Chatter

By RZM

March 28, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this

I’ve never understood how denying history was supposed to do anybody any good.

By Common Sense

March 28, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this

I always loved that movie as a kid. We didn’t see it as anything but a man telling funny stories. How is that a bad thing?

By Teacher Man

March 28, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

There wouldn’t be any controversy at all if you attention whores in the media would leave it alone.

By Dumbing Down

March 28, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this

The “Racial Credit Card” is over its limit. Time to move on. The cries on every corner of “Racism” is falling more and more on deaf ears. Poor leadership in the black community is leading to this. Tawanna Brawley, Duke Lacrosse team etc. Moveon.org needs to be the mantra for the baseless “racism” on every issue.

By Disneyphile

March 28, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this

I loved the movie, the songs, and the animated characters and I read the book several times as a child, I wish I still had a copy. I’m a white man though. I wonder if this movie is really that offensive to blacks or if some vocal minority just made a big stink about it. Any comments from a non-white point of view?

By Kent

March 28, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this

I think Disney buried it because it really is not a very good movie.

By CJ

March 28, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this

This movie was made in the 1940’s - of course culture and what was acceptable then is different than now. That’s why English classes in school require students to read everything from “The Illiad” to “To Kill a Mockingbird”… to gain an appreciation of literature and art during a given period of time. This movie should not be withheld from the public due to contemporary ideals.

By jeri

March 28, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

I saw this movie when it was first released. I loved it. I have a bad copy of it and would love to see if released. I was a child. A black child. I didn’t see racism. I saw a children’s movie. With lots of love and laughter. There are far more important issues to fight. like war where our loved ones of all colors are being mamied and killed. state of the economy, truth in politics, and human rights for all reguardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation.

By War Eagle

March 28, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this

can’t wait for jacksona nd Sharpton to ask blacks to boycott Disney. Then the lines will be shorter and no kids will be cutting in line or shooting the operator of the ring toss game because they felt it was oppressive.

By Hotlanta

March 28, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

Excuse me Dumbing Down was you the one who wanted “Confederate History Month”. Why are you blaming black leaders when racism is still alive and well. You act as if we had a funeral procession and it is dead. Since you are branging up Tawanna and the Duke Team, let’s talk about Emmitt Till, slavery, Scottsboro Boys, predatory lending, landfills in black neighborhood, high interest rates even if you have good credit, the 92 year old black woman and the no knock warrant,the barbie bandits, how Micheal Milken ruined the economy, white folks getting empowerment zone money to move back into the city, white folks for 9/11 got rich and black Katrina people only got $2000 and the iinsurance companies still haven’t paid and ain’t gonna pay,you having a degree and your white supervisor/manager doesn’t,Dick Cheney deals in the White House,how the runaway bride committed a felony and never went to jail. Don’t get me started.

By Angie

March 28, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this

I pray they do… My Pops took me to see it when I was a little girl and he passed away a few years ago so it would mean so much to me and my family!

By Stu Dio

March 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

Not a very good movie? The feature song from it won the Academy Award. And it was a masterful technilogical blend of animation and live action. It deserves to be available and to be seen.

If the story of Uncle Remus was so devastating to black history and culture, why has the Wren’s Nest, GONE WITH THE WIND, UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, and SNAFORD AND SON not been protested and driven from the public conscience?

There was nothing intentionally “racist” in SONG OF THE SOUTH.

By Davona

March 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

How can something that earned a wonderful man & actor an award and recognition be racist? This movie is a wonderful movie. I use excerpts from it in my elementary music classes. The children, ALL the children beg to see the movie. Maybe soon …

By Davona

March 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

How can something that earned a wonderful man & actor an award and recognition be racist? This movie is a wonderful movie. I use excerpts from it in my elementary music classes. The children, ALL the children beg to see the movie. Maybe soon …

By Angie

March 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

I pray they do… My Pops took me to see it when I was a little girl and he passed away a few years ago so it would mean so much to me and my family!

By Angie

March 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

I pray they do… My Pops took me to see it when I was a little girl and he passed away a few years ago so it would mean so much to me and my family!

By Stu Dio

March 28, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

Not a very good movie? The feature song from it won the Academy Award. And it was a masterful technilogical blend of animation and live action. It deserves to be available and to be seen.

If the story of Uncle Remus was so devastating to black history and culture, why has the Wren’s Nest, GONE WITH THE WIND, UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, and SNAFORD AND SON not been protested and driven from the public conscience?

There was nothing intentionally “racist” in SONG OF THE SOUTH.

By Stu Dio

March 28, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

Not a very good movie? The feature song from it won the Academy Award. And it was a masterful technilogical blend of animation and live action. It deserves to be available and to be seen.

If the story of Uncle Remus was so devastating to black history and culture, why has the Wren’s Nest, GONE WITH THE WIND, UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, and SNAFORD AND SON not been protested and driven from the public conscience?

There was nothing intentionally “racist” in SONG OF THE SOUTH.

By RW

March 28, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

We are all entitled to our own opinions. Let us please attempt to be civil with this. With that said, as a Black father with a 5 yr old daughter: If Disney releases this movie our relationship with that company ends. It’s pretty simple.

By Allen

March 28, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

Song of the South was and still is a magnificent movie for the story, the actors and the blend of live actors with animation. Not only is this movie marvelous for its entertainment value, but so much can be used for educational purposes. I hope to see it released for purchase very soon.

By Allen

March 28, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

Song of the South was and still is a magnificent movie for the story, the actors and the blend of live actors with animation. Not only is this movie marvelous for its entertainment value, but so much can be used for educational purposes. I hope to see it released for purchase very soon.

By Barry Blakely

March 28, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

Bring it back now! I loved it as a kid; took my wife to see it when we were dating in the early 70’s; and still love to watch it…I have a copy of a very early tape Disney had out years ago. Remember, it’s a story set during the 1860’s, not in today’s time frame!

I’m tired of hearing about the stero-types of race in older movies…it happened, but it’s part of the time set of the movie, just like cowboys riding horses in westerns…it happened so get over it.

By Matt

March 28, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

There is zero reason why this film should continue to be withheld from the public. Do the same people (many of whom I’m willing to bet have probably never even seen the film in order to make their own opinion) also demand that Disney shut down its Splash Mountain ride in Florida? Gimme a break people. I guarantee Song of the Song will eventually be released and the only thing all the pointless controversy is going to do is fill Disney’s coffers even more.

By RJ

March 28, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

Hotlanta thank you so much! I am the last to believe that every time some cries racism it’s true, however the blogs on this site alone show how alive it is. Blacks are rarely depicted as anything other thugs or coming from da’ hood. Although I grew up in a middle class neighborhood in Atlanta, where my MARRIED parents still reside, as well as my in-laws, we’re potrayed as just the opposite.

As far as black leaders are concerned, I don’t need one. Jesse Jackson doesn’t represent my beliefs and I don’t need anyone else to either. But believe me, racism is so alive in this country.

RZM your comments alone prove how ignorant some of white America is today. How can we deny something that is still present, no matter how subtle.

By Depressd Black Man

March 28, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

All too often so called black leaders, with their knee-jerk reactions, in our community coddle and encourage ignorance among my people. Too much emphasis placed on images while rampid self destructive behavior among our youth is ignored. All of us in the black community are responsible for Ms. Johnston’s death which resulted in a shoot-out with narcotics officers because we are not putting forth the effort to rid our communities of parasites who prey on us and peddle their wares drugs, violet crime, etc. I could go on and on, but I do not have an Egyptian scroll on which to comprise my list. So called black leaders, let’s protest in mass against the crime that is destroying our communities, against the lack of interest in quality education for our youth and against black immorality in general. Whenever I go downtown and venture south of Five Points gloom and depression take over.

By Matt

March 28, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

There is zero reason why this film should continue to be withheld from the public. Do the same people (many of whom I’m willing to bet have probably never even seen the film in order to make their own opinion) also demand that Disney shut down its Splash Mountain ride in Florida? Gimme a break people. I guarantee Song of the Song will eventually be released and the only thing all the pointless controversy is going to do is fill Disney’s coffers even more.

By Gina

March 28, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

This was one of the first movies I saw on the bigscreen as a child in 1972. This is a great movie! The book is even better. My mom read the tales to her second grade classes for decades. The stories that Uncle Remus tells are simply parables…stories that teach a lesson about morals and character. In my opinion that is what our kids need to be seeing today. If Disney doesn’t release this movie it will be a shame. Children are not born racist, they are taught to be racist. Adults are turning this into a racist issue.

By Jones

March 28, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

I am so sick and tired of anything black being racist. When will we ever get rid of the stupid “race card”? You don’t see this kind of stuff out west, only in the south. I’m tired of it.

This crap about apologizing for slavery is just as stupid. Anyone here today that was a slave 160 years ago? No, ok, then what’s the flap about an apology. It wasn’t my fault, I will not apologize. I wasn’t here, and my ancestors were over in Holland. Why do these people think they are owed an apology? I don’t get it?

By wildbillhiltner

March 28, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

This movie was just the first step in the racial injustice that was visited upon Mr. Orenthal James Simpson, an innocent man, in Los Angeles.

By pws

March 28, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

I remember seeing the moving in the theater in 1972, while I was still in high school. The only parts I can remember were the animation, and how I laughed out loud at how dumb the bear was. The only characters who were depicted as “dumb” were the bear and the fox, I don’t remember there being any thoughts of the movie being “racist”. We had gone to the Wren’s nest in our high school english class, and I can remember having even more repect for Mr. Harris after seeing his stories “come to life”.

By marbo

March 28, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

Why are the “whites” on this blog acting as if blacks are protesting the movie? This is AJC thats asking the questions.

By dugfowlr

March 28, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

I also saw the movie as a 15 year old when first released, and several times since. The character of Uncle Remus was the heroic one in the movie from my perspective. I would hope Disney will restore the movie when they re-release it.

By Cephus

March 28, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Time to boycott Disney !

We don’t need Song of the South, or the Confederacy, or Gone With the Wind !

Its time to whitewash our history !

By Cephus

March 28, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

Time to boycott Disney !

We don’t need Song of the South, or the Confederacy, or Gone With the Wind !

Its time to whitewash our history !

By Cephus

March 28, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

Time to boycott Disney !

We don’t need Song of the South, or the Confederacy, or Gone With the Wind !

Its time to whitewash our history !

By EW

March 28, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this

If I took offense at every TV commercial, sitcom, or movie(TV or big screen) that makes fun of, puts down or generally degrades white men then I would be one p** off person all the time.

Good Lord people it’s a movie. One of a story that is a classic. The movie should be released.

By DP

March 28, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

RW - can you tell me why you will end your relationship with Disney if they end it?

Surely it isn’t racism - that movie was released in a different time. It would never even be made today - but for that time it was totally acceptable. I remember going to see it in the theaters in the 80’s and there were just as many black people in the theater as white people.

I’m really interested in hearing your rationale on how this movie expresses racism when the good guy in the movie is a black person and the “bad guy” is the white father.

By Matt

March 28, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

There is zero reason why this film should continue to be withheld from the public. Do the same people (many of whom I’m willing to bet have probably never even seen the film in order to make their own opinion) also demand that Disney shut down its Splash Mountain ride in Florida? Gimme a break people. I guarantee Song of the Song will eventually be released and the only thing all the pointless controversy is going to do is fill Disney’s coffers even more.

By LDW

March 28, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this

I loved the stories of Brer Rabbit and friends as a child. To this day, I fondly remember the movie and its “classic” animation. And personally, I would love to have a copy of the movie for my library to share with my son. But in these days of political correctness, its much too easy to offend while trying to make a buck. Would Disney benefit all to earmark a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the movie to an anti-discrimination (or similar)cause? Just a thought…

By Allyana

March 28, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

I watched this movie only two years ago on a converted (pal) video. As far as it depicting Afican-Americans in a degrading fashion, it does NOT! Gone with the Wind gets a far better claim on that but it gets by because it was written in Atlanta and it’s capitalized on. If anything, Song of the South is “schmalzty”, even more so than Pollyana.

By NH

March 28, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

I am tired of the hyper-sensitivity. Boycott Disney all you want. You won’t make an impact. The movie is not a racist statement. It’s simply from a different time, as the other writer said. And, a part of our history, like it or not. It is a movie to learn from. To show or see the movie does not mean you agree with what went on in that time period. Most people simply enjoy the music and story of the kindness, love and friendship that develops regardless of race. BRING IT ON DISNEY.

