Racism in Disney

789 Words4 Pages
Guiding question: To many, Disney is synonymous with childhood. To what extent can Disney be accused of harmful racial stereotypes? Walt Disney has been accused of many racial, stereotypical and gender portraying characters in his movies. As children have grown up watching these films and often relating back to them in the future. To many, Disney is synonymous with childhood. To what extent can Disney be accused of harmful racial stereotypes? As evidence for this there are three stereotypes that prevail in many of the films. Villains are always having a different accent, African Americans like to go around in gangs and all African Americans like to have a good laugh. These racial slurs come across in the Disney films that are least expected in the ones that are believed to be the least harmful. Villains always seem to have a different accent in Disney movies. In the movie Aladdin, Jafar the advisor to the king, his accent is English and at the end of each of his words her makes an ‘S’ noise. Aladdin does not only have Jafar with a different accent but many of the merchants portray an Arab accent. In comparison to the main characters whom have a neutralized accent. The difference between the accent of Jasmine and Aladdin compared to the rest of the characters it is evident that the two leads have a more of a neutralized accent. Lady and the tramp has Siamese cats. These cats are presented as Asian/American with a different accent from the rest of the characters. With this message being present in the film it is showing children that Asian/Americans are sly and sneaking around. Disney movies portray many African Americans to be shown to always be having a good laugh. This common misconception is present in many of Walt’s children’s films. Dumbo has the scene with the murder of crows laughing and making a joke of Dumbo and the mouse Timothy and continually
Open Document