Native Americans ask you "how?" According to the song, it's because the Native American always thirsts for knowledge. OK, that's not so bad, we guess. What gives the Native Americans their distinctive coloring? The song says a long time ago, a Native American blushed red when he kissed a girl, and, as science dictates, it's been part of their race's genetic make up since. You see, there had to be some kind of event to change their skin from the normal, human color of "white."

Best (Worst?) Moment:
It's a tie between Tiger Lilly's traditional Native American hussy dance, and the number of times Native American's misogynistic tendencies are played for laughs (hint: It's more than three!)

#2.
Uncle Remus from Song of the South

The tales of Br'er Rabbit are relayed by kindly old Uncle Remus, a black man happily working on a plantation in the post-Civil War South. Disney has never released this one on home video, for some reason.

Lesson Learned:
The late 1800s were a great time to be African-American and possibly on acid.

Best (Worst?) Moment:
Less eerie than any imaginary singing birds is what's not in the film. It's as if someone made a children's musical about Jews in post-World War II Germany that had a number titled "Hey! Nothing Bad Has Happened to Us, Ever." Also failing to reach the screen: When the movie had its world premiere in 1946 in Atlanta, James Baskett, the actor who played Remus, was not allowed to attend. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

#1.
Thursday from Mickey Mouse and the Boy Thursday (Book)

In this forgotten Mickey Mouse book from 1948, Mickey gets a crate full of West African bananas, and finds an African inside instead! Ha!" The savage soon is confused by Mickey's human lifestyle and commits acts of random violence.

Lesson Learned:
"What's the deal with Africans? If they're not trying to eat it or throw a spear at it, they're worshiping it as a some sort of tribal deity, am I right?"

Best (Worst?) Moment:
Where to begin? The book compiles almost every offensive preconception of Africa lurking in the American subconscious.

Some choice quotes:

"Well, well." Mickey laughed ... "So I'm supposed to be your governess and nursemaid, and you can't even talk!"

"Let me see. A genuine African native," Mickey murmured. "Perhaps I should start showing him off."

Perhaps the most depressing part is that this was somebody's idea of tolerance, back in the ideallic '40s:

"Poor little guy! He just makes mistakes. He doesn't know any better. I'll just have to be patient and teach him the right way to do things," said Mickey.

If you liked this article, you may also enjoy Ben Joseph's 10 Most Ridiculous Overseas Rip-Offs of American Films. Or, check out Mike Swaim's rundown of some very naked propaganda.



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348 Comments

"I'm surprised that you left out the "Sykes" character in Disney's 1988 movie Oliver & Company. Disney decided to change things up a little. Instead of using Fagin's character as the old school Jewish stereotype, they went full bore 1940's German propaganda on Sykes when making him the bad guy though updating him to a slick eighties style. Look up the pictures of him from stills of the movie, it will blow your mind."
I actually did do that and you're right, my brains completely exploded all over my keyboard. And I'm Jewish too. :(

6/19/2009 11:22:48 PM
The_Far_Side

One has to wonder about the undifferentiated statements priorly made. Being German might give me a meta-perspective. Could we please separate a few levels here.
It is totally unacceptable to use movies released before the eighties as an argument for racism. As some people stated already… During the time then it was a public consensus that these stereotypes are applicable. What level of education did the blacks have? What kind of work did they do? Wasn’t Disney not just drawing a picture of the circumstances?
How do you think, are the American movies of the last 10 yrs being perceived in 30 yrs from now? All this heroism, and benignity to the world? 100 yrs ago it was called imperialism in the old world. And what has changed in the American mentality since the movies you animadvert passionately with all political correctness?
There is still the sensation of being a superior / divine nation chosen by god. The only notable difference is the fact that the superiority is now directed outwards instead towards minorities within the country. Even though I’m positively certain that this is solely owned to absurd concept of political correctness.
Having lived and worked in the US, UK, Belgium, German and South Africa, and having a Jewish stepfather I dared to say that stereotypes are often enough true. Is “The Nanny” racist? Yes it is!! BUT it’s true, too!!!!!
1 year ago, the mentality of the Africans in Kenya and South Africa didn’t differ that much from what the movies have been criticized for. It is a given that being German with German efficiency in my veins, I’m probably not the most objective person on commenting cultural differences in that regard.
Does every “race”, nation, country have stereotypes that are true and not flattering? Sure they do!! Shouldn’t we be allowed to make fun about it? NO!!
The Germans will always be Nazis… So what? Does it bother me? No it doesn’t. Because labeling us so, is just displaying an educational level not worth commenting (besides… who developed the A-Bomb, the first jet engine, rocket, and the fundamental philosophical questions of the last 150 yrs? LOL)
Take the movies as what they are: A window to the past and present mentality of America.
Disney only produces movies that appeal to the mainstream American public. If you were ever watching Disney’s movies in German, you would notice that the German voices don’t have any accents relating them to any cultural group.
Even though you are American, pls try to see the context. The educated of you are already doing it on so many issues.

5/7/2009 5:19:48 AM
coldsun78

I thought many African-American rappers on music videos are "racist" too. They portrays African Americans are bunch of womanizing, sluts (women involved), pot smoking, drug dealing, gang banging mofos. They always live in the run down neighborhood and drives bling bling. What did the liberals excuse? "At least whites didn't do it"

Racist word often misused. Racism is like Nationalism, like "Black Pride", "Asian Pride" and "White pride". Perhaps more accurate title to this article as Racial Stereotypes.

