Was Walt Disney an anti-semite?

[NY Disney fan]

I hope it is not true. Last week the show "Family Guy" did a Disney sketch and in it there was a horrible anti-semitic joke. It went completely over my head until someone told me that Walt Disney was a famed anti-semite. Does anyone have any info on this? By the way, I think Family Guy is a terribly un-funny show.

 

[KAMKIM]

I hope it is not true. Last week the show "Family Guy" did a Disney sketch and in it there was a horrible anti-semitic joke. It went completely over my head until someone told me that Walt Disney was a famed anti-semite. Does anyone have any info on this? By the way, I think Family Guy is a terribly un-funny show.

I find it hard to believe a genius such as Walt could be so narrow minded. I suppose we'll never really know though.

 

[Mermaid02]

I hope it is not true. Last week the show "Family Guy" did a Disney sketch and in it there was a horrible anti-semitic joke. It went completely over my head until someone told me that Walt Disney was a famed anti-semite. Does anyone have any info on this? By the way, I think Family Guy is a terribly un-funny show.

I refuse to believe such a horrible thing about anyone without absolute proof.

 

[Boxley]

OK, I have heard this one too and decided to do a little bit of research on it.

I got Neal Gabler's book on Walt Disney and so I will quote it," In fact, Walt had been around Jews all his life. There were a number of Jews at the Benton School in Kansas City and even larger contigent at Mc.Kinley High School in CHicago. And though he did make some insensitiv ethnic remarks and occasional slurs, he was tolerant where it counted most and where it wasn't for public display-in his personal life." (Page 455) Also on charges of Anti-Semitism, " There is some dispute whether the same spirit of tolerance prevailed at th studio, but the Jews who worked there, it was hard to find any who thought Walt was anti-Semite. Joe Grant, who had been the head of the model department, and the storyman respinsible for Dumbo along with Dick Huemer, declared amphamtically that Walt was not an anti-Semite.'Some of the most influential people at the studio were Jewish'Grant recalled, thinking no doubt of himself, production manager Harry Tytle, and Kay Kaem who once quipped tat Disney's New York office had more Jews than the Book of Leviticus." (Page 455) There is also note of the Jewish charities he paid for.

So why the rumors? Simple, in those days Walt had a Union fight going on with the animators. The rumor is tied to Art Babbit. Also, according to the book, David Swift, also a Jew told another biogrpaher that he told Walt he was leaving another studio. Walt said something discriminatory but then again the book also says that it may have been Walt's bitterness of the strike and also it would of been uncharacteristic of him. The other theroy is because of the guilt of association. Ben Sharpseen was one of his employees and a anti-Sepmite, according to animator Art Davis.

If there is one thing Disney was against, it was communism. He joined the MPA and there was an supposed association of anti-Semitism to that. However, does that point that Disney was an anti-Semite? According to Gabler, "Walt Disney was certainly aware of the MPA's purported, ati-Semitism, but he choose to ignore it, possible feeling that the accusation was Communist propganda." (Page 458)

Now, the book "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince" I have read and while I agree that Disney was a unflinching boss with an anger towards the communists and some union parties, I disagree with the anti-Semitism. There is not enough concrete evidence to prove that he even was. The people who had made up the rumors were disgruntled employees and the guilt of association was tied to Disney rather unfairly.

 

[KandD]

OK, I have heard this one too and decided to do a little bit of research on it.

I got Neal Gabler's book on Walt Disney and so I will quote it," In fact, Walt had been around Jews all his life. There were a number of Jews at the Benton School in Kansas City and even larger contigent at Mc.Kinley High School in CHicago. And though he did make some insensitiv ethnic remarks and occasional slurs, he was tolerant where it counted most and where it wasn't for public display-in his personal life." (Page 455) Also on charges of Anti-Semitism, " There is some dispute whether the same spirit of tolerance prevailed at th studio, but the Jews who worked there, it was hard to find any who thought Walt was anti-Semite. Joe Grant, who had been the head of the model department, and the storyman respinsible for Dumbo along with Dick Huemer, declared amphamtically that Walt was not an anti-Semite.'Some of the most influential people at the studio were Jewish'Grant recalled, thinking no doubt of himself, production manager Harry Tytle, and Kay Kaem who once quipped tat Disney's New York office had more Jews than the Book of Leviticus." (Page 455) There is also note of the Jewish charities he paid for.

