MovieChat Forums > Lady and the Tramp (1955) Discussion > Racism in the dogs? GET REAL!!

Racism in the dogs? GET REAL!!

posted 12 years ago by kartoon-1
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw a clip on youtube stating that it was racist to depict the mexican chihuahua with a latin accent (Again it was done in Oliver and Company years later with Cheech Marin). Many people get uptight about the minorities depicted the way they are in cartoons but no one in the clip mentioned;

The Russian Wolfhound speaking with a Russian accent.
The Dachshund speaking with a German accent.
The Bulldog speaking with an English accent.
The Scottish Terrier speaking with a Scottish accent.
And so on...

Nobody gets up in arms when the accents are Euro-caucasian, do they?

Someone would say "Well how would YOU like it if YOUR ethnic group got made fun of?"

My reply is..."I am Canadian! And I am annoyed that Disney NEVER depicted a Husky sled dog with a Canadian accent in ANY of their cartoons!"

[–] jaynemanfieldscar 12 years ago

wow, many minorities love finding stuff to get upset about more than most people at least when it comes to race. white people arent allowed to complain about anything but then we have little need to for movies (irl is a whole nother story!!) because we know they are JUST MOVIES. i mean, kids take movies seriously but i really dont think they will make fun of mexicans after seeing this movie or whatever.

also giving him an accent isnt in any way racist. maybe if they portrayed him as illegal, a drug smuggler and/or with 10 kids. lol people are so uptight.

and its funny how mexicans are quick to say mexican isnt a race... then call stuff like that RACIST. you cant have it both ways, which is it, a race or not?

Sweet as sugar, hard as ice, hurt me once I'll kill you twice~

[–] mjn-seifer 12 years ago

Ironically most of the time it's not the minorities - but people like English and Americans who are complaining about this. Actually, it's not that ironic at all, it seems to be very common for that to happen.

I actually don't think even half of them are genuinely offended, they're just Disney haters looking for an excuse to hate Disney. It basically relates to the meme that Disney himself is racist, which many people who have known him have confirmed he's not.

My favorite Final Destination is the 4th – DEAL with it!

[–] thereseuphemiaabernathy 10 years ago

Lol, if you want a (French-)Canadian Husky, just watch Krypto the Superdog. ;)
But yeah, I can hardly imagine finding the accented dogs offensive. They may have been somewhat based on racial stereotypes, but none were portrayed in a derogatory manner. The only way I'd see a case for calling racism would be if they deliberately featured multiple characters of one ethnic origin in a negative light, with no others to counter it.

[–] algsmail 10 years ago

Maybe none of the other dogs had to say lines like "My seester Rosita, I theenk." As an adjunct, there was a little class differentiation with the constant referrals by the purebreds to the "mongrel" Tramp. If you can't see it, I suppose there is no point in trying to explain it.

Disgusting 50's stereotyping. Right up there with "Speedy Gonzales".

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 10 years ago

I found the silly Chinese accent of the Siamese cats the most annoying. I was fine with all the other accents.

I don't think so, Tim.

[–] lwangels0 9 years ago

I think its hilarious to have accents matching the breed of dog! seriously people need to get over themselves. I'm British and I didnt lose my head over the cockney bulldog, I found it hysterical

[–] johnsokw 9 years ago

How do they know it wasn't Cantinflas or Gilber Roland (Mexican) before finding Dal McKennon's voice credit? They should be happy to see representation. The way I felt when I saw for the first time a red-headed male romantic lead actor instead of a smirking side kick. "MOM," I exclaimed! Come here! There's a Red head in a serious, dramatic role" Later my dad cried out, "Hey finally there's someone on TV like me! bald." Yul Brynner without hair really broke ground and made many men feel included. I only half understand when people gripe about actors not looking like their family and friends. Hardly anybody looks like these people. In America, people say to a good-looking person, "You could be an actor." before they even know the person can act.