Why no Song??

[wannabef]

There's also some bad feeling about the original stories upon which the film was based. Many accused Joel Chandler Harris of robbing poor Southern blacks of their heritage (the Br'er Rabbit stories) and passing them off as his own. The idealized view of race relations it presents, the dialect used by "black" characters (both human and anthropomorphic animals,) the term Uncle which was largely considered to be pejorative in its day and the sort of mush-mouthed characterization of black characters which was typical of Hollywood in the 30s and 40s all add up to make the film offensive to those of African-American heritage.

That doesn't mean that there aren't some thoroughly entertaining moments in the film. It's Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah for crying out loud!

But what do I know? I'm a white Southern guy.

Anyone of color on here who could comment on your feelings about the film?

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I'm of African-American heritage, and it can be jarring when you first ride it. In 2006, I rode it for the first time and wasn't happy one bit. Especially when Brer Fox was saying to Brer Rabbit "I'll Roast ya! I'll hang ya!" And Brer Rabbit said something about "Just don't throw me into that Briar Patch!" For a history buff like me, it just brought back the imagery of black people being roasted and hung (it was called "Lynching") in the South around the same time that the film was released. Hundreds of black people were roasted and hung in the South, especially in Georgia. I can spare you the pictures.


That was why I studied the history of the Song of the South movie. I gave my kids a nice little historical lesson on black/white relations at that time. They appreciated it.

Now we ride the ride, watch the imagery, and try to scream as we plunge to the bottom and make a big splash.

 

[mel&me]

I have this on dvd. I converted it from a vhs to dvd a while back.
I also have some rare old wartime propaganda stuff that was made by disney dealing with the germans.
You will never see any of it officially released.
It is a time gone by it will never ever be PC enough again to be released.

 

[DancingBear]

I'm of African-American heritage, and it can be jarring when you first ride it. In 2006, I rode it for the first time and wasn't happy one bit. Especially when Brer Fox was saying to Brer Rabbit "I'll Roast ya! I'll hang ya!" And Brer Rabbit said something about "Just don't throw me into that Briar Patch!" For a history buff like me, it just brought back the imagery of black people being roasted and hung (it was called "Lynching") in the South around the same time that the film was released. Hundreds of black people were roasted and hung in the South, especially in Georgia. I can spare you the pictures.

I understand what you are saying, but in Splash Mountain the stories are taken out of the Uncle Remus context, and so presumably pretty much follow the traditional African-American (apparently Brer' Rabbit has Cherokee roots as well) stories. As others have mentioned above, the complaints about Song of the South generally relate to Joel Chandler Harris' having appropriated the stories, and the idealized relationship between Uncle Remus and the white boy (which are set during Reconstruction so are not strictly speaking slave/master relationships, but which depict a happy black man working on a plantation and taking care of the white boy that lives in the big house).

 

[dsanner106]

I have owned this on Laser disc for many years from it's original US release, and although racism is often quoted as the reason for no further releases, I know it was scheduled and cancelled because Disney does not own the rights to the songs. As I recall, they could not acquire them and because of the additional problem with protests have not pushed really hard for the rights more recently.

Drew

 

[tinkerbell 766]

If Disney does not own the rights to the songs, how come we can still buy this film off the shelf here in the UK. Also 'Zip a dee doo dar' is still widely used on Disney CDs. I'm sure you're right but it seems odd.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I love YouTube.

Though publicaly, Disney will give a different reason, it is because Disney is afraid of offending blacks. *rolleyes*

I think I am glad that Disney does it's best not to offend anybody. I am British and admit that I maybe do not understand the issues involved completely, but as I said, if I thought that a film (especially one from my beloved Disney!!) could potentially offend any race, creed, colour or religion, I would be happy to have it confined to history and call it a lesson learnt. Remember, times change and Disney is in the business of bringing joy to everyone. Perhaps shelving it is the correct decision for now? That said, I personally love the film on a basic level and we can learn a lot from the Brer Rabbit stories. It is (I think) still available to buy in the UK. As I said I do not wish to offend anyone but is it a coincidence that this comment came from a Texan!

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

Song of the South is my sister's favorite movie! I remember her reading it to me when I was a child too. I found a dvd copy of it online for her a few years ago, it is a really good copy too!

 

[skater]

I think I am glad that Disney does it's best not to offend anybody. I am British and admit that I maybe do not understand the issues involved completely, but as I said, if I thought that a film (especially one from my beloved Disney!!) could potentially offend any race, creed, colour or religion, I would be happy to have it confined to history and call it a lesson learnt. Remember, times change and Disney is in the business of bringing joy to everyone. Perhaps shelving it is the correct decision for now? That said, I personally love the film on a basic level and we can learn a lot from the Brer Rabbit stories. It is (I think) still available to buy in the UK. As I said I do not wish to offend anyone but is it a coincidence that this comment came from a Texan!

