Song of the South: A Disney Retrospective | The Fangirl

I found a copy of Disney's Song of the South, and, let me say, I have very mixed feelings about this movie. Let's talk about the context and era that the movie and Uncle Remus came from.
Modern Mouse’s video on Song of the South: • The Story Behind Song ...
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Brer Fox, Brer Bear, and Brer Rabbit are all apart of The Tales of Uncle Remus, and I remember this movie fondly as a little kid, but... as an adult, this movie is strange and pretty messed up under the lens of 2022. However, if we take a step back and look at the fact that Song of the South was released in 1946, the movie feels a lot more progressive. Don't get me wrong, it didn't age well AT ALL, but, if we look at the overarching story points, for that era in American film, this movie is almost incredible, both for the technical achievements and the amount of social boundaries it ends up pushing.
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All views expressed are opinions.
This video is Fair Use under U.S. copyright law (Section 107 of the Copyright Act) because it is transformative in nature, uses no more of the original work than necessary, and has no negative effect on the market for the original work. Furthermore, this video is protected speech as outlined by the first amendment of the United States Constitution.
#disney #songofthesouth #disneyplus #TheFangirl

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

I remember reading that Walt Disney himself kept in close contact with James Baskett during and after the film till his death. He even was the one who got James into the Oscars.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I have heard that Walt was very pushy for James to get an Oscar.

[@92JazzQueen]

@@TheFangirlWatches No wonder the man was phenomenal.

[@razertheredlantern6203]

I agree that the movie does have its problems, but instead of hiding it, I feel that “Song of the South” could be used as a teaching moment for people wanting to learn about how the time period viewed things very differently back then.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I wish we took an approach like that here. There are old pre-WWII films from Germany, some of which were made to manipulate the German people towards WWII, and you can still find them playing on TV there to this day. I do believe the "look what things were like" approach helps to keep people knowledgeable of the past and aware enough to not repeat it. Instead, the U.S. in general likes to hide anything that doesn't make a pretty or polished image for ourselves instead of owning what we've done.

[@mgailp]

People also need to be made more aware that Brer characters / tales are authentic African American folk tales - even to the point that there are scholars who have traced the connection of many Brer tales to several traditional African and Native American folk tales. This gets so lost in the focus on the problems of the framing story.

[@mgailp]

FWIW, my childhood love of this comes from one of those 33rpm record books - ding - turn the page. I never actually saw the movie until I was an adult and wanted to form my own opinion on it and bought a copy.

[@dravennevermore7860]

Yeah....I believe I read that Woopie Goldberg has argued for it's release because of it historic contribution and conversation that it generates

[@celestiadrools9551]

Yes, I agree that the movie should re-release to teach these so called, “activists”, about the racism aspects.

[@gracekim25]

What’s interesting is some people forget this movie is set after the civil war😅

[@TheFangirlWatches]

It's set just after the Civil War and was released the year after World War II ended. But, I could understand why that's hard for people to remember when they really can't see the movie for themselves.

[@gracekim25]

@@TheFangirlWatches ah right 🤔 good point

[@animeknight8958]

Disney need to bring this film back to the public!

[@brendaluv2017]

The real question is how will forgetting a film is going to change anything? Or fix anything like racism?

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I think Disney wants it buried because it makes them look insensitive, but, I tend to agree that hiding it doesn't take accountability or open the conversation to how things were, how they changes, and how they should not be again.

[@celestiadrools9551]

I ask myself the same thing. How is hiding your mistakes going to help solve the problem? Nothing, it’s just going to create a bigger mess than it already is.

[@cryptictriscuit207]

You’re a fool

[@586bomin]

​@@TheFangirlWatchesThis movie's timeline is 1870, 5 years after the Civil War, so the ones in the plantation were free but , as a former slave point out in the Chronicles of a slave, they didn't have were to go so they stayed. The movie presents many problems but so it does Gone With the Wind and I don't see anyone burying it any time soon as it is a classic of cinema as Song of the South should be regard as well . I also think it is very disrespectful that this was James Baskett final role and they disregard him so pretending he didn't make this film. In conclusion parents should be able to have a discussion with their children around the topics of slavery and segregation ensuring they instill in them a just moral compass but I don't think pretending a film doesn't exist is going make people forget it does

[@psychedelicfright85]

​@@586bominpeople are pushing for segregation these days, but it's not the people you'd expect

[@logenvestfold4143]

If you destroy the pillars of progress you are forced to resort back to the foundation. This gives your enemies a chance to build their own pillars of intolerance.

[@Moonbeam143]

The Disney Channel used to have a music video for "Zip-A-Doo-Dah" back in the day, and I used to love singing it. I had no idea where it came from, because they never talked about the movie.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

It is VERY weird how Disney cherry picks pieces of the movie to use while pretending that the movie as a whole doesn't exist.

[@gracekim25]

Mmmm

[@maevereynolds6344]

Yeah!!! cus usually when Disney Channel had a star do a new version of an old song, the music video would be themed to match the movie the song originated from.... Until this vid, i did not know Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah was anything but an Aly & AJ song 😅😂

[@NeedlessMink828]

When I took a mythology class a couple years ago, my professor gave out the option to write a paper based on the original tales. Being interested in the movie and knowing the ride, I was able to get my hands on the movie and the original book and did a lot of research. I even found a museum in Georgia that I visited. The author of the books, Chandler Harris, got all of the stories from slaves on a plantation that he worked on. By doing so, he found out that the stories actually originate from Africa, but there are no documents of the original, just what Harris wrote. The reason why the animals talk the way they do is because thats the way the entire book is written, like word for word. It is very difficult to read in terms of the slang and knowing the un-educatedness that comes with it. However, I did find out that the African Americans in the film are seen as free because the film takes place after the Civil War during the recreation era. It was interesting going to the museum and finding out that there are a lot of people who love these stories and are upset with the ride being taken down. The women who runs the museum is in her 80s and African American and went on and on how yes, the stories and film show a bad place, but to her and her community, they mean a lot. It just opened my mind to all the different perspectives that are out there.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

That's an interesting piece of Song of the South that is difficult to unravel today - I have seen short passages of the original stories, and they remind me of trying to read Hagrid in Harry Potter (I can't understand wtf they're trying to say!). And, giving Harris the benefit of the doubt, that was probably done to show some semblance of respect to that culture and the people who told the stories, because, frankly, it's a horrible selling point to print something that can barely be read. I imagine Harris had to really fight with the publisher on how things were worded. But, when you look at it today with the ideas of cultural appropriation, it becomes such a convoluted issue, and it's hard to keep the 1800s lens on the material. Much like Song of the South, The Tales of Uncle Remus is a book that didn't age well beyond it's era.