So why the rumors? Simple, in those days Walt had a Union fight going on with the animators. The rumor is tied to Art Babbit. Also, according to the book, David Swift, also a Jew told another biogrpaher that he told Walt he was leaving another studio. Walt said something discriminatory but then again the book also says that it may have been Walt's bitterness of the strike and also it would of been uncharacteristic of him. The other theroy is because of the guilt of association. Ben Sharpseen was one of his employees and a anti-Sepmite, according to animator Art Davis.

If there is one thing Disney was against, it was communism. He joined the MPA and there was an supposed association of anti-Semitism to that. However, does that point that Disney was an anti-Semite? According to Gabler, "Walt Disney was certainly aware of the MPA's purported, ati-Semitism, but he choose to ignore it, possible feeling that the accusation was Communist propganda." (Page 458)

Now, the book "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince" I have read and while I agree that Disney was a unflinching boss with an anger towards the communists and some union parties, I disagree with the anti-Semitism. There is not enough concrete evidence to prove that he even was. The people who had made up the rumors were disgruntled employees and the guilt of association was tied to Disney rather unfairly.

I'm glad that you posted this. I have heard many times that Walt was not only a racist but a sexist as well but I have never heard of any proof to back that up.

 

[eliza61]

I find it hard to believe a genius such as Walt could be so narrow minded. I suppose we'll never really know though.

I think one of the problems is that we all build up this glorified image of what and who Walt Disney was. Look at how many times we see the provebial "Walt would be rolling over in his grave" remarks we see here on the Dis, any time the company raises prices. Like Ole Walt wasn't trying to make a buck.

From the 2 biographies I've read. Walt was not anti-semitic but has been known to hurled an insensitve comment. Haven't we all? and remember this was waaay before PC kicked in.
He was super talented but also a pretty tough guy to work for and he was not what we would call a "model" husband.

All in all, he (like the rest of us mortals) had a few not so good qualities.

 

[Boxley]

I think one of the problems is that we all build up this glorified image of what and who Walt Disney was. Look at how many times we see the provebial "Walt would be rolling over in his grave" remarks we see here on the Dis, any time the company raises prices. Like Ole Walt wasn't trying to make a buck.

From the 2 biographies I've read. Walt was not anti-semitic but has been known to hurled an insensitve comment. Haven't we all? and remember this was waaay before PC kicked in.
He was super talented but also a pretty tough guy to work for and he was not what we would call a "model" husband.

All in all, he (like the rest of us mortals) had a few not so good qualities.

Exactly, the Gabler one I pointed out gave a fairly balanced look at Disney, because sure he was talented and generally a good person, but I bet he was an old cuss to work for. He wasn't perfect, but then again I like him better because he isn't. He said things that I am sure were not PC but then again, who hasn't? Also, remember that during this time, television and movies were not particularly PC either, does that diminish the quality? No.

 

[chisnpeke]

He was human. I don't doubt he had negative qualities about him.

That said, the joy that his company has brought to so many millions of people from around the world outweighs any negative qualities that he may or may not have had.

 

[Disney Doll]

We also have to remember that we tend to look at history with current eyes, and history always looks bad unless one remembers that times were different then, people were different then and the reason why we have made progress in areas such as ethnic or race relations is based on the fact that times were different then and people wanted that to change...so we progress to what we have now.

I always think that 50 or 75 years from now, someone is going to be looking at something we do now that we consider acceptable and say "I can't believe they thought that was OK".

I am quite sure Walt Disney was human. I am quite sure he had the same faults and foibles as the rest of us. From what has been posted, it sounds like he was not any more or less anti-Semitic than anyone else of his era was.

 

[Jennasis]

It's never been proven or disproven, so the rumor stands and has been fodder for jokes about Diney ever since. Do I think he was a nazi or an anti-semite? Not necessarily. I think he probably made many comments that were socailly acceptable back then that aren't now and were not necessarily representative of his true nature.

 

[KAMKIM]

We also have to remember that we tend to look at history with current eyes, and history always looks bad unless one remembers that times were different then, people were different then and the reason why we have made progress in areas such as ethnic or race relations is based on the fact that times were different then and people wanted that to change...so we progress to what we have now.

I always think that 50 or 75 years from now, someone is going to be looking at something we do now that we consider acceptable and say "I can't believe they thought that was OK".

I am quite sure Walt Disney was human. I am quite sure he had the same faults and foibles as the rest of us. From what has been posted, it sounds like he was not any more or less anti-Semitic than anyone else of his era was.

