Racist Disney: Aladdin (1992)

Is Disney historically racist? I feel like we should dive into this question a little deeper before we look to analyze the film Aladdin. 

Racism is, and has been a very touchy subject throughout much of our history here in America, and especially in the south. For some reason, we have decided as a culture, subconsciously or not, that people with white skin are superior when compared to those with colored skin. While we have made strides as a country over the past century, we are still taught that being white is to be superior, and this idea is reinforced constantly through the shows we watch, and the things we are commercially fed. Disney is no exception. If you were to see a character wearing white next to a character wearing black, and you were asked to predict who was good and who was evil, what would you say? I cannot speak for the majority, but personally I have been taught that white resembles holiness, and peace, while black resembles danger, and death. The overall connotation of the word white is good, while black signifies something bad or evil. Now when discussing Disney films, Aladdin in particular, you see many of these sorts of subconscious racial profiles. 

The first problem in Aladdin is the characteristics that define the main character. Aladdin is a middle eastern orphan who is known to lie and steal food from street vendors. This may be a stretch, but it is a very stereotypical way to open up the movie, especially considering most American kids don't have a solid concept of what Middle Eastern boys are like. So, for this to be the first impression children are given is a bit shady. 

It is also interesting to note the contrast in skin colors with Aladdin in the beginning of the film compared to the end. As previously mentioned, the beginning of the movie features a dark-skinned, poor Aladdin who lies and steals, yet the end of the movie when Aladdin finds love and happiness his skin color is much lighter. Again we see this idea that white skin is synonymous with the good in life, while darker skin promotes quite the opposite. 

                            Before                                                                         After

Now, we haven't even touched on the controversial soundtrack.

If you have yet to hear the song "Arabian Nights" that is featured in this Disney classic, I highly recommend it. Here's a look at the more questionable parts of the song,

Oh, I come from a land

From a faraway place

Where the caravan camels roam.

Where they cut off your ear

If they don't like your face

It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.

Yikes. 

But Disney quickly made things right (as right as you can in this situation), as good ole' Disney does, and they edited the film's soundtrack to be slightly more appropriate, and slightly less racist. 

Personally, i'm going to have to agree with the acknowledged bits of racism above, and while I loved the movie otherwise (especially the little monkey, ugh my fav), I can't say I give the film my stamp of approval. 

Maybe next time Disney.