5/5/2009 8:33:42 AM
fedagent80

Svenelliot likes text.

3/30/2009 8:02:36 AM
Chowza

Look, lighten up you overserious white people. It's not so much racism as it is ignorance. There's much abound in the US mainstream about the world outside the nation as there is about the world within it. Just look at and take it for what it is: A silly portrayal of the variety of all the wonderful different types of people around teh world. Do the Irish get upset about non-Irish folks getting blotto on St Paddy's Day? F*** no. Did only Black folks watch "Roots?" F*** no. I think it's patehtic that I can't even use my G*d-given right to say what I want on this site - i.e. use appropriate and rather mild profanity. I recommend that you all get a reality check and loosen up. We need to laugh at ourselves and laugh with - even at - others. What next, we'll have to ban re-runs of F-Troop because they offend stupid chaps in the military? (Known as being "Stupidist") Or ban Laurel and Hardy films because they offend Fat or English people (ergo, stopping "Fattists" and "Anglists") or what about banning Peanuts cartoons? (Being "baldist" or "roundist" against Charlie Brown). Needless to say, we need to ban all religions for being "g*dist" in the off chance that they offend a Supreme Being? Stop the madness, keep the films and such, just make sure you put things into the context of "that's the way it was, but we're all better now."

Now all of you go away and stop whinging. Find something productive to do, like solve hunger, stop child abuse, and be nice to people and not judgemental (emphasis on the word "mental" - whoops, was I being "crazy-ist???

2/18/2009 5:19:52 AM
Svenelliot

Disney doesn't limit it to racism; there's quite a bit of sexism, too.
http://lasoubrette.blogspot.com/2009/01/6-most-sexist-disnney-characters.html

And probably a dash of homophobia.

1/29/2009 6:19:20 PM
lasoubrette

there's nothing unusual in any of this for the time. The normal rules of racism apply A:Racism is totally unacceptable - unless its your grandparents and B: as whichever comedian said first "everyone's a little bit racist" proven by the number of posts getting caught out

1/16/2009 5:11:08 PM
hamsta

A personal favorite, something I'm surprised wasn't included, would be "Der Fuehrer's Face," the Academy-Award winning cartoon released in 1943. In the Disneyverse, Japanese nationals apparently have green skin and all Germans are chinless. They correct the pigmentation problem in Commando Duck a year later, replacing that with the inability to carry out a good war on account of their compulsive need to bown and apologize. Great guy, Disney, totally no resemblance to your creepy-ass neighbor in a gated community.

Though no Asian stereotypes are present in Education for Death, also released in 1943, Germans are all short-tempered barrel-chests with overweight Wagnerian wenches.

Good thing this article wasn't about Merry Melodies. The list would be too long.

1/9/2009 12:53:35 PM
Fenris

Can't say I'd agree with all of this, but I'm surprised you missed Mickey and Minnie themselves. Look at early pics and movies - they were originally meant to be African-Am sterotypes.
Cue the disbelief and insults in 3,2,1...

1/9/2009 10:46:28 AM
fredtheoyster

damn miccey mouse is a fucc'n racist ahahhaha yell

www.myspace.com/panhandoelrcorp

1/8/2009 8:11:51 PM
BOX5

You are right. Disney is so stereotypical about their lobsters. Jamaicans are actually dour, business-minded stoics with a Calvinistic worldview...much like the rural Dutch.

12/30/2008 5:06:26 PM
splainintodo

I would have put the British stoner vultures from Jungle Book before I put down King Louie.

12/6/2008 11:53:56 PM
Avatarofhendrix

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12/2/2008 4:42:40 AM
alicehuang001

yeah best let white people play everything. that's not racist then

11/30/2008 2:10:35 PM
davo

OH..I thought it was RACIEST charachters so I came to see some smokin porn hot cartoon bitches like Snow white or Cruaella Duville!

11/29/2008 1:28:31 PM
FRANKENSLUT

Sorry, but Louie is not racist at all. If you see it as racist, because he is an ape, then you're the racist. He was played by Italian-American jazz musician Louie Prima. Who, if you ever heard his music, is exactly like he is in the movie.

11/27/2008 10:25:07 AM
Vozpit

Sir Madness, I think the writer was pointing out Disney's portrayal of native americans as being misogynist. Not saying they actually are.

11/27/2008 2:51:44 AM
Jo-Anne

"Just a thing...King Louis in the Jungle Book isn't a parody of African Americans. He's voiced by Louis Prima, and is pretty much Mr. Prima's stage persona. Apperantly the racists at Cracked assume only African Americans sang Jazz and swung old school.

Actually, Mr. Prima had issues with playing King Louis as Mr. Prima was Sicilian, and felt that playing an orangutan might play up old racial attitudes Sicilians had suffered at the hands of Northern Italians for Centuries. "

Sorry, what??
Are you crazy?

Centuries what? until LAST century sicily was one of the richest/advanced areas of all europe. Besides, WE know all that south italy has been GREECE for a millennium.
The strange idea sicilians=africans is an all american thing, you know, created by american soldiers as propaganda during wwII.
How many times do we have to say this to commenters from USA???

11/26/2008 9:08:14 AM
em1333

there's actually a LOT MORE to this story. go to http://stuffididlastnight.com

11/24/2008 5:27:34 PM
dontbugme3

and hey, I liked the hippy cat from the Aristocats. :-)

11/24/2008 4:19:42 PM
MartyRotten

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