Why is it so important to celebrate the Jim Crow South? I'm from there, went to Robert E Lee Junior High. Envied the Duke's General Lee with it's stars and bars across the roof.
In other words, I was an idiot kid idolizing a culture I didn't understand.
There is absolutely nothing redeemable about that movie. The point of it -- THE POINT -- is to show how well the freed slaves got along in their shanty town outside of whatever Georgia town they said they were in that hadn't been burnt to the ground. The plot is nonsensical and it revolves around the kindly old house slave just missin' his owners so much he still tells stories to the kids. He still looks out for them, so slavery couln'dt have been ALL bad, right? If the freed slaves still have affection for their masters, there must have been GOOD things, too, right? And as for the cartoons? They are the epitome of every negative racial stereotype about black people in the south. Brer Fox and Brer Bear are lazy and stupid. Even the hero -- Brer Rabbit -- is just another example of the Kingfish from Amos and Andy -- scheming, fast talking, surviving on his wits and the stupidity of those around him. But he's not hard working -- he's not trying to accomplish anything beyond his next scam.
It's an evil movie. It reinforced stereotype and opinions that still exist to this day. That it took Disney 40 or so years to shutter it is disgraceful on its own, and that they allow one of their most popular attractions to sanitize it is equally so.
It's got nothing to do with removing the past; it's about not celebrating it.