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

This kind of reminds me of another situation in which Mark Twain’s book Huckleberry Finn was trampled on by the politically correct crowd years ago, because it was peppered with the ‘N’ word. My friends, we can’t just pull a shade down on history, although there are many who would like to do so. Song of the South was a classic with great lessons for kids. Put out the DVD Disney and capitalize on a story that your own founder loved so dearly.

By Katie

March 28, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

I grew up with that movie and those stories, I see nothing racist there. I also miss heckle and jeckle—those animated crows. Of course I also miss speedy gonzales. None of those are racist either. I’m beginning to really hate the South and the slow mentality that’s here. This is one backwards state.

By mo

March 28, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

To me,

The Song of the South should be released, but not to children. It should serve as another sound reminder of the fact that the USA was one of the most racist countries in the world by placing black people into bondage like that. Therefore, Uncle Remus and the like was totally acceptable to us back then.

See, it’s just like the Confederate month thing. In Georgia, we already have a holiday called “Confederate Memorial day.” Many of us, as black people, spend the evening of that day in somber, joint prayer against the sufferings of slavery and ethnic cleansing around the world. We also pray against all of the rampant racism that still exists in America- and against any notion of splinter groups looking to secede to breed their destructive views.

So as for me, Confederate Memorial is a somber reflection as to how those who kill, enslave and destroy based upon race can almost destroy a great country like ours, and how it is destroying other countries around the world.

By mo

March 28, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

To me,

The Song of the South should be released, but not to children. It should serve as another sound reminder of the fact that the USA was one of the most racist countries in the world by placing black people into bondage like that. Therefore, Uncle Remus and the like was totally acceptable to us back then.

See, it’s just like the Confederate month thing. In Georgia, we already have a holiday called “Confederate Memorial day.” Many of us, as black people, spend the evening of that day in somber, joint prayer against the sufferings of slavery and ethnic cleansing around the world. We also pray against all of the rampant racism that still exists in America- and against any notion of splinter groups looking to secede to breed their destructive views.

So as for me, Confederate Memorial is a somber reflection as to how those who kill, enslave and destroy based upon race can almost destroy a great country like ours, and how it is destroying other countries around the world.

By Adams

March 28, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this

Jones, you are so upset that the people here in the South are always complaining about racisim. I’m sure you are not from the South. But did you read about the black family in People Magazine that were held as slaves well into the 1960’s? This took place in the great state of Mississipi. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Racisim is alive and present here and it will be until the day that I die. But if you are white, you wouldn’t know it.

By kairi

March 28, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

I think the AJC gets a kick out of asking these kinds of questions just to get everyone’s blood boiling and to hear people ranting and raving. It cracks me up.

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this

This kind of reminds me of another situation in which Mark Twain’s book Huckleberry Finn was trampled on by the politically correct crowd years ago, because it was peppered with the ‘N’ word. My friends, we can’t just pull a shade down on history, although there are many who would like to do so. Song of the South was a classic with great lessons for kids. Put out the DVD Disney and capitalize on a story that your own founder loved so dearly.

By RU

March 28, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

Shame on AJC once again for putting out the racial hate bait blog. They seem to enjoy stirring up the hater blog pot every week or few days. AJC is a failing “rag” and not worth it’s ink.

By itsme

March 28, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

Anyone who thinks Uncle Remus is degrading to anyone has never read the stories. There are great life lessons there. I hope Disney does release Song of the South. I would definitely buy it.

By NH

March 28, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this

I am tired of the hyper-sensitivity. Boycott Disney all you want. You won’t make an impact. The movie is not a racist statement. It’s simply from a different time, as the other writer said. And, a part of our history, like it or not. It is a movie to learn from. To show or see the movie does not mean you agree with what went on in that time period. Most people simply enjoy the music and story of the kindness, love and friendship that develops regardless of race. BRING IT ON DISNEY.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

March 28, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

If you want to boycott a movie with blatant stereotypes, go after Smokey and the Bandit. My wife found that jewel for me a couple of Christmas’s ago and when I watched the “un-edited” version on DVD that ran in the theaters in the late 70’s I thought to myself, “There is no way they could ever make a movie like this nowadays.” I think it’s a shame, cause there are still a lot of old boys down here like Jackie Gleason (Sheriff Buford Justice) and they are much more funny than they are dangerous.

I long for the day that our children, maybe grandchildren, regard films like Song of the South, Smokey and the Bandit, Coming to America, and others as witty little movies that show how funny life was way back when and not “racist stereotyping venues”.

By shibuii

March 28, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

Why would they outlaw Uncle Remus, but still have Aunt Jemima? It’s not racist, it’s sexist!

I wish I had an Uncle Remus. Maybe he could have taken care of me instead of my mommie putting me in day care. She must hat me.

By Lyrazel

March 28, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

Face the facts! The movie is a yawner. If it was not so ludicrously dull it would have already been marketed. The movie will not be bought by new generations of parents. Kids will only watch it forced by their parents/grandparents but they will not ask Mommy or Daddy to buy it like they might: Peter Pan, Snow White and other old hits in Disney’s vault. It will be sold because Disney is a company that wants to make money and movies it produced are its assets. It may not be released in the USA or in districts where it could cause problems but Disney has survived numerous boycotts so the release will be on schedule. Any Disney movie made from to 1930 and until 1960 has remarkable tasteless condescending scenes toward every race of the planet. Steamboat Willie had problems with uppity black folk…try and NOT find an example of racial prejudice in an old Disney movie.

By Figures

March 28, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

Boy oh boy! The people that writes these stories, always find a way to start a doggone blog about topics that have something to do with race. This is just classic AJC. And getting to be a real piece of crap! I’m with you RU.

Have a good hateless day people!

By Edithann

March 28, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

It was a wonderful movie. I saw it in the 50’s and would definitely buy the DVD for my grandkids. Nothing offensive was intended. It was a different time, and a sweet time at that. Leave it alone and let Disney give it back to us!

By rlp

March 28, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Obama,

Beware of the blue-eye devils !!

By shibuii

March 28, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Why would they outlaw Uncle Remus, but still have Aunt Jemima? It’s not racist, it’s sexist!

I wish I had an Uncle Remus. Maybe he could have taken care of me instead of my mommie putting me in day care. She must hat me.

By the hate that hate created

March 28, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

It would be a reminder to all Black people, of all the crackers in this country that keep their “white supremacist” debit card on hand! See, white folks have this hidden card that they use when they want favors from this racist white supremacist society! They have un-limited access to favors simply because they are white! Now that Blacks have a similar card a.k.a the race card, they (white folks) tend to scream foul in protest. I would love to see the movie release, so that the buffoons in the Black community can see how they two are accessing this white supremacist society by acting a pure fool! Yes, unfortunately their card is now offered to us at an obviously higher cost to our character and welfare! Nothing gained, nothing changed from the release or no release of an American iconic film!

By Tyke

March 28, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this

This was a great movie that my parents took me to see as a child several times. And for the people complaining that it’s “racist”, what about the negative “pimps’ and “ho’s” splattered all over the tv and movies…I guess that is much better and certainly gives young people better role models. But heaven forbid Disney re-release a movie that has an old black man befriend a young child. Our priorities are so jacked up, what’s good is bad and what’s bad is good. Check back in 10 years to see where the current crop of people are that are saturated with all of the negative images in the media…broken homes, broken credit, broken lives and broken families. We will have to pay the piper one day. What harm is one movie? Hypersensitive race card is played out! NEXT!

By White Man

March 28, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

Disney will never release the movie in this country for the simple reason that it is extremely offensive to the majority of black people. (I say in this country because the movie was released in Japan on laserdisc in the 1990s. I bought a copy from Tower Records Lenox for $80 and have copied it a dozen times.) If you don’t believe how offensive this 1946 film is, then Google it and you easily find links to some rather eloquent essays in detailed protest of precisely why this movie stirs such negative reaction. finally, if you are so obsessed by SOTS, you can also easily locate bootleg dvds at reasonable prices.

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

I have a solution for all of you who don’t like the idea of the re-release of Song of the South… Don’t buy it ! The millions that will buy it will more than make up for it.
To Mr. Hotlanta your quote , “Since you are branging up” is priceless ! You follow that with a list of white man’s trangressions. I tell you what..why don’t you boycott everything the white man created ?! Say “so long” to cars, electricity, computer technology, telephones, television, indoor plumbing, etc., etc., etc., etc.

By the hate that hate created

March 28, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this

It would be a reminder to all Black people, of all the crackers in this country that keep their “white supremacist” debit card on hand! See, white folks have this hidden card that they use when they want favors from this racist white supremacist society! They have un-limited access to favors simply because they are white! Now that Blacks have a similar card a.k.a the race card, they (white folks) tend to scream foul in protest. I would love to see the movie release, so that the buffoons in the Black community can see how they two are accessing this white supremacist society by acting a pure fool! Yes, unfortunately their card is now offered to us at an obviously higher cost to our character and welfare! Nothing gained, nothing changed from the release or no release of an American iconic film!

By bubbaraceman

March 28, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Dumbing Down, racism or bigotry still exist and jessie jackson and al sharpton are not leaders of the black community just as no single person is the leader of the white community. Jackson and sharpton are all about $$$$$$$. the media uses race to instigate and propagate and deceive Americans. Being a white male and saying get over it is like telling a pregnant woman how the experience of having a baby is. You have no clue and this country is in need of some real racial healing and Jackson and sharpton are not helping just like comments like yours. If you want to see bigotry, visit some small town in south ga where a kid gets a felony for stealing icecream, but Mark Taylor’s son get a DUI, crashes his car and kills his passenger and get 3years.

By cgdog

March 28, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

How is it that the “racism police” never go after “Blazing Saddles”, but they can shut down a Disney movie release for years and years?

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

I have a solution for all of you who don’t like the idea of the re-release of Song of the South… Don’t buy it ! The millions that will buy it will more than make up for it.
To Mr. Hotlanta your quote , “Since you are branging up” is priceless ! You follow that with a list of white man’s trangressions. I tell you what..why don’t you boycott everything the white man created ?! Say “so long” to cars, electricity, computer technology, telephones, television, indoor plumbing, etc., etc., etc., etc.

By Cornholio

March 28, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

DISNEY, RACIST ?

ISN’T MICKEY MOUSE BLACK ? ! ?

By Cammi317

March 28, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

I am black and I own a copy of this movie on VHS. I ordered it from one of these movie clubs when my daughter was a baby. I saw it as a child and loved it, so I ordered it for her. She is 9 now and loves it. I think maybe if I had been around at the time of the original release of the movie, I would more thank likely feel the same as some of the other bloggers. I was born in the 70’s, however, and for me it was just a colorful entertaining movie.

By scott

March 28, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

It is probably quite easy to say rerelease the movie, it is historic, and etc. when the characters in question do not look like you. Why not have Disney do a remake of Song of the South? From the Parent Trap to many other movies, remakes have been profitable. Disney is walking a fine line with this one on the heels of annoucing their first Black Princess, Maddie, from the 2009 movie The Frog Princess. (Judging from the list of characters it appears Maddie will fall in love with a “carefree European prince” in order to become a princess) Do not judge until you walk a mile in another man’s shoes…. As Chris Rock says, no one will trade places with him (being black) and he is rich!

By DS

March 28, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

Adamns seems to think that white people have never experienced racism or wouldn’t know that it exists.

Au contraire, I distinctly remember two instances on MARTA:

a) Two middle aged black men were going on about 40 acres and a mule, and one of them looked at me, a young white male, as if some how it was my fault that Yankee carpetbaggers sold them short.

b) Late one evening, this young black woman was holding her baby who was sleeping. I made the comment that the baby looked peaceful and it would be nice to be sleeping now. She looked at me as if I said some insulting thing and should drop dead.

If those looks do not demonstrate that black ARE CAPABLE of racism, JUST AS MUCH AS whites, then I don’t know what is.

I AM SINK AND TIRED OF IGNORANT WHITES AND BLACKS HARPING ON EVERY STUPID SILLY ISSUE AS BEING RACIST. IT IS TIME TO REALIZE HOW FAR WE COME FROM THE 50’S AND 60’S AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT EDUCATING PEOPLE RATHER THAN DWELLING ON PAST WRONGS AND REALIZE THAT GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN TO MAKE THEM RIGHT.

