Creative Cat Productions | James Baskett’s legacy was erased with Song of the South long before Splash Mountain was canceled @creativecatproductions | Uploaded June 2020 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
We recently learned that Disney would be removing (or at least re-theming) Splash Mountain from Disney theme parks due to its association with the Academy Award winning film Song of the South (1946). Last year, when Disney Plus was announced, we also learned that the film itself would remain effectively lost to the general public due to the popular perception that the movie is racist.
Sadly, an unintended consequence of this act of self-censorship is the fact that it obscures the legacy of the film's biggest star, James Baskett, who was given a special Academy Award for his outstanding portrayal of Uncle Remus in the the film. By erasing the movie from their legacy, out of a fear of criticism, Disney has done a grave injustice to one of the first black film stars in American history.
In this video we explore this controversy from the point of view of James Baskett himself. What might he think about his biggest film role being buried due to accusations of racism? In 1946 Disney erred by failing to address racial issues head on, generating a portrayal of the Reconstruction South that was saccharine and offensive to Black Americans. However, that same fear of controversy has caused the Disney of today to make an even dumber error by erasing James Baskett, the first black man to win an oscar, from film history alltogether.
What do you all think about Song of the South? What do you think about the news that Splash Mountain will be re-themed into the Princess and the Frog (another movie that garnered accusations of racism because.....you know....it had black people in it)? Please let us know in the comments!
Thanks of watching!
- CCP Management
We recently learned that Disney would be removing (or at least re-theming) Splash Mountain from Disney theme parks due to its association with the Academy Award winning film Song of the South (1946). Last year, when Disney Plus was announced, we also learned that the film itself would remain effectively lost to the general public due to the popular perception that the movie is racist.
Sadly, an unintended consequence of this act of self-censorship is the fact that it obscures the legacy of the film's biggest star, James Baskett, who was given a special Academy Award for his outstanding portrayal of Uncle Remus in the the film. By erasing the movie from their legacy, out of a fear of criticism, Disney has done a grave injustice to one of the first black film stars in American history.
In this video we explore this controversy from the point of view of James Baskett himself. What might he think about his biggest film role being buried due to accusations of racism? In 1946 Disney erred by failing to address racial issues head on, generating a portrayal of the Reconstruction South that was saccharine and offensive to Black Americans. However, that same fear of controversy has caused the Disney of today to make an even dumber error by erasing James Baskett, the first black man to win an oscar, from film history alltogether.
What do you all think about Song of the South? What do you think about the news that Splash Mountain will be re-themed into the Princess and the Frog (another movie that garnered accusations of racism because.....you know....it had black people in it)? Please let us know in the comments!
Thanks of watching!
- CCP Management
