Song of the South is a convoluted, mixed bag of ideas.
The most problematic idea is that the black people were happy under segregation and "everything was satisfactual" about being second-class citizens in poverty. That idea is, without a doubt, offensive. I know that Uncle Remus was an optimistic, upbeat kind of guy who wanted to make the best of everything, but the movie does nothing to show that everything's not just wonderful and idyllic for black people on the plantation. So, yes, that aspect does earn Song of the South some well-deserved scorn.
But, when that part's acknowledged, there are some good things here, too. The black people in the film are portrayed as much kinder and wiser than the whites. The friendliest kid is the little boy's black friend, and the only person who really sees and understands what's going on with the little white kid is Uncle Remus. The kid's own parents are too dense to understand him, and only get in the way of the one guy who does know what to do... and it eventually becomes clear to them that Uncle Remus's worth as a person has been underestimated and misjudged. Uncle Remus is strong, resilient, optimistic, empathetic, and wise... and, he's also realistic, because, in a way, he needs the little boy, too -- the boy makes him feel like he's still useful and needed and has something valuable to offer with his stories, even though he's too old to do labor. He's a great black character, who in many ways has risen above the role the society he was in tried to limit him to. He's an admirable black character, even if the situation he's in has been misrepresented by the film.
I can understand Disney's issues with Song of the South, but I think they should release it -- probably with a lot of discussions of the films problems and place in history as a bonus feature -- so people can judge it for what it is. I think, in our post-Roots, post-12 Years A Slave society, people will be able to spot its "everything back then was great" flaws and appreciate the noble characters that remain. Plus, it's some of Disney's best animation. It's a real baby-with-the-bathwater situation.
reply
share
FANatic-10
8 years ago
I agree with zwolf's analysis. Song of the South is very problematic, but there are good things in it that should be valued. Certainly there were far more insulting depictions of black people in this same time period, so I find it hard to understand why all the scorn seems to be saved for Song of the South. Uncle Remus is the very essence of kindness, and dearly loved by the white children. The film seems to me to celebrate tolerance and brotherhood, and has great affection for its characters, even if it is in a patronizing and unrealistic way (and it is a Disney children's film, after all, so realism was not the aim). Yes, the blacks of this film are kept firmly in their place and are second-class citizens, but if anything, it seemed to be a small step forward for it's time. Fortunately we've come a long way, but to me there is nothing worse than censoring something just because it is not in step with today's mentality and might be offensive to somebody. Well, history itself is offensive to some people, but it should be tucked away and hidden because of that? So ridiculous!
reply
share
strntz (12288)
6 years ago
I know that Uncle Remus was an optimistic, upbeat kind of guy who wanted to make the best of everything, but the movie does nothing to show that everything's not just wonderful and idyllic for black people on the plantation.
It's a freaking musical!!!!! It's not 12 Years a Slave. It's not Roots. It's not a documentary. It's a story about an older man spinning wonderful yarns and teaching kids about right and wrong.
But hey, they could have done pretty much the same story but used a white sharecropper (yes, there were white sharecroppers who weren't any better off than Uncle Remus). Mr. Baskett was great in this, but Jimmy Durante would have been fabulous being an old Vaudeville song and dance man.
It would be a shame to have lost Mr. Baskett's great performance but hey, we don't want a racist movie.
Maybe in a few more years Disney can do a "deep fake" and superimpose a white sharecropper into Uncle Remus' role and re-release it and make everyone happy.
Nothing worse than white folks chock full of white guilt trying to be "woke".
reply
share