By Notes

March 28, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

Black history month evolved from a feeling of revisionsist history and omission from whites, how is this different, by catering to political correctness we are being forced to “hide” a signifigant piece of Americana that WAS representative and relevant to the time it was created…Get over it and release the movie

By CW

March 28, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

Bring the movie back. It is part of history. Have you ever seen MAD TV? The black are always making fun of blacks in their skits. Blacks keep saying every white person is racist. That is why MAD TV makes such a joke about it because the way blacks think is a joke. Ya’ll just like to complain about something instead of finding a way to help yourself. Get a life.

By Johnny Fontane

March 28, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

I thought Julie Andrews was hawt in Mary Poppins. I don’t know if it was juss she was hawt, or that she was an an pair.

Any of you race baiters got a good hangover cure?

By Allen

March 28, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

Song of the South was and still is a magnificent movie for the story, the actors and the blend of live actors with animation. Not only is this movie marvelous for its entertainment value, but so much can be used for educational purposes. I hope to see it released for purchase very soon.

By Johnny Fontane

March 28, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

I thought Julie Andrews was hawt in Mary Poppins. I don’t know if it was juss she was hawt, or that she was an an pair.

Any of you race baiters got a good hangover cure?

By ATL Native

March 28, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

I remember going to the Wren’s nest as a child and learning about Joel Chandler Harris and his delightful characters. Written in “black” dialect of the represented era, the movie Song of the South visually brought to life those characters.

All cultures use story telling as a way of passing down history of a culture and teaching lessons. While I find the history of slavery an awful part of our country’s past, tossing out it the colorful slave culture is not the way to correct this wrong.

By scott

March 28, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

It is amazing when there is a race based topic, Song of the South, Mike Vick, slavery apology, the bloggers go wild with “let the past be the past”. I would say the same to if I were given a 70 yard lead in a 100 yard race.

By Lovedit

March 28, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

I grew up loving that movie and think that it is a shame that Disney would withhold it. This whole pc garbage has gone too far. No one wants to offend anyone and they do things that are offensive to a majority of people in the end which makes so sense. I am offended that my family cannot enjoy it because of some spineless wimp in Disney’s boardroom. How funny that the AJC article mentions the way “Remus and other black characters’ dialogue is full of “ain’t nevers,” “ain’t nobodys,” “you tells,” and “dem dayses.” Like they speak better today? I hear them saying how they are “fitting” to do something instead of “fixing” and call Christmas “Chrimas” so pulleeze - spare me the hypocrisy. Their diction has always been different, and with the exception of those who are educated and have a little self-respect, will always be different. Like race relations are at an all time high because this movie has been suppressed? My husband thinks Gone With The Wind should be banned too, then if similar lines of reasoning are to be followed. Slavery existed, it was a part of our society back then, and that is a fact. There were a lot of things that existed back then that are no longer in the present. Look at all the characters that smoked in the old movies, that is shocking to my kids when they see that. Are we going to whitewash anything that is no longer in vogue? You cannot erase the past. How trash like Harry Potter is heralded and porn is available while historically accurate and enjoyable movies such as Song of the South are banned is a sure sign of the screwy times that we live in.

By zombieboy

March 28, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

I have never seen the movie, let me see it and judge for myself.

The free market will decide if it is relevant or not.

Financially I think it will be a good seller, socially…I think it will spur debate, cussing, fightin’ and we will be right back at square one…and Disney will make a lotta $$$.

By Jack

March 28, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

You know, it seems like a lot of people BLACK and WHITE enjoy watching movies that depict black people in this light. It seems Oprah Winfry is the one who enjoys this the most. Me myself I think any movie that shows black people in the early 1900’s or before should show the positives because showing this is just flaming the fires.

By WTF

March 28, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

RJ—A majority of that depiction comes from black directors, black films, black comedians, and black tv shows! cmon! give me a break, how can you complain about a negative depiction of African American’s and then praise films I find more offensive and slanted than the blacksploitation films of the 70’s….Can’t have it both ways

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

Sorry Scott that the folks just didn’t progress much down there in Africa.

By gatech

March 28, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with Lyrazel - Disney movies have always degraded many races in the past. I don’t think Disney should be “forced” to deny the video to the public by any means. BUT if the video is offensive to Disney fans and even stock holders - I think they should take that into account.

Keep in mind this is the AJC question -not one by blacks.

Its ironic, we in the south actually work side by side on every other issue (work, sports, etc) - but those in other regions of the country don’t understand and try to force changes upon us.

I’m always having to tell friends from other regions (north, west) that ya they’re racists here - but for the most part people just keep to themselves.

I wish there was more inter relations which could foster a better community and diversity in the south- but that will just have to come with time. Not by outside politics.

By GW

March 28, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

I was a white eight year boy in 1946 south Georgia when I saw the movie. Before then the view we had of blacks was that they were shiftles, dirty, and immoral, and needed to be segregated.. Uncle Remus was the obvious noble hero, the other black people were given positive images. I was really impressed. I think it started me on the path of shedding the stereotypes I was taught. The Uncle Remus stories had a strong influence. I have a sorry copy now, but would certainly buy a new version.

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

Sorry Scott that the folks just didn’t progress much down there in Africa.

By Olecountrydog

March 28, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

If Tulsa and 2x4 were not such rednecks. People would think people in the South were smart. Thank’s guys.

By SO WHAT

March 28, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

This movie is far from racist. Just like the story: Huckleberry Finn isn’t racist. Amos and Andy isn’t Racist. Gone With The Wind isn’t racist. In fact, it was a way for … Black Artists … to represent themselves in the media. It was a door of opportunity and thankfully … great Black Artists … entered Main Stream with pride. I hope, that Disney releases this film, because it’s on my … SHOPPING LIST.

By Uncle Rebus

March 28, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

Disney owns the movie and any release to video would be a business decision — will it or will it not make them money?

With all of this free publicity, it’s already become a much-anticipated release and is bound to make money for Disney.

Movies and film are art. There always has been and always will be controversial art. This is no exception.

It should be released as originally shown. Commentary can and should be added, as with any other DVD release.

By Jay Neal

March 28, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

I have never seen “Song of the South” but I would love to have the chance. I will always remember my Nana reading me all those stories as a kid and changing her voice for the different characters. Believe me, I was not thinking about racism at the time. Brer Rabbit and friends taught me that a clever mind can sometimes overcome the largest obstacles. A clever mind also realizes that kid’s who see this movie and read these stories are imagining bears, rabbits, foxes and being born in a briar patch. The youngest generation is the least racist generation, It would be a shame to deny them something they would enjoy based on racial hangups they don’t even have.

By Cammi317

March 28, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

The funny thing is I never knew this movie was taken off of the market, although I was aware of the controversy. I saw it ordered it and it’s a great copy.

By zombieboy

March 28, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

I tried to post a comment and received an error,

Methinks this blog is RACIST, obviously….

By Falcon Warrior Princess

March 28, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

This is great news! I have called Disney several times over the years asking them to re-release this wonderful classic! Every child knows the song “Zippety Doo Dah” but they don’t know where it came from. It’s not racist. It’s a beautiful story of friendship and the powerful bound between Uncle Remus and the young boy. I can’t wait to see it again and rediscover my “laughing place.”

By JimWaddell

March 28, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

THE MOVIE WAS GREAT I THINK DISNEY SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH IT. ITS ABOUT TIME WE STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE BLACK RACE OR THE YANKEES WANT AND PLEASE OURSELVES. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MOVIE MANY TIMES AND WONDER WHY I CAN’T SEE IT.WHAT ABOUT OUR RIGHTS AS WHITES. LETS BRING THOSE BACK AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT BLACKS.

By Johnny Fontane

March 28, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

There is only one Uncle Remus just as there is only one Johnny Fontane.

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this

The movie was buried because of the NAACP and political correctness, both of which need to die in this country. I bought a copy a few months ago (you can still it through eBay since it’s released in other countries) and it’s a great movie. There’s nothing disparaging about blacks in it. OK, they’re slaves (but slavery DID exist, like it or not), but the slaves are respectable people and they are not beaten on an hourly basis. Uncle Remus is a nice guy who entertains the master’s kid. You’ll see that he basically has freedom and is treated more like a servant than a slave. He leaves the farm when he wants and no one pursues him. It’s a good movie with a little bit of history everyone should see. I sent Disney an e-mail a few months ago asking for its release, and I know thousands of other did too, so that may have helped. Good.

By Firebrand

March 28, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

If anything, the whites in this movie look petty and superficial, while Remus is the only one who has any real sincerity and intelligence. This movie does not denigrate anyone, and it is a joke that it hasn’t been released to this point. And really, the affection shown by the little white boy for the old black man is as powerful a lesson in not judging someone by the color of their skin as there is in movies. FREE UNCLE REMUS - RELEASE SONG OF THE SOUTH NOW!!

By Mark

March 28, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

It is up to blacks to not deal with the crap that white america does to their community as a whole and then try to say oh “it alway’s racism” these devils built this entire country on racism and are trying to go global with it . I am a white man but a son of a profound historian that is my father. TRUTH is truth!! Anybody watching these stepping and fetching movies that portray blacks as servants and maids and says its only entertainment is Racist. Show movies when the whites were slaves in egypt to blacks because they truly were do your research folks

By Patrick

March 28, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

I am not opposed to the movie being rereleased. I do not see it as racist I see it as a childs movie that was made in the 1940’s. Yes times have changed but if we must stop showing movies because times have changed I guess Casablanca should be banned because the Bogart and Bergman characters smoked cigarettes. That is not acceptable now. Better yet why not ban movies like Friday, it depicts that all people that live in Compton are african american pot smokers who are running from the local drug dealer so they don’t get shot. If we want to get down to it anything can be considered racist. I think it needs to be left up to each individual weather or not they choose to see it!

By RW

March 28, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

DP- Thanks for your interest in my opinion. However, I feel no need to explain it. It is what it is. Take from my post what you will. Have a great day.

By bdf

March 28, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

It would be such a travisty not to release this movie, this is a part of our heritage in the US. (“our” meaning everyone). The movie itself conjures fond memories of my childhood. The music and story is timeless. The life and times of the old south were real, they existed, and it is our history…we need to stop trying to find the “bad” in everything , and move on with our lives. Disney should release this film for this generation of children to enjoy and for those of us to reflect back on our childhood. Black, White, Green, Yellow…this movie is not about slavery, its about magical stories told by a magical character, Uncle Remus.

By Patrick

March 28, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

I am not opposed to the movie being rereleased. I do not see it as racist I see it as a childs movie that was made in the 1940’s. Yes times have changed but if we must stop showing movies because times have changed I guess Casablanca should be banned because the Bogart and Bergman characters smoked cigarettes. That is not acceptable now. Better yet why not ban movies like Friday, it depicts that all people that live in Compton are african american pot smokers who are running from the local drug dealer so they don’t get shot. If we want to get down to it anything can be considered racist. I think it needs to be left up to each individual weather or not they choose to see it!

By DS

March 28, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

Young children today are not going to recognize any of the stereotypes depicted in this movie.

I think Travis Reed, the AP writer (big surprise) clearly applies his own stereotype with help from his “expert” Mr. Pappas in the article:

“Pappas said it’s not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he’s a plantation worker.”

He implies that Uncle Remus cannot be a happy, laughing storyteller because he is a plantation worker. He must not have children, because it is a natural tendency for any adult to protect young children from the ways of the world. Perhaps he should have substituted the word “slave” for “plantation worker” in his story?

And why must we assume Uncle Remus is not happy or content? Does happiness=social status or income?

The left likes to say art imitates life. Well certainly isn’t it true that blacks in 1930’s Georgia didn’t enjoy the power and economic affluence they have today? I think one can make the argument that Unlce Remus wouldn’t be a happy-go-lucky guy being black in 1930’s Georgia (segregation, KKK), but it still would be natural for him to protect a young child from the realities of life, regardless of who that child is.

Note to AJC (and most other newspapers)….using AP stories so freely in the paper just reinforces media bias that the AJC is another left-wing rag. How about a little less reliance on the AP (which is clearly a politically biased organization).

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

The movie was buried because of the NAACP and political correctness, both of which need to die in this country. I bought a copy a few months ago (you can still it through eBay since it’s released in other countries) and it’s a great movie. There’s nothing disparaging about blacks in it. OK, they’re slaves (but slavery DID exist, like it or not), but the slaves are respectable people and they are not beaten on an hourly basis. Uncle Remus is a nice guy who entertains the master’s kid. You’ll see that he basically has freedom and is treated more like a servant than a slave. He leaves the farm when he wants and no one pursues him. It’s a good movie with a little bit of history everyone should see. I sent Disney an e-mail a few months ago asking for its release, and I know thousands of other did too, so that may have helped. Good.