That is a good point, my mother put me to sleep on my belly and rocked me while smoking - totally acceptable in her day.

 

[Stinkerbell's Daddy]

One of Walt's personal secretaries, also my wife's cousin, was Jewish. In the stories she has shared with the family, it is clear to us that Walt certainly was not anti-semitic. Through careful study of the man and his works, we can make an educated determination of his character. Walt and the company were big supporters of the effort to defeat tyranny during World War II, including the production of several American propoganda films. Walt was a human being of course, and as such was fallible. But as a Jewish family, we see no foundation in these types of rumors.

 

[bicker]

George Washington kept slaves. People are often products of their times and to expect someone to be, in every aspect of life, far beyond their contemporaries, is not reasonable.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

While I don't see any foundation for the rumors I find some poster's efforts to brush off anti-semitic comments as pretty disturbing.

"Walt was not anti-semitic but has been known to hurled an insensitve comment. Haven't we all? and remember this was waaay before PC kicked in."

This makes me very sad. Actions done before "PC kicked in" does not excuse them or make them any less horrifying.

Regardless, i'm a Jew and I grew up on Disney films. My friends often tease me saying that Walt wouldn't want me going to his parks or working for his company but he's still influenced my life probably more than any other person. Even if he did hate me i'd still love his work!

 

[AlienBrain]

"Walt was not anti-semitic but has been known to hurled an insensitve comment. Haven't we all? and remember this was waaay before PC kicked in."

This makes me very sad. Actions done before "PC kicked in" does not excuse them or make them any less horrifying.

Regardless, i'm a Jew and I grew up on Disney films. My friends often tease me saying that Walt wouldn't want me going to his parks or working for his company but he's still influenced my life probably more than any other person. Even if he did hate me i'd still love his work!

Everyone says non PC stuff all the time. PC retrains people from saying what they truly believe on many occasions. I had a friend who was honestly worried about asking a black Grocery clerk where the wings were because he thought it was racist. PC really goes overboard on occasion, and it is often used as a weapon on people who were never intending to be condescending.

Walt was not anti-Semitic. But somehow the rumor keeps perpetuating. It just got more fuel recently on a Family Guy episode two weeks ago.

 

[bicker]

Actions done before "PC kicked in" does not excuse them or make them any less horrifying.

Hmm... I wonder if you would appreciate being judged based on your actions by people in 2059, based on the standards and principles of that year. I suspect we all regularly engage in actions that will, fifty years from now, be looked on in a negative light. I'm not saying that that makes the actions people took fifty years ago less "horrifying" but it does help us keep our condemnations in context when we realize that we are each probably doing things that are going to be equally-worthy of whatever condemnation we choose to direct toward people of the past.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I can't believe people are excusing racism by saying that in the future other actions will be looked negatively upon. That has no relevance what so ever. Judging someone based on their sex, race, gender, etc. is wrong no matter what time it is.

 

[Stinkerbell's Daddy]

I don't believe anyone is excusing this type of behavior. I think most of the previous posters have tried to convey that people must be judged in the context of their own time. There may be contextual circumstances that mitigate actions that if done today, would seem unthinkable. For as progressive as Jefferson and Lincoln were for instance, they could not by today standards be considered advocates of civil rights. Yet when put into the framework of their own times, they can be appreciated for their contributions to society.

Walt Disney was not a perfect person. But in spite of any bigoted comments he may have made in his lifetime, the remainder of his works have shown us that there was very little room in his thoughts for hate of any kind. For every slanderous comment made about Jews, he offered up a hundred fold more kind actions towards those in his life who were of the Jewish faith and culture.

Society's progress was very important to Walt. One walk through Epcot or Tomorrowland should illustrate this. The company he brought into creation today is one of the most diverse organizations in our fine land. And though his hand was not directly steering the evolution of Disney the company, you can be sure that his spirit has been.

 

[bicker]

I can't believe you didn't read the message you're replying to.

 

[chisnpeke]

I can't believe people are excusing racism by saying that in the future other actions will be looked negatively upon. That has no relevance what so ever. Judging someone based on their sex, race, gender, etc. is wrong no matter what time it is.

No one is excusing racism. Simply providing explainations. Unfortunately, racism was much more prevalent 50 years ago than it is today and it was considered a "norm" to be racist, sexist and against certain religions.