[@MrsLilySnape41]

@NeedlessMink 828 Thank you for clarifying the most important point, that people get offended on behalf of folks whose history is actually represented, however glossed over it might be. Like the 80 year old woman at the museum, very often, the people you'd think should be offended actually aren't because they are proud of their heritage and are excited to be able to teach the generations after them about life during Their time. I was born in 1969, I was fortunate to be able to see SoTS in theaters with The Aristocats when I was around three years old and again in the early '80s. Nobody had a problem then, and the audience was a mixed bag of all colors. I also grew up in the time of Sanford and Son, All In the Family, and The Jeffersons, so it takes a lot to offend my generation. We all just get along, no matter our skin tone, and don't sweat the small stuff, like History we can't change. And if we don't like something, we choose avoid it, but we don't try to keep it from everyone else because that's just selfish, not to mention wrong.

[@ChimeraReviews2023]

It always amuses me to hear people talk about how they speak. 😂 Come to the south and spend some time. You may be in for a shock, because you’re going to hear a lot of folk speak similar to what the movie portrays.

[@eighties73]

I've been saying that for years. If you live in the Deep South, you'll hear that vernacular all over the place.

[@wolftal1178]

The film is a classic masterpiece!

[@nathansteele4358]

Wouldn’t go that far

[@wolftal1178]

@@nathansteele4358 compared to stuff today.

[@abbc2105]

Before watching this video, I watched the movie for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I do not know much about that time period, but I personally had no problems with the film. It is very charming and has a good message. I think if more people were to look at the film as a self-contained story, and stop looking for issues or falsehoods, they’d see just how sweet this movie is.

[@PoliticalAbstract]

Are you black? See, this is what kills me is folks like you always want to chime in and feel the need to say shit like this while ignoring the history and time period this movie was made...maybe you need to education yourself before saying stupid shit like this.

[@MagentaCooly]

I look at this movie the way I did as a kid, I love it. We had a very static-ridden tape of it we could only watch at grandma's (because it was hers), and mom and grandma would read us the original stories, broken English and all. Mom always said it was important to know the history of how people lived and spoke at the time. This movie gives me fond fond memories of my grandma and I'll never be mad at it for that.

[@electrofonickitty823]

I remember my grandfather talking about this, he showed it to me. He told me that Uncle Remus was a former slave and he told me the reason for the Civil War and why Uncle Remus exists. He also told me the movie takes place after the war, he wanted to make it known that black people are people. There were problematic parts and it was something I felt was needed to be said. I always felt it was weird to me... I grew up on the Tales of Uncle Remus and to me I loved the stories. I also think Disney is missing a teaching moment where they can openly discuss this movie in an educational way and also show why its controversial and so on. Disney should realize they can't hide it forever unless they want to be like Japan and let the film get moldy and smell like vinegar as it rots (yes that actually happened to some anime and is still happening)

[@adqueen2548]

That is a great example how such movie could be used to slowly oresent such things

[@Flower_Mom]

I never saw this movie but I do remember my childhood library had a bunch of Disney books that came with cassette tapes of someone narrating for you to read along to. Song of the South was one of them though it only told the story contained in the animated parts of the movie.

[@Edgeof666]

I had that as a kid as well!

[@joeytate8591]

I very much love this movie!!! Thank you for talking about it!!!! You didn't mention that Uncle Remus also told the Br'erRabbit story to Miss Sally and Mr. John, Johnny's mom and dad, when they were kids. For some reason I thought that Mr. John was a solier of some kind and had to leave to do soldier stuff, but I did check online and you were right about Mr. John being an editor. With the part that you said about Ms. Sally not wanting Jenny at the party, because she is poor I totally understand the reason. I think it was because Ms. Sally wanted Johnny to meet other children. All in all I thought that this video was great. Once again I do like this movie, I have a copy of it myself. Thank you again for talking about. Much appreciated!!!!

[@theboundingman1598]

I think this movie should be brought out, so that we can have conversation with our kids about how things were back in the movie setting time period and the time period of when the movie came out. We should learn from history. And I completely agree with you on the movie very sweet moments

[@gracekim25]

Yeah

[@curtisharris5407]

history books, the internet, school. we don’t need this caricature of a movie floating around again, frankly it had its run

[@celestiadrools9551]

I feel like they should make a documentary on Disney plus explaining the historical background to this movie. To get more clarification and clear up the misunderstandings.

[@braylin5003]

Disney should have this movie on Disney+ with a warning at the start of the movie because the movie in overall it's sweet and revolutionary having in mind the time this was made.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I think it would warrant more than a traditional warning. Maybe a recorded spokesperson making some big acknowledgements about how bad various scenes come off. But, I think hiding it makes it more interesting, and in a lot of ways, "bigger and scarier" than it is.

[@gracekim25]

Yeah they put a warning on Peter Pan, they can do it for this

[@braylin5003]

@@TheFangirlWatches in some ways it is, like it's some mission to find an original copy of a VHS or get a DVD copy made by someone. I feel like having an spoken person added would be too off for casual viewers, maybe some notes at the corner of the screen that can justified the few problematics details of this movie.

[@braylin5003]

@@gracekim25 pretty much

[@SarahJaneOmega]

@@TheFangirlWatches Maybe something like what they did when the war propaganda shorts were released on DVD. They had someone (I can't remember who) coming onscreen at the start and saying "This isn't right, it never has been, we just didn't realise it back when we made the movie"

[@starrsmith3810]

Disney sure does love to pretend this never existed. It’s actually kinda infuriating and somehow more insulting then the movie already is.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

That's why I think it's a mistake to hide it. It's not a particularly great movie, and it would probably die out on it's own if it wasn't this taboo, hidden thing.

[@clayharris7740]

@@TheFangirlWatches hey could you please review the episode of gender tartakovsky's Primal called Plague of Madness because like plague dogs it is dark depressing disturbing and the most terrifying episode

[@Number4lead]

It was a great performance by a great actor.

[@jukio02]

All the while they have a ride dedicated to this movie. 😂

[@celestiadrools9551]

Hiding the truth doesn’t help people. It hurts them more.

[@johnhayward998]

Oh this is movie was a classic of Disney

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Very classic, but very clunky!

[@authenticmind]

James Baskett won an Academy Award for this performance of Zip a Dee Doo Dah and Mr. Basket commented that he felt some people of his race were going to do more harm to his race by attacking the film than Song of the South ever could do. I agree, and find that the film actually shows the stupidity of slavery and the powerful faith, patience, and kindness of the black people in the film. Ultimately Uncle Remus. I honestly believe that the hushing up of this film is wrong, and it is an assault on the powerful work of James Baskett and his powerful character Uncle Remus who is so kind and loving.