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Looks like Hotlanta’s the resident race baiter. Ridiculous isolated examples. And it’s not “was you”, you stereotypically ignorant hip hop addict; it’s “were you”.

By mtnmom

March 28, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

When I read such debates as this I think about how years ago the Soviet regimes would “erase” history inconvenient to them at the time. This did their citizens a disservice and did not accomplish anything.

This movie is a part of American culture. I loved it as a child and even though my kids are teenagers, I would definitely buy it given the chance.

I grew up white in the 1960’s in the South to a very prejudiced mother. I remember well the segregation of the times. I have worked hard to overcome the prejudice that I grew up with. But to erase those memories…what would that gain? Likewise, what would it gain to erase the cultural legacy of the pre-Civil war South?

I have fought my prejudices and raised my children to abhor prejudice in any form. I am amazed that in spite of all of my shortcomings that I have raised two very sensitive yet strong young ladies with a deep sense of faith and justice. Nonetheless, my family is rooted in the South, so don’t ask me to deny my heritage and I won’t ask you to deny yours.

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

The movie was buried because of the NAACP and political correctness, both of which need to die in this country. I bought a copy a few months ago (you can still it through eBay since it’s released in other countries) and it’s a great movie. There’s nothing disparaging about blacks in it. OK, they’re slaves (but slavery DID exist, like it or not), but the slaves are respectable people and they are not beaten on an hourly basis. Uncle Remus is a nice guy who entertains the master’s kid. You’ll see that he basically has freedom and is treated more like a servant than a slave. He leaves the farm when he wants and no one pursues him. It’s a good movie with a little bit of history everyone should see. I sent Disney an e-mail a few months ago asking for its release, and I know thousands of other did too, so that may have helped. Good.

By Shanthemanatl

March 28, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

Release the movie. I think most viewers, including children, will be intelligent enough to understand that this film was a product of its time and place and may contain some images or references that some may find insensitive or outdated. It might also open up a dialogue with your children about how things used to be, how things have changed, and how they haven’t. Oh yeah, and it’s really entertaining, too!

By ProudBlack

March 28, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

WHO CARES IF THIS MOVIE IS RELEASED OR NOT! I’M BLACK AND I COULD CARE LESS! I WON’T BE BUYING IT ANYWAY! FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH FOND MEMORIES OF THIS MOVIE, NOW YOU CAN RE-LIVE THOSE MOMENTS. I’M BLACK AND I’D PREFER DISNEY TO RELEASE THE 1970’S MOVIE CINDY. IT SHOWS TALENTED BLACKS IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, WHICH IS WHAT I WANT MY KIDS TO SEE! I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS MOVIE AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

AJC, SHAME ON YOU!! ALL YOU’VE DONE YET AGAIN IS GIVE THE RACIST PEOPLE A PLACE TO DISPLAY THEIR FEELINGS! AND FOR THE RECORD, WHITES WILL NEVER BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND RACISM SINCE THEY DON’T LIVE IT. I DON’T WANT A DAMN APOLOGY FOR WHAT YOUR ANCESTORS DID! STOP LISTENING TO THE MEDIA HOGS LIKE JESSE AND AL THAT CLAIM TO REPRESENT US! ALL WE WANT IS EQUAL TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY,WE’VE LIGHT YEARS AWAY!!!

By steve

March 28, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

I think that Uncle Remus is a better role model for kids than Pooty Tang.

By dean

March 28, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

If you are white…GET OVER IT!!!!! If you are black…GET OVER IT!!!!!

Stop your whining and get a life Everyone in this world today has the same OPPORTUNITY Is everyone as sick and tired of certain groups playing the race card as I am? Nobody owes you a damn thing!!! You DO as everyone else does have a choice

Go and see the movie and ENJOY!!!!!!

By ethan

March 28, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

I am a white guy who grew up in College Park, off of Deerfield near Burdett gym, for those of you who know the area. Where I grew up, I was more or less the minority. I grew up in a neighborhood where all the parents look after each others kids. A time when if you did something wrong, you were punished by your friend’s mom and your own mom. I remember going to see SOTS with all the other kids, a nice mixture of black and white, at the movies when our moms took us. Being this is before DVD and VHS, I remember going several times as movies would stay in the theaters for months, not weeks. I was about 7 or 8 at the time. I don’t remember there being anything wrong with the stories. In fact, my friends and I would run around singing the songs. I remember even acting out the stories in our backyards. We had no idea the movie was ever racist; we were just kids with imaginations who loved the stories and songs.

It wasn’t until my freshman year of college when I first learned the movie was racist and hurtful to the black population. Huh?? What?? When did this happen? That’s not what I remember. Then I realized that the only reason the movie was “bad” and “evil” is because some selfish, over righteous adult felt the need to define the movie as being so. For whatever reason they felt the need to this, I don’t know. This is probably the same kind of adult who buys those “complaint bracelets” and falls for Amway schemes.

Of course, being a rebellious college student, I set out to find a copy of the movie. I wanted to see it through my adult eyes and see if I can find the “evil” in this children’s fable. Only to find out it was banned. Banned?? Oh well, so much for the 1st amendment.

It was not until by brother went to teach English in Japan where he found a VHS copy of the movie. Wow! Apparently folks in Japan see no problem with the movie. The movie is in English with Japanese subtitles. He bought me one and sent it to me. When I got it, I had a viewing party with all my friends: black, white, Asian, gay, straight, male & female; and one Puerto Rican. We watched it and realized that the self righteous adults were wrong. There was nothing racist or bad or evil or hurtful in the movie. The movie was as true this time as it was when we were kids. In fact, we were singing the song well into the night and the more wine we drank; we even started imitating the characters.

We, my friends and I, consider ourselves to be well educated professionals able to make up our minds about what we like and don’t like without the interference of anyone else in this world. I, of course, dubbed SOTS for everyone. It had to be done. I am sure that someone will now brand me as being a distributor of racist and hateful materials. Well, to them, I just turn my back, stroll down a dusty dirt road, humming a familiar tune of my childhood, wondering if a rabbit really can live in a briar patch.

By DDF

March 28, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

This would not be an issue if Hillary Clinton were President.

By time for the truth

March 28, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

The seemingly endless pathetic black racebaiting from many blacks above above tells us all we need to know. No matter how great the racial spoils pandering, the illegal racist quotas and countless billions in “guilt money” for welfare/housing/education/racist social promotion etc is handed over sad embittered racist wankers like “Hate” @ 9.21 will NEVER EVER cease to hate whites.

The fact that it was blacks and arabs who cynically and for purely mercenary and ‘racist’ tribal reasons for well over a thousand years perpetrated black slavery, long before the white man ever arrived in AfRiKa, is ALWAYS glibly and dishonestly forgotten in the never ending black hate fest.

Seeing the phoney, puffed up robotic black bigotry everytime some racial topic appears on these blogs is fabulous entertainment. It shows whites just how hateful blacks are and what they think of us. I am white … but I am from England. NONE of my family ever enslaved anyone or oppressed anyone for any reason. Blacks here dont know I am not American born unless I say something - but I have been ‘collectively’ racially sneered at and treated disrespectfully just for being white by blacks.

Racial pettiness of course works both ways. A smallish number of whites I’ve met in ten years here, mostly actually smug northern yankkkees but also a few southerners too, have assumed I don’t like blacks just because I’m white - NOTHING could be further from the truth.

Truth is most whites are not racist, its uncool and morally reprehensible. But whites are sick and tired of the black snouts in the racial spoils trough. Black racists and bigots like the McKinneys, Calypso Louis Farracrap. The pathetic racist New Black Panthers and Tyrone shoelaces Brooks and micky mouse non-reverends like Sharptongue and Jackasson are ALL about keeping race and their racially funded/empowered divisive power bases alive.

Happily white racist groups are virtually non-existent … but black racebaiting groups like the vile NAACP and the seriously corrupt Rainbow Coalition and the rest of them show us just where the black mindset is at.

When blacks actually screech louder about the endemic never ending black on black crime and gangbanging, the astonishing 70% or so illegitimacy rate amongst black women, the racism/sexism and glorying of drugs and thuggishness in hippety hop music, the pathetic bigoted self defeating attitude about “acting white” toward education and all the other massive issues faces blacks in the USA than they screech about an old Disney film then white folks will see black folks are serious about changing the wholly self inflicted damage that ensures so many drive by black yoofs worried about being dissed and single black women who pile up multi-fathered babies they can’t afford and many of who in turn feed the thuggish criminal population are sullen socio-economic failures.

Clearly the black middle classes are a wonderful example of just how easy it is to succeed for blacks in America - black culture has to learn how to replicate this at will - even if the middle class economic success is not completely equally distributed, at least black folks will have something to strive for. Not just morosely and dishonestly blame whitey and everyone else!!

By fer

March 28, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

“Song of the South” is one of the first movies I remember seeing as a child. I loved the kind old man who told the stories I already knew. I loved the music. I loved the combination of live action and animation. If Disney releases it, I will buy it to show my grandchildren.

There is nothing racist about it.

By JJ

March 28, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

All of these “racism is still a problem” commnets are BS. Yes it still exists in certain instances and always will, but not to the point that it is a setback for an entire race of people. I work for a company who is based here in Atlanta and we have a diversity council that targets blacks and other minorities for job positions. Seems to me that the only people who are being discriminated against are people who are the majority.

But I guess that it is easier to make excuses and blame everyone else than it is to make a concerted effort, right?

And answer this for me….if 29% of Georgia according to the 2000 census was black, yet 61% of all inmates are black would this not indicate a problem?

Maybe the black community should dwell more on progressing in the future and less on the injustices past.

By steve

March 28, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

As sick and tired as I may be of people using the race card, I’m even MORE sick and tired of people using the TERM “race card”. If you grew up in the South, and you are white…you most likely knew someone similar to Uncle Remus. Being long past the days of slavery, it would have been someone who wasn’t servile, but was still courteous to a fault. A man or woman who almost certainly lacked formal education, but possessed more WISDOM than anyone you knew before or since. In spite of whatever else he may have been, Uncle Remus was/is a mentor…the type of person (of ANY race), that is needed as much now as ever. I count myself blessed to have known such a man during my childhood.

By Gayla

March 28, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

History is history. There is nothing wrong with seeing or reading about the way things WERE. There is racism is everyday life and it is more than just a black issue. We cannot change history no matter what we do. It’s just an old movie. Enjoy it for what it is and let the past go. Try to make your present and future better.

By crass realist

March 28, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

PLEASE, RELEASE THE MOVIE!

By DrStranglove

March 28, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Can we make a cartoon/movie about a male, meth using Child -molester, traveling down the ol Miss-sippi on a raft with 4 lil blonde boys singin? Let’s release that then we can release Song of the South. One stereotype vs another.It’ll never happen because those who control the media will never demean themselves only others.They constantly undervalue,underestimate, and marginalized people different than they are.

By William

March 28, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

Black Americans need to just get over it. The only Slavery left in the World is in Africa, Islamic controlled populations and the Democrat party.

By rlp

March 28, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Obama,

Watch your back - the blue eye devils will not let you represent this country

By fulldawg

March 28, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Uncle Remus was a creation of a black Georgia author and former Atlanta Constitution writer Joel Chandler Harris of Eatonton. Exactly what is the problem here?

By Diane

March 28, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

This comment is from a Black American. The movie protrays Blacks in a negative stereotypical fashion. Blacks living in the 1940’s were offended by it and I am offended by it. My grandparents and parents were offended by it because it depicted Blacks as happy go lucky, uneducated, non-intelligent persons who were happy to be enslaved. This film depicts Blacks as Whites see Black people and not how Black see themselves. This is how Whites love to view Black people. Blacks in 1940’s films were not allowed to act as true human beings. The actor who played Uncle Remus was not allowed to play a true black man or human being during that time.

By An Inquring Mind

March 28, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

The cable TV channel AMC will be showing the movie “Deliverance” on Saturday night.

It could very easily be argued that this movie portrays Southerners in an extremely negative light.

So, why isn’t anybody up in arms about “Deliverance”?

Oh, yeah, that’s right. There’s nothing wrong with making white people look bad.

