The Truth Behind Lies: Song of the South.

Authors Avatar

Andria J. Williams

April 25, 2003

English 012

Feeders 3a-b

The Truth Behind Lies:  Song of the South

        As a child of age six or seven, I remember watching the Disney classic Song of the South and thinking how wonderful it must be to live in Uncle Remus’ fantasy world; however, now after taking a second look at this film, twelve years later, I realize that if I were a part of that world, I would be a slave.  Slavery is romanticized so much through this children’s film that it’s easy for young black children to innocently long to unknowingly become an American slave.  The Walt Disney animated Song of the South is much more than just an entertaining fairy tale, it has both social and political significance, serving as a means to mold innocent children’s minds by teaching white superiority and black inferiority, thus coveting very racist ideals; yet, also in underlying message, it allows a means of outlet for the millions that were oppressed in slavery.

         The ever popular Walt Disney Song of the South is based on Joel Chandler Harris’ book of stories entitled Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings.  Joel Chandler Harris was a white journalist who published the first Brer Rabbit slave folklore stories, tales that he had heard told by an elder slave during his youth, in his local newspaper.  After gaining popularity Harris took on the alias of an elderly slave, Uncle Remus, and published his first book, Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings.  This move by Harris was a very controversial one.  Through his adoption of the Uncle Remus character he brought a literary minstrel show to life.  He used Uncle Remus as a sort of “black face” in print.  This literary minstrel show gives light to a mocking of the African American culture.  Throughout his book all of the African American characters are extremely exaggerated so as to add humor and lighten the immoral institution of slavery, thus downplaying its severity.

Join now!

        Due to the great amount of recognition and fame that Harris’ book received, Disney felt compelled to make Uncle Remus’ tales into the animated classic Song of the South.  This film was an instant success among both children and adults.  In this film, Disney’s first hired black actor, James Baskett, playing the role of the slave Uncle Remus, seemingly befriends and entertains his young white master with African folklore and culture.  In a sense this movie serves as a feel good film for many whites trying to justify the unjustifiable, slavery.  This movie which was released in the 1940’s depicts ...

This is a preview of the whole essay