[@madmarcus1709]

Now here’s something which a lot of people don’t seem to realize. Since the ending of slavery in 1865, some slaves didn’t know what to do with their freedom. Yeah their free, but they have little to no schooling, and the southern states where very racially segregated and implemented a lot of Jim Crow laws. So if you were a slave and you already were working for a kind owner. Instead of having to walk or take the risk of riding a train up north (Which there was no accommodations for blacks on railroads until 1896). It would be easier and you would start making an income from a fairly kind owner.

[@caseycat]

Also, even though slavery was abolished after the Civil War, many plantation owners neglected to tell their slaves, so people were still working for plantation owners when they were supposed to be free. Then you had cropsharing, which is still a thing today and there are still uneducated black people in the deep south that "work for rent" living on white man's property and working for him in exchange for room and board.

[@SassyGirl822006]

I have never seen the full movie, but I have seen clips. There used to be a kids cartoon thing on TV, that opened with Uncle Remas starting story time with a child or two, and had a bunch of Disney cartoons from 1930's - 50's, including sections out of the Nazi Donald propaganda cartoon and the rabbit, fox, and bear from Song of the South, and ended with the scene from the movie with the Zippity Do Da song. I swear I'm not that old, but this was on at like 5-6 am in the 1980's.

[@Dij7897]

Love that you covered this movie! Canadian fan over here and I’ve been trying for a while to get my hands on a copy of that movie. I love Disney but know that Song of the South is a HUGE part of their past and as a 95 baby, I’ve only heard rumours of said movie. Hopefully I can get my own copy to watch it and give my own feedback on it. Thank you for covering it and inspiring me even more to get my own copy!

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I'm surprised it's banned in Canada too! I've heard it's easy to get ahold of in Europe and Asia. But, if you can find a knock off copy, or a safe internet download, it is a VERY unique film to watch that fills full of mixed messages.

[@SomeHarbourBastard]

Don't need to, it's on KZbin in full

[@johnmuzic3475]

​@@SomeHarbourBastardwhere is the link? I can't find it, it must've been taken down or banned..

[@RandallStevenson]

I bought a 24 movie set that is Disney's classic animated movies from Snow White to Tarzan, including Song of the south. if that set is not officially licensed, they went to great lengths to make it look like it is, and mass produced it.

[@gregory3969]

Appreciate this perspective, from those of us that were able to see this film as children. It’s literally about understanding different perspectives..

[@TheFangirlWatches]

And it's not that this movie has zero issues when you look at it in 2024, but most people don't want to evaluate the movie for what the world was when it was released, and that, of course, is going to lead to a lot of negative feelings about Song of the South.

[@gracekim25]

This is the movie I’m most curious by. Because there’s always been people claiming it’s ‘racist’ but like no one ever lets us watch it and decide for ourselves you know 😅 Ignoring its existence is wrong

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Well, it is definitely full of racist moments, but that's why the context of the era is important. Honestly, if they didn't make Splash Mountain and didn't hide the film, I don't think anyone would even bother remembering it. It would just be like "look at this horrible movie Disney made in the 1940s!" By burying it over owning how bad elements of it are, they just make it taboo and a subject to keep talking about.

[@gracekim25]

@@TheFangirlWatches and oddly enough I’ve always been aware of Zipp-Dee-do song😅 and probably wondered what movie it came from when I was a lot younger so um yeah 🤷‍♀️ that song seems to be the one thing (other than Splash mountain) still used from this I guess

[@gracekim25]

@@TheFangirlWatches mmm yeah 🤔

[@curtisharris5407]

any film that has a glorified portrayal of slavery is racist. boom, didn’t even have to watch the movie to tell you that

[@migangelmart]

I'm 46 and I remember watching this with my dad on TV. I even had a sing along booklet and cassette.

[@eeveefennecfox]

it's weird....I've never heard of song of the south until a couple of years ago when a youutbe channel was talking about it briefly and yet I regonize the bunny which I've never seen in my entire life,hell even when I was a kid my dad always sang that song and for 30+ years I thought he was the one that made up the song XD I'm dead serious,I've not once ever thought about where the song has came from,I've never questioned it a day in my life XD

[@judsongaiden9878]

The story takes place after slavery was abolished. That's a detail a lot of folk don't realize. Fun fact: Robert Edward Lee rightly recognized that the institution of slavery was more evil for the master than for the slave. The slave, being a victim of injustice, is blameless. The master, being the one wearing the "iron-heeled jackboot," holds all the blame. That's my way of phrasing it, not his. His way of explaining it sounds like a didactic diatribe in the form of a dissertation or essay, as per typical for the vernacular style of the time. 3:56 A lot of freed slaves stayed on those plantations because they didn't have anywhere else to go. They would have been worse off as factory workers in the North, a fact many a Southerner used to paint Northerners as conniving opportunists who only wanted to free slaves in the South so they could oppress them as cheap labor in a more urban, industrial setting. They had a point, though it was hypocritical. ALL slavery is evil. ALL exploitation is evil. ALL oppression is evil. 4:34 Gotta love how the villain of the story is a prototype Karen. Even as an '80s kid in the '80s, I hated her! 4:50 Gotta wonder what John Brown would say to that hag. 5:55 Tearing down the artificial borders of race and class. What is it people don't like about this masterpiece? 9:24 That's because they don't pay attention to pertinent details, like when the story takes place. Did they not notice that the villain is a Karen?! 13:30 We're supposed to identify with Uncle Remus. Or alternatively, we can identify with the characters who identify with him (or the ones he, himself, identifies with, like Br'er Rabbit). We're not meant to assume that Remus is jolly 'about' his circumstances. We're meant to understand that he's joyful 'despite' his circumstances. What better way to stick it to "The Man" than by displaying an irrepressible spirit? Note: I've always identified with rabbit characters, so anyone else who also identifies with rabbit characters, well, I jibe with 'em. 13:41 That vernacular style is exaggerated even more in the book. 15:08 Why does Johnny wear a doily around his neck? The affectations of the oppressor class are so repressive! Attention rich people! If you don't want your sons to get beat up, don't make them wear doilies around their necks! 15:24 It's not their whiteness that makes them dumb. It's their affluence that makes them indolent. It would have the same affect on anyone of any race. And it's not the presence of resources that's the problem. It's the attitude of entitlement that builds up over time. 16:24 Right?! Princesses, much?! Monarchy, much?! Oppressor class, much?! Constitutional republicanism is the only viable form of governance.