By boots

March 28, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

All of the negativism and talk of racism overlooks the tremendous progress that has been made in our society.

For those who are prepared, opportunity is everywhere —- in business, education, entertainment, governmentm, medicine and on and on.

The tragedy is that so many are unwilling to pay the price of preparation and are doom to the underclass.

We should be thankful for the progress enjoyed by those who are willing to prepare and work to encourage those who have lost hope and are ill-prepared. Anyway, let’s be thankful for the progress that has been made and work for greater progress and opportunity in the future.

The movie depicts a time in our past and should be viewed as such. To make more of it is rediculous. Adios.

By Cammi317

March 28, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Another amusing fact I just remembered. Although I was never struck by the “racists” undertones in Song of the South, I was very aware of the big, fat, black, Aunt Jemima like maid in the Tom & Jerry cartoons. I still watched it, of course, but I was very aware.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

As a black man, I am torn a little by the movie Song of the South. On one hand, the movie features stories in the oral tradition that were passed down from generation to generation in the black community. I feel strongly that it’s important that these stories are preserved and that future generations know these stories.

However on the other hand, the character of Uncle Remus himself is quite painful to endure. As Diane so eloquently stated @ 10:25, Uncle Remus represents how whites see blacks instead of how blacks see themselves. Whites see Uncle Remus and see a happy-go-lucky character without a care in the world and is willing to accept his place in society. What many blacks, including myself, see is a man who is forced to wear a smile and dumb themselves down in front of white people in order to hide the shame and humiliation endured by someone forced to accept secon-class status, as well as to allay the fears and please the very white people who see him as less than human. White people may not understand and I don’t expect them to really understand that. But they should at least accept the reasons why blacks would feel uncomfortable given history and the experiences that they have endured and even more so, their parents and grandparents.

I don’t care if Disney re-releases the movie, but don’t sell me a bunch of b.s. about “getting over the past”.

By Firebrand

March 28, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Diane, you must not have seen this movie, because Uncle Remus is by far the most intelligent person in it.

It portrays an era that did exist in our history. The thing is that too many people have no idea that many blacks were treated in any way other than being beaten and tortured at every turn, and it is hard to accept the portrayal in the movie as accurate.

It’s a great movie with an important message. Don’t lose the forest because of the trees.

By momof2

March 28, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

So. Uncle Remus, a kind, wise, caring black man, we are not allowed to see. But any video with Snoop Doggie Dog, full of thugs, women in degrading situations, etc, is acceptable?????

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Go ahead and boycott, at best Disney will loose a a few of your measly bucks, at best, your daughter will be DEVASTED when you won’t buy her the disney princesses anything that everyone else has. Happy parenting!

By Larry

March 28, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Why is it ok to have movies like ATL, Boys in the Hood, etc where the “N” word is used every 5 seconds? Why is that ok? Because the movie is made by blacks and blacks are acting in it? That makes it ok? I realize that these movies are telling a story of life as a African American in Atlanta and L.A. but why is it ok for these movies to depict blacks in such a degrading way while using the “N” word over and over and over again?

By FootballFan

March 28, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

For goodness sake…I never saw or thought of this movie and/or book as racist. As a disney collector I hope Disney releases “Song of the South” and I’ll be sure to buy it to show it to my future grandchildren.

By nameless

March 28, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

How can the movie be racist when the majority of the tales come from the African-American oral tradition and West African lore? Look up the tales of Anansi from West Africa to learn the origin of the tar baby.

By Double-Standard Hypocrisy

March 28, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

This comment is by an ignorant, UNDEReducated, NON-racist, NON-hate-filled, White Southerner.

So, we can watch a timepiece like DELIVERANCE with its EXTREMELY negative portrayal, albeit accurate, of ignorant, uneducated rural WHITE Southerners and embrace it as a classic all-time work of art.

However, if we take DELIVERANCE, with story completely intact, and simply darken the skin of all the negative characters portrayed, it suddenly becomes “Racist” and “Insensitive” and “Inaccurate.”

Give me a break.

Of course, we all know NO real African-American whatsoever has EVER groomed and conducted himself/herself in a manner even remotely resembling ‘Uncle Remus.’ [ * FYI: This is SARCASM, people! * ]

All ignorance bashing aside, I have nothing but respect for African-Americans, and I loved this film and LOVED & genuinely admired ‘Uncle Remus’ as a child.

I just happen to really hate hypocrisy and anyone who tries to ‘sugarcoatingly’ rewrite and/or erase history.

Buncha ignorant, self-righteous, ‘hyper-PC’ hypocrites!!!

Get over yourselves.

By JANE

March 28, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

This is unnecessary, the racist tones/comments being written on this blog. The AJC blogs remind me each day of how ignorant each person is who continues to write such comments.

I’ve noticed that the Lord is never mentioned in any of these racist comments. Before any of you write another comment, PRAY. Prayer does change things and by the way you’re writing, prayer needs to change your tongue, your mind and definitely your fingers typing. The past is just that the past, we can’t change it by continously bringing it up. We can make a difference for the future. We need to love one another as the Lord loves us. The people on this blog had nothing to do with slavery or the racism that occured back in the day.

Let us all comment on the blog and leave the racial tones behind.

Jesus, help us all

By Hotlanta

March 28, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

Why was that movie with Samuel L. Jackson recently was not released and people didn’t watch it. They kept showing a clip of her with a chain around her waist and I saw a picture of her hugging his leg. It was about a sex crazed white woman having sex with everything and everybody and the thought of her kneeling below a black man is the last straw. The television/movie industry go all out to protect the honor of a white woman. Even though all of these men are coming forth to be the “baby’s daddy”, no one has called Anna Nicole a whore yet.

By colorspectrum

March 28, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

why are so many of these statements repeated over and over again ad nauseum?is the blog/webmaster not paying attention or are folks using the “send” button incorrectly?

By Marjorie

March 28, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

Hotlanta, pull up!!

You need to take a racial breather. Your comments are not made for TV, Blog, eyes or the ears.

My eyes are bleeding each time I read your comments. I know you’re passionate about your statements but bro, pull up! It’s a blog, noone is going to act on your anger.

By dep

March 28, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

fulldawg, you might want to get your facts straight. UGA grad, I assume?

Joel Chandler Harris (December 9, 1848 - July 3, 1908) was an American journalist born in Eatonton, Georgia who wrote the Uncle Remus stories, including Uncle Remus; His Songs and His Sayings. The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation. (1880), Nights with Uncle Remus (1881 & 1882), Uncle Remus and His Friends (1892), and Uncle Remus and the Little Boy (1905).

The stories, based on the African-American oral storytelling tradition, were revolutionary in their use of dialect and in featuring a trickster hero called Br’er (“Brother”) Rabbit, who uses his wits against adversity, though his efforts do not always succeed. The rabbit is the trickster character in traditional tales in Central and Southern Africa. The stories, which began appearing in the Atlanta Constitution in 1879, were popular among both Black and White readers in the North and South, not least because they presented an idealized view of race relations soon after the Civil War. The first published Brer Rabbit stories were written by President Theodore Roosevelt’s uncle, Robert Roosevelt.

Paul Reuben wrote, “Joel Chandler Harris was a white man, born of poor parents, who at thirteen left home and became an apprentice to Joseph Addison Turner, a newspaper publisher and plantation owner. It is at this plantation, Turnwold, that Harris first heard the black folktales that were to make him famous.”

By LITERATE, NON-ignorant Christian

March 28, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Dear JANE,

Please stop making the rest of us who are Christians look self-righteous and ignorant.

Your comments, in the condescending context in which you use them, do more harm than good.

Please stay on the blog topic of the racial aspect, if any, on the specific film. This is NOT a forum for you or any of the rest of us to spout OFF-TOPIC religion to Jews, Gentiles, atheists, etc. who are discussing the historical reference of a MOVIE.

Please show reverance for JESUS and use proper punctuation when you write to HIM. He blessed you with a ‘period’ key on your keyboard. Please use it.

“Actions for GOD, not just words!”

Anyone, even Democrooks, can sit on here and type.

Thanks.

By Cammi317

March 28, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I didn’t think that movie with Samuel Jackson came out yet. I saw the previews but I thought it was supposed to come out next month. Admittedly, as a black woman, the preview made me VERY uncomfortable. But it would have made me equally uncomfortable to see a young black woman half naked and chained up by an old white man. Either way, it’s just not right.

By DrStrangelove

March 28, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

If don’t like the depiction of whites in Deliverance, White people should protest Deliverance not blacks. The main thing is that there is balance of stereotyping for whites but none for blacks. And those movies(Atl and Boyn da hood) provided a balance. There were gang bangers, bums,articulate educated men and women, people who worked, aspiring college students etc .Balance is the key.Hip Hop videos suck and are being addressed by our community

By Aggressively witty

March 28, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

FULLDAWG, Joel Chandler Harris was White.

The bigger issue here is that any research will tell you that Uncle Remus and his stories are nothing new. Read an “Anansi the spider” book sometime and you see the same stories. While the depiction of Uncle Remus in this movie and some of the songs and happy darkie routines (Disney is not the only production house that is guilty of this - see WB depictions of black folk and “Injuns”) are out of order the general premise is a good one.

Much like any written word that is developed for a screenplay the movie studio did take some liberties with the direction and depiction of Uncle Remus but what do you expect.

Are there some racist depictions in this movie, surely. But I would use this for my children as a starting point of discussion as to how and where the issue of race in these united states has developed throughout the years. No different than roots or shaka zulu TV movies I could use this to give a child some historical context outside of books and newspaper clippings.

For those that bemoan the use of the race card in any situation today and claim that racism is not an issue anymore you need not look any further than Predatory lending. Black people have been abused by this practice for YEARS. Now because it is affecting white people in record numbers the feds want to start enacting laws and cracking down. Coincidence. Surely not. Race issues are still alive and well in this country and to deny that is simple.

By Big Rig the voice of reason

March 28, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Regardless of what the movie is about. If Disney wants to release the movie, they should do so. The 1st amendment guarantees that. Censorship doesn’t teach anything. It just amazes me that this is drawing so much useless race rhetoric from whites and blacks.

By Big Rig the voice of reason

March 28, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Regardless of what the movie is about. If Disney wants to release the movie, they should do so. The 1st amendment guarantees that. Censorship doesn’t teach anything. It just amazes me that this is drawing so much useless race rhetoric from whites and blacks.

By mayretter local

March 28, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Not releasing this movie is as dumb as the non-release of certain cartoons because they show the characters smoking and drinking and such. There’re cartoons!! give me my looney tunes you looney tunes!!

By Sarah

March 28, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

It appears we are headed in the same direction as Japan where we’ll just rewrite the parts of our past history we seem uncomfortable with. Japaneese schools do not teach about WWII and when they do, they exclude Pearl Harbor and other critical parts of the war in regards to Japaneese agression. Our history is just that, our history and it’s a complex and sometimes painfully enlightening experience. The past can’t be changed, the present can. Perhaps some in the entertainment industry might want to rethink the portrayal of how black artist portray black women in their music videos and stop the glorification of crime, guns and violence.

By food4thot

March 28, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

Just think about it. The Brit above suggests that 60% of the 29% of the AA population of GA is incarcerated and thinks the race card is over played. Can you explain the difference between a white man smoking marijuana in a public place (park)and only receives a citation and if the same offender was black of the same educational qualifications is arrested, then maybe you would understand the frustration that is being vented. There are many inequalities in the justice, media, educational and workplace environments that plague a society that are often shrugged off and asking people to just get along is not enough. I know this has nothing to do with the movie but racism is rampant and reviving the thought that it was a “happy” time for Uncle Remus may not be all that it appears to some.

By BurmanFisher

March 28, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

Here is the trouble, I say, trouble with this sort of interrogatory….if you offer your opinion, I say, your opinion, I say, you know, your personal beliefs on the topic, then you get labeled as a racist. Say one, I say, one cotton pickin thing about Mike Vick and all the sudden your a racist. Write one little OPINION article on why Matt Schaub should have remained in Atlanta with Mr. Vick gettin shipped off to Oakland or some other such place, and you’re labeled a racist.

There’s nothin, I say, NOTHIN wrong with that movie. It’s a treasure. It’s a DEE-LIGHT. And if you don’t want to own it or watch it, then move along.