I don't understand the Texan comment. Can you explain?

 

[skater]

Is Texas a hotbead of racism ?

 

[skater]

I happen to have some very good friends who are Texans !

 

[Jenvenza]

You can buy it on VHS on ebay.

 

[Jenvenza]

I think I am glad that Disney does it's best not to offend anybody. I am British and admit that I maybe do not understand the issues involved completely, but as I said, if I thought that a film (especially one from my beloved Disney!!) could potentially offend any race, creed, colour or religion, I would be happy to have it confined to history and call it a lesson learnt. Remember, times change and Disney is in the business of bringing joy to everyone. Perhaps shelving it is the correct decision for now? That said, I personally love the film on a basic level and we can learn a lot from the Brer Rabbit stories. It is (I think) still available to buy in the UK. As I said I do not wish to offend anyone but is it a coincidence that this comment came from a Texan!

What an ignorant comment on your part. You obviously base your knowledge of Texans on stereotypes. That makes me sad for you.

 

[Mozart]

It is (I think) still available to buy in the UK. As I said I do not wish to offend anyone but is it a coincidence that this comment came from a Texan!

Even though I'm not from Texas, on behalf of all Southerners who are tired of being stereotyped as racist, I have to ask...

WHAT THE ****?

 

[skater]

Even though I'm not from Texas, on behalf of all Southerners who are tired of being stereotyped as racist, I have to ask...

WHAT THE ****?

Don't you know? Some people are oh so much smarter than you bible totin', gun clingin' racists down there . But you sure make good sweet tea!

Seriously, I do get so tired of some people especially politicians (on both sides) acting smugly superior to the rest of us.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Yes Yes, I apologise for generlizing about Texans. Very wrong of me. However, the poster who did rolleyeyes about Disney being scared of 'offending blacks' made me cross. Two wrongs, though, don't make a right and as I said before, I wish to offend nobody.
To answer the question as to whether Texan's have a reputation for being racist and gunslinging, well, in Britain they seem to have a little. There have been documentries here (I think to coincide with the abolision of slavery anniversary), which seemed to suggest that racism is commonplace and the KKK still very active (and not with good deed doing!!). I am aware that these people are in the minority and my comment was a kneejerk reaction to my irritation toward the poster I mentioned above.
As far as generalization is concerned and just as a side note, my daughter participated in the International College Programme last summer at WDW. She started to get mildly annoyed at the number of people from the USA who asked her if she drank tea all the time, rode around in horses and carriages, or 'knew the Queen'. Yes my comment was ignorant and ill advised but I am obviously not alone in generalizing or believing things I see on TV

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Yes Yes, I apologise for generlizing about Texans. Very wrong of me. However, the poster who did rolleyeyes about Disney being scared of 'offending blacks' made me cross. Two wrongs, though, don't make a right and as I said before, I wish to offend nobody.
To answer the question as to whether Texan's have a reputation for being racist and gunslinging, well, in Britain they seem to have a little. There have been documentries here (I think to coincide with the abolision of slavery anniversary), which seemed to suggest that racism is commonplace and the KKK still very active (and not with good deed doing!!). I am aware that these people are in the minority and my comment was a kneejerk reaction to my irritation I felt at the above mentioed post.
As far as generalization is concerned and just as a side note, my daughter participated in the International College Programme last summer at WDW. She started to get mildly annoyed at the number of people from the USA who asked her if she drank tea all the time, rode around in horses and carriages, or 'knew the Queen'. Yes my comment was ignorant and ill advised but I am obviously not alone in generalizing or believing things I see on TV

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Sorry this seems to have posted twice. I promise I am not just labouring my point!!!

 

[skater]

OK Tinkerbell - I'm sure everyone will leave you alone now . Its really normal for people to generalize though and sometimes there are overreactions. I have general feelings and I'm sure misconceptions about people in different countries and different regions of the world. Of course there's some truth in some of those feelings. You definately don't mess with Texas . Seriously, the Texans I've known have been fierecely loyal to to their state - this is a generalization with some truth to it (I don't see that same loyalty in Maryland ).

Back to the topic. I really do love this movie, but who knows if I'd feel the same if I was an African American? I truly see it as harmless, but haven't walked a mile in the shoes of someone who deals with racism on a daily basis. I would love to have a good copy of this movie, but I don't want to see anybody hurt. Its a complicated world!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thank you. You know if you have a DVD player which is able to play UK DVDs, I could try to get you a copy here (if it is still available and hasn't gone back in the vault) and mail it to you. Let me know. I too love the movie but like you can see why it may not sit right with some and maybe that's why this particular decision has been made in the US. It would seem a sensible option for a company whose products should make people happy and not uncomfortable.