[@aniflowers1998]

This is actually pretty interesting. I never watched the movie, but from this it almost sound like the people today are upset about it for basically not beeing a documentary film. I always thought it was obvious that children movies don't go to deep into the dark reality of whatever they display. I mean...Rapunzel was originally about rape, Cinderelas sisters lost their eyes in the end, and the midevil times of princess and princesses where ridden with witch hunt, illness, death in general and later one the plague. And those are just the first three examples that come to my mind. Even movies that present terible hystorical events more obviously, like Peter Pan 2 (world war) or Pocahontas (colonialism), water things down a lot to make it easier to digest for children. It's a shame that no one besides you seems to look at the good qualitys of the movie, like it beeing revolutionary with it's casting back than (something people now a days normaly really praise and latche on to) or it having a positive message of the new generation coming together no matter their skin color or social status.

[@vetarlittorf1807]

Cinderella's sisters lost their toes, not their eyes. And it was Sleeping Beauty that was raped, not Rapunzel.

[@aniflowers1998]

@@vetarlittorf1807 both, actually. In the original Cinderella, one of the sisters get's her toe, the other the heal if her foot joped of to fitt in the shoe. And at Cinderellas wedding two doves fly down and pick out their eyes. In one version of Rapunzels original story, the prince sleeps with her aparantly without her consent, making her pregnant with twins, which she than has to raise on her own in the end. I hadn't heard about the version where sleeping beauty get's raped though.

[@janedoe5229]

In the "real" Little Mermaid, the prince married someone else. The Little Mermaid was going to die when the sun rose. She went to the shore to await her death. Her mermaid sisters came up with a magic knife that they sold their hair for. If the Little Mermaid would just kill the new bride, she would not die and she would get her tail back. She went to kill the bride, and she could not do it, and so she killed herself and became a spirit in the air. Sweet dreams kiddies.

[@DawnzeenaMcGill]

My younger sister is actually black, we aren’t biologically related, but we’re so close we decided we’re just going to be each other’s sisters. But I mean I still could never understand the things she goes through because I’m a white girl myself and don’t go through what she goes through.

[@lynseyluvsatwink9800]

What concerns me more than anything, is that if we pretend these movies don't exist, then we'll forget the incredible performances by James Baskett and Hattie McDaniel. I'm not sure how that will help with racism.

[@BlackndRaynesAshley]

I honestly have seen Disney put out a lot of their shows with the warnings, and this is one they should do so with as well. There are many movies that do similar things, and instead of hiding from our past, we need to be up front, learn and grow from it. I personally would like to see it for myself and make my own judgments, and if I see fit, use it as teaching moments for my children, because how else will we as the human race grow, if not learning from our past and our ancestors mistakes?

[@CarolinaMouse]

They could also do some historical stuff (BTS, special intro about it-like Warner Bros. does with their cartoons...and Disney did too on their Walt Disney Treasures DVDs) with it.

[@celestiadrools9551]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[@TheStreetFoolosopherMr187]

@@CarolinaMouse YUP

[@wadetaylor47]

The song of the South waa set during set during reconstruction. The workers on the plantation were share croppers. Disney evaded the issue of slavery when the movie was produced.

[@madmarcus1709]

AHA! So they can leave, if they were still slaves they couldn’t leave. And almost no slave owners were willing to let their slaves just say “Sorry, this work environment is getting too harsh. I’m leaving.”

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I'm a little concerned with your inability to listen, and why you feel so invested in being upset over my views on a movie that I'm ultimately defending...

[@madmarcus1709]

@@TheFangirlWatches Look I completely agree with this movie showing the positive relationship between black and white Americans. And yeah it is racist to think that slaves were happy with working for their owners. But my point, or more specifically the movie’s subtly detail, is the fact that since Uncle Remus could leave implies that these people are NOT slaves. If they were, then Uncle Remus couldn’t just leave.

[@blueberrypitbull87]

People take this film out of context so much and put their feelings over facts. This was AFTER slavery not during. The slaves were free to go. Walt was not a racist and he and James Baskett who played Uncle Remus were great buddies. Walt had hired many black employees and employees of the Jewish religion. The Sherman Brothers and Floyd Norman being some of them. Walt fired a lawyer for being anti sematic, the Sherman Brothers told this in an interview about how they overheard this in a meeting. The Sherman Brothers debunked the lies about Walt hating Jewish people many times. Floyd also debunked the lies about Walt being racist. Floyd ALSO put Spike Lee on blast for pushing the lies. Walt fought to have James Baskett win an Oscar for his role in Song of the South knowing full well that the people in charge would want to turn him down due to the views back then. But James came out on top to become the first black man to win an Oscar.

[@codybaker2074]

The character Johnny is based on the author, Joel Chandler Harris. Harris was taught these stories by a black man who was like a father to him. These stories are also taken from African and African American folklore. Some of the controversies come from the white people acting superior to the white people while the black people in the movie are living in poverty and happy with that. At a glance, it looks like they are okay with this but they are actually happy because they make the best out of what they got which is something many people in this generation need to do. It was historically accurate to have this but they could have made this message less confusing by either saying it or showing uncle Remus as wealthy. Personally, I applaud this movie for being one of the first to star a black man in a noncomedic role. Uncle Remus isn't lazy, or dumb like other black characters were portrayed during this time. Walt Disney was a big voice in nominating James Baskett for an Oscar for his role as Uncle Remus and Br'er Fox. Walt was ahead of his time. The voices in this movie aren't uneducated but they talk in southern dialect. This is one of the first times we saw this in Hollywood which makes this more revolutionary. People talk differently in all places but the way someone talks don't mean they are less intelligent. English people may think they are speaking poorly when actually they are speaking correctly just with a different dialect. The rules of grammar change from place to place and there is nothing wrong with that. On one hand, you could say Disney pictures wasn't making a direct anti-slavery stance, but looking at the end with the black and white kids playing with each other as equals you can see they making an anti-racism stance and looking forward to a future without racism. Looking at Disney at D23, it is such a positive thing that Disney is finally catching up to Walt Disney's ideas. This movie shouldn't be canceled. With a proper introduction explaining the context of the times this movie is based on and maybe a few edits, this movie can and should be brought back and impact people to live peacefully together as it was always intended to do.