By JENNY

March 28, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

AS LONG AS YOU CAN SEE THE “DUKES OF HAZZARD” ON TELEVISION OR RENT THE MOVIE I THINK THAT BANNING MOVIES LIKE “SONG OF THE SOUTH” AND “GONE WITH THE WIND” IS WRONG. BLACK PEOPLE JUMP ALL OVER THES TWO CLASSICS AS WRONG AND RACEST, I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT THE DUKES OF HAZZARD IS EVEN WORSE. THAT SHOW POTRAYS ALL SOUTHERNERS BLACK OR WHITE AS STUPID IGNORANT AND BACKWARD. I SAY BAN DUKES OF HAZZARD. PLEASE!!!!!

By time for the truth

March 28, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

Yet another pathetic dishonest racebaiter outright lies … “the Brit above” (yours truly) suggested absolutely NOTHING about incarceration stats … and the pathetic/lame example of pot smoking shows how dumb and weak your arguments are mate!!

I didn’t say the race card is overplayed - I said that racist/bigoted racial spoils blacks like Sharptongue et al need to actually focus on immoral and criminal behaviour - such as the unending national black on black crime wave in countless local hoods which in large part is fed by massive levels of illegitimacy - and stop the overwhelming thuggishness/anti-intellectualism of a hefty minority of hippety hop yoofs who are undeniably barely functioning illiterates.

Until changes are made in cultural attitudes and behaviour the black crime stats and poverty stats etc will NOT change. This has NOTHING to do with any kind of racism either - its purely a self inflicted black thang!!

By JJ

March 28, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

food4thot,

Try reading my post correctly(you can read can’t you?). I didn’t suggest anything. I stated a fact that 29% of GA was black, but 61% of the Georgia inmates were black. In no way does that reflect that 60% of blacks are incarcerated.

I was trying to get some ignorant fool to claim that was a result of racisn in the justice system and sure enough you posted it. Keep doing nothing and blaming racism if you want and blacks will still be at the bottom in another 150 years.

By Carl

March 28, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

RW,

“We are all entitled to our own opinions. Let us please attempt to be civil with this. With that said, as a Black father with a 5 yr old daughter: If Disney releases this movie our relationship with that company ends. It’s pretty simple.”

If that is the case, are we to understand that you will neither watch ABC television, ESPN, Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television Networks nor E! Networks? That you will not view any movies produced by Disney owned companies (Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures or Miramax Films?, You will not listen to recordings produced by Disney owned recording labels (Walt Disney Records, Buena Vista Records, Hollywood Records and Lyric Street Records)?

Just because a company releases (or in this case re-releases) a movie that offends you does it really make sense to say that you are going “end your relationship” with Disney?

I can understand not wanting to patronize Disney corporation as a result of this action, but I believe the Southern Baptist Convention tried to initiate a boycott of Disney over it’s Gay Days at it’s theme parks. Disney owns much more than people realize and it makes many of those statements seem foolish.

By Carl

March 28, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

RW,

“We are all entitled to our own opinions. Let us please attempt to be civil with this. With that said, as a Black father with a 5 yr old daughter: If Disney releases this movie our relationship with that company ends. It’s pretty simple.”

If that is the case, are we to understand that you will neither watch ABC television, ESPN, Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television Networks nor E! Networks? That you will not view any movies produced by Disney owned companies (Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures or Miramax Films?, You will not listen to recordings produced by Disney owned recording labels (Walt Disney Records, Buena Vista Records, Hollywood Records and Lyric Street Records)?

Just because a company releases (or in this case re-releases) a movie that offends you does it really make sense to say that you are going “end your relationship” with Disney?

I can understand not wanting to patronize Disney corporation as a result of this action, but I belioeve the Southern Baptist Convention tried to initiate a boycott of Disney over it’s Gay Days at it’s theme parks. Disney owns much more than people realize and it makes many of those statements seem foolish.

By who cares

March 28, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

Hotalanta, RW and Hate: If you don’t like the US of America-go back to AFRICA where you have PRO black everywhere-and you can run for your lives from the war and scramble for food. If it weren’t for white people, you would not have the opportunity to become anything EXCEPT an African Slave in Africa where there is STILL slavery among the”Brothas.” Boycott Disney all you want-you make up LESS than 25% of the nation. Go to where you are a majority-Africa comes to mind. Why don’t you and the NAACP and the GUILTY as SIN OJ SIMPSON, who played the Oppressed Car, try to find a cure for black men and women creating all these crimes the last few decades. Look in the prisons and on TV-what do you see? Black men getting arrested for shootings, rapes and drug deals. Milken did not ruin the economy-Jimmy did. Runaway bride-isolated incident-don’t see hundreds of white women running away-except from Black men that try to kill them if they look at another person. Barbie dolls-two girls vs 10 black men and boys on a crime spree in the banks. And how about the man kidnapping the white woman and killing her in the hotel? Expalin that. How about the drug dealers arrested last night on the 11pm news? Or the two black women that robbed the Waffle house. You state isolated occurrences, yet I state ongoing occurrences. Jesse Jackson-having a mistress, Sharpton being a racist and not liking Jews, Obama and his Muslim connection and his church which wants to enforce African rule-what about them? And tawana brawley and the NC central liar who claimed she was raped by white students and now ti comes out she was with two black men hours earlier AND she had the same thing happen a few years ago. YET, black people want the students put in jail for a crime they did not commit. How about YOU go to jail for OJ’s killing spree? That is justice! Apologize for something that was legal and I did not do? How about YOU apologize for Black people taking up College spots that deserved to go to people with Higher SAT scores? You get in because of your race. Why doesn’t Morehouse or Clark Atlanta or that other Black College accept more WHITE students? Answer-It’s a BLACK school and ONLY Blacks go there. Want to go to Havard or Penn-get higher SAT scores-that is what they care about-not if you can play football or throw a ball in a basket. Cosby was right-it’s time for black people to stand on their own feet and act civil and account for themselves instead of handouts and blaming others for their downfall. Otherwise-go back to Robert Mugabee-he’s giving away the 20 acres and a mule, once owned by White people to Black people. Steal, steal, steal.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

food4hot,

I truly thanks de Lawd fuh deese white folks showin’ us our develish wayz. I’s truly caint begin thank dem fo’ yall tellin’ us to pulls ourselfs up by de bootstraps!

JJ and Time for the Truth,

Share with us some other tips and advice for being a successful black American. I’m all ears. Hold on for a second…I have to turn down the radio…Al Shapton’s radio show is on 102.5. OK…again, I’m all ears…advice on being a successful black American…

By Dave Johnson

March 28, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

Song of the South was a great movie which I feel does not depict any racism. I believe racism is alive in this country today. But I do also believe it’s not just White vs Black. I see more racism from Blacks towards whites then the other way around. Everyone needs to end racism, not just whites, blacks or Hispanics.

By Lily White

March 28, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this

To my fellow [stupid] white people: SOTS is racist. It is racist as hell. It offends countless black people. So stupid of you to continue to wail: I love this movie; it is not racist. The BLACK people, the ones who are offended by it, assert that it is racist. Uncle Remus, a good & obedient man, is portrayed as a childish old fool. Why can’t my chalky brothers SEE this? Disney will never let this movie see the light of day in the USA. the few bucks they’d mnake to a handful of fanatics would not compensate for the firestorm of negative publicity that it would generate. If you are so determined to own a copy, bootleg DVDs exist at reasonable prices.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

who cares,

Your post is rambling and goes no where. I just hope that you don’t make anyone dumber by reading your post.

Also, whites can go to Clark, Morehouse, or Spellman, or any other historically black college or university.

And I will stay here in the US…my native land, which wouldn’t be where it is today without the work and toil of my ancestors. You’re the one that seems mad, so maybe you should think about relocating to another country. Or, you can stay here and get to know your neighbors better who may have a different background than you do.

By Dave Johnson

March 28, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

lily White: “If you are so determined to own a copy, bootleg DVDs exist at reasonable prices.” Wow, thats intelligent. Shouldn’t you teach young black men and women better than to bootleg things. Pathetic, don’t blame me for something that happened when I wasn’t alive. Want to talk about being oppressed. My grand mother was Cherokee, they weren’t slaves, thats right they were killed and told to leave there land. Cry me a river somewhere else

By Cornholio

March 28, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

TO END RACISM IN AMERICA, I AGREE WITH MARCUS GARVEY: LETS GET OUR BLACK ASSES BACK TO AFRIKA !

By Go away

March 28, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

Amazing how a song “offends” people. Go ahead and not support the theme parks-it just makes lines shorter and when we don’t allow kids to cut, we won’t hear “you’re just being discriminated against.” Get the chips off your shoulders and concentrate on YOUR real problem-CRIME. You commit the majority of it, you blame others instead of yourself and you depend on Governemnt help when you have 8 kids by 8 different, non existent fathers. No wonder the most confusing day for an Atlanta child is fathers day.

By Cornholio

March 28, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

TO END RACISM IN AMERICA, I AGREE WITH MARCUS GARVEY: LETS GET OUR BLACK ASSES BACK TO AFRIKA !

By Cornholio

March 28, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

TO END RACISM IN AMERICA, I AGREE WITH MARCUS GARVEY: LETS GET OUR BLACK ASSES BACK TO AFRIKA !

By claudee

March 28, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

Lily, lighten up, I want to add this to my collection, Friday, Players Club, New jack(buckhead)city, etc… Bootleg dvd’s how embarrassing. I can get a bootleh?

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

Go away,

I, nor anyone in my immediate family, have never been arrested. Well I take that back, my mom was arrested for using a white bathroom when she was 12. But what did she know…she was visiting family from the North and didn’t understand the ways of the South. So now that you know that a group of crime-free blacks (with the exception of my no good mother) exists, how about you. Have you ever been arrested?

By Jane

March 28, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

*LITERATE, NON-ignorant Christian *

Pull-up!!! Prayer changes things for You too.

Be careful, your ignorance will show too.

By claudee

March 28, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

Lily, lighten up, I want to add this to my collection, Friday, Players Club, New jack(buckhead)city, etc… Bootleg dvd’s how embarrassing. I can get a bootleh?

By Chad

March 28, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

Ok, here is what I think. I think that anyone who is offended by the movie should not go and see it. To me there is no difference between this and the passion of the christ. I didn’t black people jumping to the defense of jews when that film was released. The bottom line is that when you have a melting pot of different people, everyone will not agree. So the only thing you can do is just don’t allow it to effect your life. If it offends enough people then the company will not continue to put out the product because it will not be profitable. That is the ONLY thing that will stop any company from producing any product, a lack of interest and/or profit.

By time for the truth

March 28, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

wanker steve

cheers once again for the sublime intellectual dishonesty. my factual/fair comment remarks were aimed SOLELY at the sullen thuggish hippety hop types who either refuse, or are unable to avail themeselves of an education and who endlessly turn to crime/drugs/thuggishness and spawn countless illegitimate kids who follow a similar vicious social cycle … resulting in the decades of endemic black on black crime. clearly these often thuggish yoofs and the sluttish young black women who breed (usually with multi-partners) with these yoofs like rabbits are responsible for these unending social ills. not the millions of black middle classes and other decent black folks who do NOT behave like this or rely on racial spoils or just blame whitey!!

Now if?? 61% of prisoners in GA are black out of a total of ONLY 29% of the population clearly there is a huge problem … WSB TV shows endless nightly footage of black (mostly yoofs) criminals, underlining if only ‘anecdotally’ the excellent point made earlier.

By claudee

March 28, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

I likes Dave johnson, you the A-B “Doo”

By Lily White

March 28, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

You deluded idiots who are in luv with this minor film choose to misunderstand my remark about bootleg DVDs. I don’t encourage such wanton traffic in illegal goods. It is an avenue for those who are so obsessed with this title that if Disney chooses to withhold the homvid release of their property, these folks who view SOTS as some sort of paradise/catnip can obtain a copy. I hope it fulfills their pathetic lives to watch this childish racism to their heart’s content in the enclave of their honkey paradise.

By Kernel Sanders

March 28, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this

“Dixie”, “Song of the South”, etc.

I fail to see the offending lyrics or messages, but all the do-gooders want it banned.

Its okay to watch the pimping and booty shake on BET but being Southern and proud of it is not in vogue.

By jc

March 28, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

It seems that Harris’ legacy for his work as an archiver and author should not be punished for Disney’s poor taste and any perceived racial insensitivity. I saw the movie numerous times as a child and even read the books which are still on my parents’ bookshelves. Clearly the movie would be seen in poor taste thse days. It seems that a remake could be done which would serve Harris’ work and the greater public good. The stories of Uncle Remus are timeless and need not have a racially conflicted effect on readers or viewers.