[@felixmadison5736]

This movie was released in 1946, 3 years before I was born. I saw it at my local small town theater when I was about 8 years-old in 1957. I sat there and enjoyed the movie by myself (there were other people there of course) and never thought anything about it. Other than that it was enjoyable for someone my age and pretty much typical 'Disney fare'. For me it was just like going to that movie theater to see other Disney films like: 'Bambi', or 'Perri, the Flying Squirrel', which I saw in 1957. Maybe it was because we lived on Cape Cod, Ma., and everyone was treated equally. No 'colored' drinking fountains or bathrooms, and everyone sat where they wanted because there were no 'colored sections' Maybe I was just too young to understand things as complicated as racism back then. Seeing things through a child's eyes is so innocent and unblemished. Our country has changed for the better, and maybe 50 to 100 years from now people will look back on America the way it is now, and think it was 'kinda strange'.

[@DC73843]

I really appreciate you nuanced examination. Great job!

[@brookerickettson4950]

Hindsight is 20/20. I think the biggest failure surrounding this film was that the actor who played Uncle R, wasn’t even allowed to be at the big premier event. Probably due to segregated theaters, but still it’s really telling that you’re picking and choosing a narrative when your main character is so accepted in film, and excluded in real life. I’m sure Walt wanted to focus on the animated stories, and paint the live actors as their best selves, or well almost cartoon versions of people ( the writting for the real actors is pretty basic), but by glossing over, omitting, and simplifying the real life setting, he probably did more harm than good. Reinforcing a “Mayberry” sharecropper false-but embraced-history, Instead of hiding this film. Disney should take it as a chance to treat it as a time capsule. Explain the jim crow laws that Walt pushed against, as progressive for the time. Explain why the happy , poor but respected portrayal of UR isn’t considered anywhere near progressive today. Explain why the blacks are poor, the similarities and differences between the poor blacks, and poor whites, the reason the mother didn’t want her son around those people. How such people are treated today. We do the same with Huck Finn.

[@adqueen2548]

You know what could have been a great idea? Have the movie play but jn between have some historian explain certain aspects. Uncle Remus appears, historian explains his outfit. This character does this, historian explains. It could be a series and I would love to watch it

[@maxx1000]

Good review. Thanks for the mature approach to seeing this work in the context of the times it was produced in. As they say, (going cliche) "Art Imitates Life".

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I mean, any movie taken from 10+ years ago and looked at the filter of today is unlikely to pass scrutiny. And I don't mind a conversation about "is THIS the representation that we want children to see and normalize NOW," because that's a fair question on whether or not to burry a charged film like this. But it bothers me when people want to look at films as if they were made today and won't take into account what the world was when it was made. Plus, all the hiding just makes the movie seem much more taboo and interesting than it really is.

[@pirateraider1708]

The only thing of this I've ever seen was a Disney book as a kid, and the only thing I recall is the rabbit attacking a dummy made of tar and getting stuck.

[@tawnie9204]

I’ve never seen this movie. But the Zip a dee Do Da song lyrics were changed for a summer horseback riding camp. Back in the early 00s. I vaguely heard about this movie in the 2000s. It was only fairly recently I found out this song came from this movie.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I find it so confusing why Disney wants to let the animated characters and the songs out for this movie, while not acknowledging the rest of the film. It's bizarre!

[@baronagony4767]

I always see this one booth at a yearly fair in my area selling bootleg dvds of this

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I've heard it's readily available to purchase in other countries - but it's worth picking up a copy to see it for yourself.

[@Number4lead]

There's nothing more racist than trying to make sure nobody can see a great performance by a great african American actor whom was the first black actor to win an Oscar.

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

I was only familiar with this through the Sing Along Songs VHS and people who would sing Zippity Doo Dah. I didn’t know it was from a movie (nor did I realize that Splash Mountain was a tie-in) because Disney buried it. But the fact that the song and Uncle Remus character was etched in my memory from just 5 minutes of video shows the impact of James Basket’s performance, as well as the brilliant way Disney combined live action and animation. I haven’t seen the movie to this day, so I cannot comment on whether it’s racist. But I do wish I had a chance to see it.

[@mrjakelong]

The Fangirl i have this film on vhs and i like the character toby

[@TheFangirlWatches]

You own a rare item, indeed! Toby was the other younger boy, correct? I did appreciate that he had so much more common sense than the other youth characters.

[@brendaluv2017]

Also I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney kept that ride because it gains a lot profit for them because people would still ride it all these years

[@tawnie9204]

Do you have any Sailor Moon videos up??

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I have this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2HWnaSEmr2rm9U

[@zeidenmedia]

Yes, educated sounding bears!

[@jvondd]

Maybe I'm just weird about little details like this, but I did a double take when I heard you pronounce "preface" like pree-FACE. I'm not sure that it's necessarily wrong, but I've never heard it pronounced that way before. In my experience, it's always been said like PREH-fiss.

[@channelrandom2225]

Honestly it makes no sense to me how this movie stayed out of dvd but, we allowed movies like gone with the wind which literally has mami an offensive stereotype to still be sold today in stores like Barnes and Noble. This movie should be kept as an example of the past we shouldn’t cover up history it needs to be exposed to children how this was the way things we’re and needs to be taught to children. Song of the south kinda feels like a backhanded compliment at best insensitive at worst. Disney has a lot on insensitive films ( the original Aladdin, lady and the tramp were both out right racist in the depictions of Asians, Aristocats had several harmful depictions of certain ethnic groups, ) I’m speaking as a person of Color I am half Black so it can relate to how this movie rubs off like a backhanded compliment

[@ContrarianExpatriate]

My mother encouraged me to see this movie back in the 1980s because it was moving for her. I was not so moved by it at all but I did not see it as racist. If anything, the “jive talk” of the animated characters was annoying and out modes, but not offensive. Uncle Remus was a poor, subservient character which was stereotypical, but again, not offensive. I didn’t like the movie because I was already a bit too old to appreciate it like a child would. But I thing some blacks object to the stereotypical imagery and diction, that’s all.

[@Terry-ep2xz]

OMG!!! How could I have missed that I was raised in the northern part of Pennsylvania and at the time when I really watched this movie I didn't even know what that was about and I guess it escaped me all my life and never even thought about it I was sitting here the other night trying for almost 3 hours to remember that song to help perk me up because I was thinking about my mom that had passed and she loved the movie as well oh my God I can't believe this this is something I'm going to come in again thank you thank you so much for bringing this to my attention once and for all after 3 hours and then finding that song it was like like finding my best friend again from my heart I can never thank you enough I don't think I'll talk again sometime I'm just going to sit here and think about it❤ hearts tyou

[@Terry-ep2xz]

Just a quick clarity of thought..,....... I seem to have gotten my words a little bit mixed up and I apologize for that but I will talk again sometime thank you very much for my heart

[@wotanmituns33]

I don't think there's one surviving actor of this movie.

[@ezrahendog5837]

I only had a vhs sing along as a kid. So I thought Zip a do da was a one off. I didn't know it was a movie until I was in high school.

[@dougconley]

I have my copy of Song of the South and this film is hardly problematic. It's not meant to be a historical documentary. It's meant to be an entertaining Disney film with good iconic music. Anyone reading anymore into it than that needs some self reflection.

[@Meleeman011]

At the beginning of the video my mother would sing this song to me when I was a boy. I was today years old when I realized I was raised by a southern mom

[@elliottmanning]

I loved this movie as a kid, Think that parts of SOTS were on Disney's Wonderful World on TV!!!

[@nathanstrother7593]

Question how many of you have played the Donkey Kong games follow up Question wouldn't it be crazy if Disney made a Song of the South game where Ginny Favers gets captured by a giant ape who throws barrels and wears a tie

[@gracekim25]

It’s nice to know the actual um message of the movie is a positive one based on the ending at least 🤔

[@SagittariusGirl2008]

I've been trying to find this movie for a while now

[@Enirahtak8]

I'm so glad you made this review, so many comments on this movie have *clearly* been made by people who haven't actually sat through and thought about the different aspects of the film. It's definitely dated and problematic, but I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who sees the positives of it.

[@curtisharris5407]

I don’t think a film like this deserves any kind of formal review. The fact ppl were willing to create a film this negative? That’s automatically a 0/10

[@Enirahtak8]

@@curtisharris5407 Did you watch The Fangirl's video? At the time, at least some of the people making this film, including Walt Disney, would have seen it as a positive film rather than a negative one, with a young rich white boy making friends with black people and poorer white people with no prejudice on his own part. Obviously there were people at the time who criticised the film, just as now there are far more people who find the film problematic, but many (ahem white) people did think differently back then. I'm not saying they were in the right, by any means, but I think this film does deserve to be examined in different contexts, just as The Fangirl did in this very video.

[@celestiadrools9551]

For me, after watching some scenes of this movie, I don’t see any stereotyping at all, especially in the animated segments,(with the exception of the tar baby). You want to know what live action animated movie has stereotyping of African Americans?! Ralph Bashki’s Coonskin.

[@GenAqua]

Meghan, are you going to check out Tiana's Bayou Adventure when it's opened?

[@TheFangirlWatches]

If I am financially able to get to Disney Parks, I 10000% will. I have no doubt that it will be a fun, beautifully detailed ride at the end of the day.

[@GenAqua]

@@TheFangirlWatches Good. Won't be open till next year....but good that you will try to go. I've NEVER been to any amusement parks, never had the funds or time to do so....But I'd love to check out Disneyland someday.

[@peterlblystone2326]

I first saw this movie in the spring of 1955, when my (elementary) school presented it as an end-of-the-year treat for us kids.(There was only one projector, so from time to time, the show would stop while the person in charge rewound the film and threaded the next reel so that the movie could proceed.) The following year, it was shown at our local theater -- uninterrupted! I grew up in a village that was all-white, all-Catholic-and-mainstream-Protestant, and not until I was about 18-19 did I get to actually know any black people, so I was never a racist. So, if there was anything overtly racist about this film, I totally missed it. In fact, the scene that bothered me the most was the one in which Ginnyś nasty brothers harassed her and Johnny, and Uncle Remus came along, broke up the fight and sent the wrongdoers on their way. The great Hattie McDaniel virtually reprised her Oscar-winning role as Mammy, but this time, we hear her sing! Great! The animated sections, of course, were the highlights of the film. I think Disney could have avoided a lot of trouble if he'd included in the opening credits a date, so that it would be clear to the audience that it was taking place AFTER the Civil War and that the black people in it were not slaves. In any case, I hope Disney will some day reconsider releasing this film on DVD or Blu-ray, and resist the temptation to "edit" it to appease the naysayers. It deserves it!

[@blueiris_does_art]

I don’t get it . I just watched it, and I don’t see anything wrong with the movie whatsoever. Personally, I think people are over-analyzing this movie. I believe that this movie is supposed to be a good movie for families, and it’s supposed to teach kids that everyone is equal!! I don’t know why James Baskett would agree to be in a movie that was racist anyways, or any of them, for that matter (this is coming from a 15 year old’s perspective, so please be kind with your replies, thanks).

[@MissyFaith1971]

I loved the movie. I really didn't pay attention to the period of time as a kid. I loved the stories Uncle Remus told and the story as a whole. I still to this day didn't nitpick the movie or most other movies. There's a modern movie called Brer Rabbit that has nothing to do with racism or slavery, has a family and has more of the animal characters

[@gugurupurasudaikirai7620]

I've seen it. And it is indeed difficult to track down. Ironically in the movie when Uncle Remus decides to leave he says he is going to Atlanta. The movie premiered in Atlanta and James Baskett who played Uncle Remus wasn't allowed to attend the premiere by law because he was black. Atlanta being the nearest city actually makes it make a lot more sense as to why he wasn't in a rush to leave the plantation. (And honestly, I think you could make a case that he may have had a relationship with the grandmother on the down low)

[@christiantang6214]

The lead actor ,James Baskett, the first african american actor to have a lead role in a Hollywood film and the first african american actor to win an Oscar, should be getting a biopic. The guy opened the door for african american and actors of colour in the entertainment industry and yet he's just being forgotten. It's quite sad

[@jacobgoodman6296]

Hey Meghan this is unrelated, but could you watch suggestive gaming's video about the story of Kingdom Hearts? And have you seen any of the Highlander movies or show

[@petermiller3364]

the black guy who Uncle renus in song of thesouth was not even invited to the Premier of the movie, once i read the Jecie Owens was being honored some where at a ballroom he was not allowed through the from main doors he had to use the service door in the back of the hotel and the service elevator

[@chasecreamer727]

One big misconception of the movie is the time period it takes place in, the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War just like the original Uncle Remus tales by Joel Chandler Harris (which are based on African folklore told to by him by the slaves he was raised with). Disney should have made that clear. Uncle Remus is a free man. He's decided to stay on the Plantation and is able to leave when he pleases. The animation of the movie is beautiful and flows great as are the songs. And James Basket did great as Uncle Remus. He is Uncle Remus. He also did great as Bere Fox and voiced Bere Rabbit for the Laughing Place short.

[@Ladya-eg7yp]

Yeah...it's a complicated movie I never saw it

[@TheFangirlWatches]

It's a very strange movie. I can't recall many others where a bull trampling is a plot device.

[@gracekim25]

@@TheFangirlWatches just wow😅 that’s just amazing

[@jonmcinnis1645]

I understand your retrospective by the way could you do an Indiana Jones 5 discussion/Indiana Jones 5 plot discussion?