By claudee

March 28, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

lily white, wanton, catnip, honkey paradise,…. Drank yo fo-dee and ride in yo cuhs cadilac on double deuces while herring gangsta rap.

By PRP

March 28, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

Thank you, Ethan. I loved your post! It’s a piece of history. Let it go. Release the movie already!

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

TFTT,

It’s funny that you never mentioned sentencing disparities between whites and blacks….talk about intellectual dishonesty. I also like how you describe the sexual practices of blacks in almost animal-like imagery. Again, I truly admire your expertise about the black community. sarcastic SMIRK

Now what does this all have to do with blacks being offended by Song of the South?

By dct

March 28, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

Is the world gone MAD!!!!?? Its a movie for entertaining. Get a life!

By dct

March 28, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

Is the world gone MAD!!!!?? Its a movie for entertaining. Get a life!

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By Me

March 28, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

I hope they do release Song of the South on DVD. It is a great story.

Do we honestly as a society think we can forget that slavery happened by not releasing a film? Do you honestly think that some slaves didn’t have a relationship with the children in those days?

If anything I think this movie shows exactly what was said earlier. Children aren’t racists, they are turned to racists by adults both Black and White.

As for the white people being blamed for slavery. Correct me if I am wrong but weren’t the first slaves brought to America - SOLD by their own people.

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By MARCUS GARVEY

March 28, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

NEGROES !

STOP LOOKING FOR SCRAPS OFF MASSA’S TABLE !

THE CLINTON’S DON’T DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT !

400 YEARS OF SLAVERY, RACISM, JIM CROW, LYNCHING, AND SEGREGATION HAVE OBVIOUSLY MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON HOW YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF IN HONKY AMERICA !

LET WHITEY HAVE HIS CONFEDERACY, CRACKER FOUNDING FATHERS AND SONG OF THE SOUTH !

LETS LIQUIDATE OUR EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS IN THESE RACIST UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND REBUILD OUR LIVES AND INTEGRITY IN MOTHER AFRIKA !

OUR WORK IS DONE IN AMERICA !

LETS RETURN TO OUR HOMELAND !

By claudee

March 28, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

BYE. miss you and your crazy antics - What will the news stations do then? Out of work cops everywhere! Judicial system will shut down!

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

Hey, Dr. Strangelove, did you see Deliverance? No whites complained about that. How about the Beverly Hillbillies? How about My Cousin Vinny? Missippi Burning or ROOTS (as historical as SOTS, by the way)? How about any of the thousands of other movies that depict whites as racist, ignorant, rednecks? Why are you b***’ when whites aren’t? Are you just playing the race card because you think you can? I think so.

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

Hey, Dr. Strangelove, did you see Deliverance? No whites complained about that. How about the Beverly Hillbillies? How about My Cousin Vinny? Mississippi Burning or ROOTS (as historical as SOTS, by the way)? How about any of the thousands of other movies that depict whites as racist, ignorant, rednecks? Why are you b***’ when whites aren’t? Are you just playing the race card because you think you can? I think so.

By food4thot

March 28, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

steve-o

THANK U!!!

Lest we forget that just as some of you want AA’s to go back to Afrika, why won’t you go back to the countries that your forefathers fled not just for freedom of religion but mostly because they either owed the kingdom or were in servitude themselves.

By msteven

March 28, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with one post. I am a black american and I am not offened by this in the least. I dont get offended by white people or other blacks. One reason is I will light your a-s-s up(or write you up(get you in trouble)before I lose any sleep. I am polite to everyone unless you come at me the wrong way. Then I dont give a rats butt whether your white black or purple if you disrespect me I will stuff you back in your place. Apology from the white race? I could care less, an apology will not bring back my dead great great grand dad who died on the ship on the way over after he and his wife my great great grandmother were stolen. Am I bitter? for what? Everyone that had anything to do with them is dead and if they were alive they would be so damn old they wouldnt even know what day it was.

By msteven

March 28, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with one post. I am a black american and I am not offened by this in the least. I dont get offended by white people or other blacks. One reason is I will light your a-s-s up(or write you up(get you in trouble)before I lose any sleep. I am polite to everyone unless you come at me the wrong way. Then I dont give a rats butt whether your white black or purple if you disrespect me I will stuff you back in your place. Apology from the white race? I could care less, an apology will not bring back my dead great great grand dad who died on the ship on the way over after he and his wife my great great grandmother were stolen. Am I bitter? for what? Everyone that had anything to do with them is dead and if they were alive they would be so damn old they wouldnt even know what day it was.

By Summer

March 28, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this

I am going to say one thing real quick, speaking as a black woman.

In my opinion, I think that us black americans do not care if the movie is re-release or not, but as we usually do in many subjects, we just keep in mind what type of message the movie sent whether it was that it betray black people improperly or that it was just a good child’s story.

History is History, and history contains some good, bad, and ugly.

By Head Cracker

March 28, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

I think that it is time to apologize already. On behalf of all the crackers and white folks in the south. I apologize for slavery and all the racism in the south. I want to say that my forefathers paying for your forefathers was wrong and I wish I could go back in time and talk to them. If I could I would explain to them that if they would just pick the cotton themselves that they would save their ancestors alot of grief. I would also recommend that if they didn’t see any other way to tend to their farm other than with slaves then they need to execute them when they are worn out or send them back to africa. So as a white man I say to all of the black people, “We are sorry that our ancestors didn’t send your sorry butts back or rid our nation of you when they were done.” I hope that you accept our apology!

By Summer

March 28, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Head Cracker….that was just low, real low to say that.

You probably scared to say that to somebody’s face, so you felt like it was the perfect opportunity to create a fake name and say what you been waiting to say in a blog. Oh weeee, you feel so big and important now, don’t you.

See, comments like that is a prime example of why many blacks don’t believe any thing that comes from a white person mouth, because many whites such as yourself, (which you just gave a perfect example) smile in blacks faces everyday and then screen your name and get on one of these blogs with cruel comments like that. It’s all a game now.

By ChrisD

March 28, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

It makes no sense to apologize for something I had NOTHING to do with. As long as we all agree that it was wrong, and we do, that’s enough. Drop it. You’re not getting any more money than you already do: welfare, affirmative action, tax breaks, etc.

By Head Cracker

March 28, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

My name is Chad. I am no hiding from anyone. I am sorry that my ancestors brought the slaves over. I am just sorry for a different reason that you want me to be.

By PRP

March 28, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

Thank you so much msteven. Point made! Now lets see how many disagree…

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

ChrisD,

Who in the hell has asked you for a damn thing??!! Really who??? I really wouldn’t want a damn thing from you, not even your sorry-a*******ed apology so get off your high-horse!!

An apology from the STATE that DID endorse slavery and Jim Crow would be a nice, classy symbolic gesture and a token of reconciliation. What’s wrong with that?

By T J Jackson

March 28, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

I thought that was hilariously ignorant of the guy whose complaint was that Remus seemed happy even though he worked on a plantation.

While uncomfortable for the apology-maniacs, the historical truth is that slave life in the Old South wasn’t as bad as the propaganda said it was. 6-hour workdays, cradle to grave food, clothing, medical care, education (even if disabled or otherwise incapacitated). Usually got to ply the trades taught them by their masters on their own time, and usually got to keep what they earned. In fact, some abolitionists were against it because it was so inefficient…slaves got so much for doing so little! But that’s “an inconvenient truth.”

The unhappy slave myth also has a hard time dealing with the tens of thousands of volunteer slave troops and free black troops fighting for the Confederacy. And if you really want to upset them, read selections from the Slave Narratives, an effort conducted after the turn of the century in which the US Gov’t wanted to show how much better off blacks were under “freedom.” Unfortunately, most of the respondents said that life was overwhelmingly better for them in the Old South. Oh yes, and huge percentages of former slaves remained with their families long after the War, despite the fact that the provisions they were accustomed to were unavailable due to Union thievery.

Sure there were isolated abuses, and those justly deserve our condemnation. But the myth that slave life was always this two-steps-from-the-pit-of-hell existence is excrement originating from a male bovine, and I’m tired of it being fed as fact.

By Chad

March 28, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this

steve-o What is wrong with it is that it will just be the beginning and not the end. I am not saying that everyone is like this but if an apology is given then alot of black americans will try to turn that apology into a monatery payment of some sort. Again I am not qualified to speak for everyone but as a white man I can say that I feel that many programs are being abused by many nationalities and I fear that an apology would just start some more abuse of a system that is already feeling the hurt from too much abuse.

By reeses_peace

March 28, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

If Disney is enamored by the movie’s profitability, they should simply remake it! A 2007 version of the film that tells the stories and eliminates the offensive sterotypes is a win-win scenario. It makes common- and economic-sense.

By PRP

March 28, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah, and since when did this subject deter to other than SOTS…? Good grief. There’s another blog about April becoming the “confederate month” that you can go vent your “white/black people hate” to…

DISNEY…BRING BACK SOTS….it’s just a bit of history for pete’s sake!

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

Illegitimacy rates continue to hover over 70%, drugs are rampant, the hip hop culture denigrates education and knowledge (not to mention blatant sexism), black on black crime continues at a staggering rate, etc., etc., and AA’s are worried about the release of a kid’s movie made over a half century ago. You sure do have your hypersensitive priorities in order.
Maybe try focusing on your 21st Century problems and not so much on 19th Century ones. All we hear is how things aren’t getting any better for African-Americans. If that’s the case, maybe it’s about time to change your strategy. Obviously, it’s not working.
The truth is, many African-Americans are succeeding in many fields other than athletics and entertainment. Unfortunately, many of these successful people are looked down upon by unsuccessful blacks and branded as “being like whitey”. Many would rather complain about the past rather than focus on the future. It’s an easy way to avoid the dreaded responsibility issue.

By boots

March 28, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

According to the 2002 census report, 55.3 percent of all African Americans in the U.S. live in southern state.

Why?

If things are so bad here, why not go where you can be happier?

Only 18.1 of all African Americans live in the northeast and 8.6 percent in the west.

The south seems to be the location of choice —- so, enjoy it, take advantage of the opportunities and please look at the positives.

Constant complaints of racism get mighty old. Adios and peace, brothers.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Chad,

Uh no. You’re looking way too much into it. It would be a gesture of reconciliation. There could be no monetary award and there would be no basis. Also, blacks like myself are too busy trying to get ahead just like everyone else. Nobody expects a check from the state in the form of reparations. Ask any black person you know.

By jaim

March 28, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

@Head Cracker

Your ancestors were the sorry ones, they were TOO DAMN LAZY to tend to their farms, so they had to go steal people, that is cruel, splitting up families. Everywhere you people go you cause trouble. You are a sick mutha&#& You and people like you are going to hell in a thorny hand basket. Your ancestors were trying to find the easy way out, lazy azzez. For the record I could care less about some old movie. You need to be thrown into a big barrel of razor blades and given an alcohol bath. Now take that back in time.

By Chad

March 28, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

I agree that most black people would look at it the same way you do. But you know as well as I do that it doesn’t matter what the majority of folks think, it matters what the loudest group thinks. And unfortunately the loudest group of blacks is not the group you would be in nor any of my friends. The loudest group would be the ones that don’t have the initiative to get ahead on thei own through hard work. Like I said before, I am not saying that every black person goes into the group that would cry for more. I am saying that would be the squeakiest wheel and therefore it would demand the most oil.

By T J Jackson

March 28, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

I thought that was hilariously ignorant of the guy whose complaint was that Remus seemed happy even though he worked on a plantation.

While uncomfortable for the apology-maniacs, the historical truth is that slave life in the Old South wasn’t as bad as the propaganda said it was. 6-hour workdays, cradle to grave food, clothing, medical care, education (even if disabled or otherwise incapacitated). Usually got to ply the trades taught them by their masters on their own time, and usually got to keep what they earned. In fact, some abolitionists were against it because it was so inefficient…slaves got so much for doing so little! But that’s “an inconvenient truth.”

The unhappy slave myth also has a hard time dealing with the tens of thousands of volunteer slave troops and free black troops fighting for the Confederacy. And if you really want to upset them, read selections from the Slave Narratives, an effort conducted after the turn of the century in which the US Gov’t wanted to show how much better off blacks were under “freedom.” Unfortunately, most of the respondents said that life was overwhelmingly better for them in the Old South. Oh yes, and huge percentages of former slaves remained with their families long after the War, despite the fact that the provisions they were accustomed to were unavailable due to Union thievery.