[@TheFangirlWatches]

I am a little hazy on Indiana Jones movies - is there a 5th movie?

[@jonmcinnis1645]

@@TheFangirlWatches Yes it it will come out on June 30, 2023

[@gracekim25]

@@TheFangirlWatches yep

[@achill6080]

Could you possibly do a video on who killed Bambi's mother? There is a thing floating around that Gaston killed her as "He uses Antlers in all of his decorating" I know Doe's do not have antlers but... Either Gaston or perhaps Amos Slade from "Fox and the Hound" He is nasty enough to kill a doe with her fawn.

[@AlexandraWilliams-lp6qc]

#savecrittercountry #savewinniethepooh at #disneylandresort critter country isn’t going survive without song of the south & the many adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride #downwithtianasbayouadventure #savewinniethepooh #savethemanyadventuresofwinniethepoohride #savesongofthesouth

[@royroberts6390]

Hey Fangirl! i watched all of it. I am a 64-year-old Black guy and I saw the movie when I was a kid. I am now seeing this movie and a lot of the history of this country and the world as being openly fabricated and a cover-up. I have SO MUCH to say, but right now I am completely perplexed at the number of truths I discovered from Christianity to politics over the last few months just on the internet. It's amazing the things we are led to believe as the truth in this world. Your commentary during the movie is "spot-on" and I'll keep an eye out for you! I am on Facebook more than anywhere else so you can pass any information over to me that I may be interested in (if you do Facebook)! This was definitely an eye opener...Thank you!

[@petermiller3364]

I just got a copy for xmas a blue ray i saw it when i was youg on my laser disc player i got a copy from Japan where it was lecal to be sold

[@shakilamuhammad5503]

Hey I been subscribed for a few years now and I love that you cover things that isn't about your own race. I know you talked about the other videos that talked about the negatives about this movie but your positives seem like you you are taking the justification of those negatives. It's like when Asian women are stereotyped as being the perfect submissive wife and when they get upset by it someone would say oh no it's a good thing and it makes you so much more approachable and cute. The actor that played Uncle Remus is an extremely controversial figure in black history for doing Parts like this. There are many actors that hate him for playing the "Uncle Tom" characters in history. Part of the romanticizing of slavery is the fact that they make the black person only motivation is how much the white people need them. Movies like a little Rebel does the same thing by making it look like slaves can leave at any time but they love their white Masters too much leave. Song of the South has other issues that people that's not well versed in animation history or black history won't usually pick up on. All the way down that they have a "Ma'amy" with them. I understand that you have pleasant memories of watching this movie as a child but growing up my family never showed me this movie. It wasn't until after I became interested in animation history I found out about all the offensive cartoons that honestly I kinda love for shock value. But Song of the South was made for a white audience by a man that wouldn't let a black man work for him until 1956 which is 10 years after song of the South came out. I love you and your videos but I thought I should share some of my thoughts. By the way the frist black disney animator is still alive and worked on Mulan and other Disney movies you should look into him.

[@TheFangirlWatches]

Your complaints of the movie are completely valid. Because of the market of the 1940s, this was a film made entirely for the enjoyment of white audiences, and, much like we see in school legislation recently, Disney did not want to present anything that would poke too hard at that target audience and turn them off from the film or make them feel bad. It's like An Imitation of Life - the movie has some racial themes, like how the lady who makes the pancake syrup is dark skinned, so her recipe is taken from her by the white lady, who gets rich off of it - but the movie never takes a real stance on that being wrong. And the previews say nothing about any kind of racial equality, they all focus of "look at her amazing performance in this film!" So, it was very common to hint at things without fully getting into the topic, and Song of the South falls into that sort of pitfall of the times. My perception of Song of the South is that it has extremely negative connotations to it that the majority of people are aware of when stepping into the discussion, so they didn't need to be re-explained. My intent was not to justify the negatives, but explain that the movie might not be what people have hyped it up to be, and it depends on the context of how you look at it (again, Uncle Remus is essentially a God in this movie in an era when POC were barely allowed to exist in film, and that is not insignificant, even when the portrayal overall fills a negative stereotype). But, the first seed to sow in fighting racism is trying to show that there can be goodness and friendships and positive experiences, which Song of the South tries to deliver on.

[@dextercooper3090]

As a black Male, I'm a proud 🦚 and content owner of Song of the South on Blu Ray imported by Public Domain. And the Quality of this movie is decent as it's gonna get. Luckily I purchased the item on ebay before it was yanked. I Loved How your perspective is well explained FanGirl.

[@DaraGaming42]

Is it even a good transfare, i wish they remastered it in 4K properly

[@Jaheartsjonas]

The elimination of this film and Splash Mountain is alerting to me in some regards as a black woman because even though its diluted through the retelling of a white man and the retelling through a film produced by white people, when you get down to it the stories of Brer Rabbit do originate from African American folktales. These are stories that black people from the south grow up hearing to this day. The essence of the story of Brer Rabbit outsmarting and escaping his captors is a power fantasy that captive people used to inspire themselves and their children. The complete ignoring of these facts (along with the ones about the black characters not actually being slaves and other tidbits) is oddly quite a shallow and bigotted view by people who claim to be anti-racist and more aware about race than previous generations. Also on a random note i remember hearing Walt's daughters were super excited to meet Hattie McDaniel, the first black woman to win an Oscar, on the set of the movie. Along with some of the other stories behind the scenes about Walt, i thoroughly believe he was not a racist and this movie was not made with racist intent. Yes it and many animated shorts from that era have some moments that would not fly today but they are products of their time, not made uo to 2020's standards

[@TheMormonSorceress]

If this is band, then why isn't Gone with the Wind band as well?

[@danweckerly4204]

Thank you for one of the more even-handed analyses of "Song of the South," a film I firmly believe has, as its most vocal detractors, a corps of commentators who have never seen the film for themselves. Further, they lose track of the fact that the film is set during the Restoration, after the Civil War. The black population here is free. Which doesn't mean they're in a bed of roses, but it's an important distinction, I believe. That said, I do find a few "stodgy" moments (the singing outside Johnny's sickroom) that are more stereotypical than racist. And the white cast isn't treated all that well, either, especially the women. The character of Sally (Ruth Warrick) and the grandmother (Lucile Watson) are cold and distant from Johnny in a manner that borders on cruel, in response to their being "victimized" (in a way) by men. Remus is the most sympathetic character in the piece, black or white. And denying modern audiences the chance to see Baskett's historic performance is, IMHO, a shame.... Put the disclaimer in front of the opening titles; include audio commentary afterward; do whatever has to be done... But this is a film that should still be available for viewing, if for nothing else than its historic milestone in Hollywood history.