Sure there were isolated abuses, and those justly deserve our condemnation. But the myth that slave life was always this two-steps-from-the-pit-of-hell existence is excrement originating from a male bovine, and I’m tired of it being fed as fact.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this

T J Jackson,

If you want to watch Song of the South, then great. If you want to indulge in League of the South propaganda like the Slave Narratives, then have at it.

But don’t be condescending to me, nor any other African American, about our own history. You see, the slave stories we know don’t come from history books, but from family stories passed down from generation to generation. And yes, IT WAS REALLY THAT BAD!!

Unless you think that it’s okay to be owned like a piece of property, have no rights, have your own family sold away from you, live at the mercy of someone else no matter how evil or perverted they are, work overbearing hours during the harvest, live on a poor diet, etc. than maybe you should go and be a slave for someone. But don’t even for once try to sell me a line of complete, criminally ignorant b.s. like that!

By Tilla

March 28, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

@ Head Cracker,

Your ancestors were the sorry ones, they were TOO DAMN LAZY to do their own work. They went and stole people and split up families, that was shameful. You are one ignorant mother#@&*@#. You and people like you are going to hell in a thorny hand basket. You need to be thrown into a big ‘ol barrel of razorblades and then given an alcohol bath. Now take that back in time. I could care less about an apology or some dumb azz old movie no one really cares about.

By BringItBack

March 28, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Jaim we were so damn lazy that we not only conquered your continent, but this one as well.

By gatech

March 28, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this

This blog is crazy. But I have to agree with Summer, (as a black person myself) - most black people will not care if this movie is released or not. I don’t even think there are many blacks responding to this - so take that into account when you berate black people with irrelevant points.

In fact, most blacks in my opinion are more concerend with bigger issues than ones like this (take note Jackson and Sharpton).

Its a business decision for Disney. If their product offends - then they’ll lose financially. However, there is no way to morally control them - 1st amend.

But on addressing if the character is insensitive - look at how we are renaming stadiums/teams that offend native americans.

YOU MUST have some compassion and tolerance for different people/cultures.

I understand that Political Correctness gets out of hand a LOT (if we actually did have a race card to play I wish I could choose when to play it rather than certain powerful individuals in the news)- but we are a nation of different cultures and people (as Chad said).

We all must respect each other! For once (black, white, and anyone else) put yourself in someone else shoe. You’ll realize so much more.

We’ve all come a long way - and we should continue that.

By Chad

March 28, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

gatech

I respect what you said very much and couldn’t agree more. I hope that the “leaders” of the black community will beginto listen to people like you and then there may be a chance for a real difference to be made. I put leaders in quotes because like I said earlier, I know that my black friends do not claim Sharpton, Jackson, etc as their leaders and I know that there are many black people eith the same view.

By Lynn

March 28, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

This movie is no more racist than “Gone with the Wind.” Not to mention the fact that anyone who’s ever seen this movie knows that Uncle Remus is portrayed as a hero. I was fortunately able to obtain a copy of this movie from a friend, but it would be nice to have a cleaner copy of it on DVD (and without the Japanese subtitles).

By Blog Goddess

March 28, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

God, you people are crazy. It’s only a movie! As far as black exploitation is concerned - what about that horrible movie “Blacula?” All the early Pam Grier movies? “Super Fly” - for crying out loud…they’re right up there with “Plan 9 from Outer Space”…just embarrassingly awful movies. Oh Scotty - beam me up - quick!

By Southern Christian ANTI-Defamation League

March 28, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

Dear Everyone,

Not all Christians are as ignorant, self-righteous and uneducated as Jane.

Not all Christians used their faith to elevate themselves above everyone around them.

Not all Christians, Southern or otherwise, are as POORLY versed as our dear, misguided poster “Jane.”

Let us all bow our heads in prayer for poor “Jane,” that our prayers might help change her path of not-so-blissful ignorance.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

I.M. Notta-Hypocrite SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE

By T J Jackson

March 28, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

steve-o

I’m not for slavery, but for truth. I don’t want it back anymore than you do, but until the ignorance is overcome, we’ll continue to have problems, and I, for one, would like that to come quickly to an end. It’s about time for some serious growing up.

I’m not condenscending, and it’s not YOUR history. It’s our’s, and it’s time to realize that, too. I’m not selling anything…learn it for yourself…everything I have said is very well documented. Truth doesn’t need selling.

The Slave Narratives were conducted by the U.S. Gov’t, not L.O.S..

The Slave Narratives come staight from the mouths of former slaves…if that’s not passed-down stories, I don’t know what is. And no, not all of those hand-picked by the US Govt (i.e.—anti-Confederacy) were favorable towards the Old South, but a sizable majority were.

Again, in FACT, slaves did have rights, and the ownership interest of masters was in the slaves’ labor, not themselves personally, despite the propagandistic myths. Please distinguish income tax from domestic slavery…income tax is the government’s property interest in your labor…you and I are slaves right now. Try to free yourself from Gov intrusion, and you will quickly find out how much of a slave you are (me too).

Again, the facts are that broken-up families, while they did occur, and were a sinful abuse when they did happen, were quite rare. Parents sometimes abuse children…do we abolish families? No, on the whole, the family is mutually beneficial, despite the abuses. Instead, we punish the abusers (or we should).

The diet may not be similar to today’s standards, but it was typically far above and beyond any poor white’s, and if you actually took the time to read some records of provisions, I doubt you would find them objectionable, even by today’s standards. Plus, they could grow and raise their own on their ample free time, on top of their allotment.

Judged by the standards of the time, they were generally very well fed and not overworked…VERY much unlike the sweatshops of the industrialized North (which irked the efficiency/productivity-worshippers), and certainly unlike life in the bush, from whence the slave traders from the North and England stole/bought Africans to begin with.

(Perhaps you are also unaware that not a single slave-trading vessel sailed from southern ports…or that the Confederate Constitution banned the slave trade before the U.S. Constitution ever dreamed about it… more pesky facts).

If you are going to charge ignorance, you have be at least somewhat familiar with the historical facts. Otherwise, you will continue to be as easily led by the unscupulous who seek to truly exploit and subjugate blacks for centuries to come.

The masters were actually concerned to prepare their slaves for freedom rather than just cut them loose to a life in the ghetto, which has been the sad but avoidable result of the abolitionists’ method (generally-speaking, not absolutely). Are you also unaware that slavery was on its way out naturally in the South (had been for years) when the War broke out, and tens of thousands of blacks willingly met their death facing down Union bullets? The stories of THOSE slaves and freed blacks don’t concern you, apparently, because they don’t fit with your dreamed-up, spoon-fed stereotype.

I hope you’ll take some time to learn before damning to hell your neighbors for things they didn’t do. That’s reasonable, isn’t it? Uncle Remus is not really that far-fetched.

By VERITAS

March 28, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

BLACKS DON’T WANT TO REVISIT THEIR PRE-MLK PAST, BUT THEY ARE CLAMORING FOR A SLAVERY MUSEUM IN VIRGINIA.

IS SPIKE LEE GOING TO PUT HIS SPIN ON BLACK HISTORY IN AMERICA , TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE ?

IS SNOOP DOGGY DOGG GOING TO BE THE NARRATOR ?

ANOTHER DUMBED DOWN DAY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY !

By Steve

March 28, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this

This is so stupid! Why do black people get p** off about a movie that came out ages ago? I think the black community has a lot more to worry about than Uncle Remus? One of the posts before talked about among other things ” Landfills in black neighborhoods”… What the hell does that have to do with this movie? The bottom line is that there is racisim in our country and it goes both ways, i know of plenty of blacks that are as racist as a member of the KKK. But the government, even under “This President” does not allow racism in governmental policies. How about we focus on the out of control birth rates among unmarried black women? The rampant crime rates among young black men and no its not the white man’s fault, whites are usually the victims of black crime if you haven’t noticed, so i don’t think we cause it. The bottom line is that at no time in our history do people of all colors and races have unparalleled access to the benefits of our society and this movie in no way will harm that.

By BJohnson

March 28, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

This is black history no matter how you see it. We have to know where it all started, even in the entertainment industry. I took an African Amer. Film Class at GSU and I loved to be able to talk about Step n Fetchit, Hattie MacDaniel (the 1st black person to win an Oscar, no it wasn’t Denzel young ones), Mantan Moreland, Amos & Andy with the love & respect they deserve. If they didn’t do it when they did it, we wouldn’t have blacks in film in the roles and SALARIES they earn today. Release that film so I can show it to my niece and show her how Disney chose to hire a black actor rather than a white one in blackface.

By RLU

March 28, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

I have been reading this blog off and on all day. I don’t consider myself racist and have plenty of friends of other races and cultures. I respect the ones that deserve respecting. I have also come to realize that there is good and bad in every race because races are made up of human beings. The blacks who do not see everything as racist will succeed in this world far better than those who will continue to use the past mistakes of others as an excuse to fail. Whites who cannot accept another race or culture will fail as well. Slavery was horrible as was the treatment blacks received for many years after slavery in the United States was abolished. But to keep dredging it up over and over again does nothing but keep racism going. Education of all and not relying on excuses by some will end racism sooner than all this bitterness. And, what about the racism from the black community to whites. It is there. I have always been taught that two wrongs do not make a right. And after all, we are talking about a movie. Movies depict lots of things,must we be so touchy. If you don’t want to watch it, don’t!! There are many kinds of movies. it is a wonderful story and should not be rewritten. I think some of the movies that depict blacks in the worst light, are so called black movies made by blacks!! We should never forget the atrocities against American Indians or the Blacks in this country. But for goodness sake, let’s not hang on to them either.At some point, we all have to move on.

By Just an Observer

March 28, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

I believe ‘Uncle Remus’ did NONE of the following:

• Knocked up a girl & left her
• Abandoned any children
• Shot anyone
• Sold drugs
• Beat up any basketball fans with glasses
• Raped anyone
• Started a race war
• Robbed anyone
• Backed into a parking spot (poorly)
• Sued WAFFLE HOUSE
• Beat up any women
• Bragged about bling
• Beat up any Las Vegas exotic dancers
• Did any drugs
• Blasted heavy-bass music at 2:30 AM
• Treated anyone unkindly
• Had a negative attitude
• Believed anything spouted by a Clinton

Is the fact that UNCLE REMUS was a good, positive example of a decent human being that so many people seem offended by him? Is REMUS a loser because he does not yet have enough “street cred?”

I’m a Confederate-American, and I would be PROUD and HONORED to have a great family member like UNCLE REMUS, regardless of skin color.

By BJohnson

March 28, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

This is black history no matter how you see it. We have to know where it all started, even in the entertainment industry. I took an African Amer. Film Class at GSU and I loved to be able to talk about Step n Fetchit, Hattie MacDaniel (the 1st black person to win an Oscar, no it wasn’t Denzel young ones), Mantan Moreland, Amos & Andy with the love & respect they deserve. If they didn’t do it when they did it, we wouldn’t have blacks in film in the roles and SALARIES they earn today. Release that film so I can show it to my niece and show her how Disney chose to hire a black actor rather than a white one in blackface.

By steve-o

March 28, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this

T J Jackson,

I’m all about facts also. One fact I know is that after the Civil War, there were hundreds of thousands of slaves who walked by foot for thousands of miles to find their families. I also know that countless rapes and sexual assaults happened against slaves. I also know that slaves were cruelly punished for trivial “violations”. Let’s not forget the millions that died in the middle passage in their own excrement. We can even talk about the inhumane way in which slaves were sold, naked in oil on the block. Women were often taken to back rooms and “examined”. Are you really going to tell me that this wasn’t “that bad”? Are your really trying to say that?

At the time that you cite when the government collected those stories, it was the 1890s. The same era that saw the establishment of “separate but equal” under Plessy v Ferguson and also an era when lynchings were at an all time high. Blacks were cruelly and inhumanely discriminated against and oppressed.

I don’t hold any bitterness towards anyone about it. In fact, I’m rather proud that I am from a people that survived such harsh conditions. But I do get extremely upset when others try to tell me that the suffering that my ancestors, and even my parents and grandparents, went through “wasn’t that bad” and to “get over it”. It’s absolutely disrespectful and depicable.