[@mattgunter9674]

I love the Uncle Remus stories. One of the best parts is the colloqial accent that the stories capture and preserve - the accent of my older, long dead, relatives. The Movie should be a great introduction to these stories, but its been spoiled by "Activists" so now we've lost the opportunity to celebrate the historical accuracy of the language and aesthetic of the old south(black and white). Slavery doesn't have to be the focus of ALL art that is related to antebellum south. People need to use this film to see another view of history and race relations, even if you disagree with it.

[@Jameswilliam1982]

Its a classic

[@JustOneMorePaul]

it's really interesting to hear a point of view from someone who has now actually seen the movie. It's so hard to get your hands on these days and i haven't bothered myself, so i haven't been able to form an opinion. I'm not surprised to hear that culture and it being hidden made it seem bigger and scarier than it was, as that usually is the case. alot of times it's hard for people to remember that times change, 80 years ago it was an entirely different world, and applying todays standards to a movie from that time may just not be fair. I'm gonna put the effort in to try and find this myself, I'd like to form a full opinion now that I know theres more to it.

[@monicadepaul6223]

The movie takes place after the Civil War, so Uncle Remus isn't a slave but rather a share cropper. That being said, being a share cropper was only marginally better, at best, than being a slave.

[@monicadepaul6223]

However, considering Uncle Remus' age, he was definitely a slave in the past, and the fact that there's no mention of that is pretty telling.

[@MarceloZ2]

They should just slap that disclaimer that they used with Peter Pan and such and reissue the movie and put it on Disney Plus. Like, there’s a very compelling argument to be made that Peter Pan’s depictions of indigenous people were a lot more mean spirited than Song of the South’s depictions of people of color, even considering the weird undertones Song of the South has.

[@cykesrevenge]

South of the south huh...?

[@TheFangirlWatches]

You know, like Mexico! 😂 Thank you for the notice!

[@joevonwolfenstein21]

I'm Roman Catholic and had a family that I wouldn't trade for all the tea in China and yet suffered varying types of bullying and felt so sad untill my dad took me to my first theatric movie experience in 1979 when I was five. For context, there were many times I was on the verge of tears from the social oppression and when I saw Uncle Remus, I knew who had the soul. Still, I embraced my Catholic faith as I remain ro this day because I saw that Jesus, while he universally identifies with the individual, i e. Not alll rich or all white etc. but this John rich, this Jane white, that poor Jack that ethnic Jane, is best represented through Uncle Remus. Oh boy, did I need Uncle Remus' merry song and sunshine! That September day was the sunnyest sunny day I did ever see and knew that I would be free one day! Lord all mighty! Too be free at last! My kinfolk were and are to this day a Cross that I beg God to set me free from!

[@claytonberg721]

Hattie McDaniel won best supporting actor in 1939. Not that there wasn't any racism then, the venue was segregated and she was forced to sit in the back of the room. I'm not downplaying the racism in Song of the South. It's there. But it's not really any worse than in Gone with the Wind and MGM is never going to bury it. The racism in Pocahontas isn't as overt but it's practically as problematic as Song of the South. Most of us have not seen this movie. Disney never broadcast it on TV in my lifetime (I'm 50) and they've never released it on home video in north america. The crows in dumbo are way more problematic, as are the Siamese cats in lady and the tramp. A lot of us will have fond memories of Song of the South but that's more of a Mandela Effect than anything else. Disney used to run clips on their sunday show Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. And we remember it fondly because they cherry picked the best moments of it, specifically the zip a dee doo dah scene, which to this day is considered one of the better tunes to ever be in a disney movie. The reason they won't release it, even in historical context is because the movie is nearly unwatchable. Find it on pirate bay and see for yourself. They have no problems with the racial insensitivity of Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, they even made Pocahontas in the 90's. Racism is their excuse for burying the film. The real reason is they don't want anyone to know that at it's height Walt could oversee the making of something so unwatchable.

[@duainsmith8115]

Best movie ever

[@zeidenmedia]

The Brer stories were based on African folktales. Why has that never been explored properly?

[@janedoe5229]

Joel Chandler Harris recorded these stories to preserve the unique culture of the African Americans. Is it more racist than Alice in Wonderland being a British Story? The Little Mermaid being a Danish story? Snow White being a German Story? Cinderella being a French story? An American Tale being a Jewish story?

[@thisguy4505]

The problem that I have with the criticism of Song of the South is that it all stems from the desire of certain factions to have a hyper-simplified view of the American South and the trans-Atlantic slave trade, to the point where no story can be told in that time or setting without it being a lecture about how evil all of the white people were. We can't talk about how that trade developed, how slavery was a part of every culture for millennia, how we came to change our minds about the topic.. No, just "evil white people", a massive distortion of history. A similar, not as loud, faction of people want no samurai stories to be told by Japan because some samurai were used for very bad things during WWII and in China. I find that argument to be just as silly. Song of the South was a product of its time, made with good intentions, and it should be seen and learned from. The idea that we already have everything figured out because it is Current Year, and that everything must conform to Current Year values or be struck from history, is a dumb and dangerous idea.

[@Teletran35]

People who judge it now go by word of mouth and not watch to see what it is about

[@Thrakus]

They should bring back the movie for James Baskett, Add something at the start so people can understand the meaning of the movie and the content like they used to do. No one is thinking of James Baskett and they should. There were many movies like this where they did mean well but over time people did see it diff, so they could add a video in the start so people could understand.

[@machomachoduck2096]

Song of the South has absolutely zero problems. It’s the most anti-racist movie ever made. The message of the movie is clearly that friendship doesn’t care about race, age, gender or social status. Also, the black workers in the film are not slaves. And Walt Disney went above and beyond to make sure that the film would be respectful towards black Americans and to history.

[@dravennevermore7860]

That is a really good point about it being more a class issue and not a race issue. I also think that Uncle Remus actually went to Atlanta to get the boys dad. Cause he happens to appear just at the same time Uncle Remus did. My grandmother read those books to me as a kid and I had an opportunity in either the 70s or early 80s to watch the movie in the theater and loved the film. Like you a lot of the racial issues flew over my head. Also I had an opportunity to buy the 50 th anniversary release on vhs but decided to wait till payday. And with in a week it was pulled off the shelf at the video rental store.

[@kaiumeda6341]

Wait! Ur older than the ride? How old r u?

[@claratalbot7613]

I've only seen this movie once when I was little kid & both the racial & class issues went over my head but I also agree that we shouldn't bury this movie as we can use it to learn about different times in history despite the issues of the movie