Racism is something that we face on a daily basis. Racist tendencies have been drilled into us since a young age, and now that were all grown up, we now have to find a way to end it. Near the top of the list is instilling love of one another into the next generation instead of passing on our hate and discrimination. Even what we may consider safe and full of values may have subtle forms of racism. Disney is commonly associated with young children and is extremely popular with that audience. However, The documentary Mickey Mouse Monopoly by Media Education Foundation highlights racist stereotypes found in iconic Disney movies that are considered classics.
In many Disney movies, Latinos are often portrayed as dogs while Blacks are seen as monkeys, both of which are tamed by the white main characters, establishing a sense of white supremacy. The Asian ethnicity is characterized by its cunning and manipulative nature in Disney movies like Mulan. Arabic merchants are seen as crabby, rude, and angry in Aladdin, but in reality, this is not the case. Even Native Americans are put in a bad light in Pocahontas as less intelligent than the white settlers as well as weaker. These may seem far-fetched on the surface, but to a young, developing mind, it starts to affect a child's behavior. If they see Muslims as mean in a movie, they will translate that to real life.
Racism is not something we are born with, but something we are taught. Whether it be through social media, parents, peers, or even television; racism is pervasive through the medium called the Internet. Racism is a social problem that cannot be solved unless efforts are made to do so.
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=112
Mickey Mouse Monopoly. 2001. Media Education Foundation.
In many Disney movies, Latinos are often portrayed as dogs while Blacks are seen as monkeys, both of which are tamed by the white main characters, establishing a sense of white supremacy. The Asian ethnicity is characterized by its cunning and manipulative nature in Disney movies like Mulan. Arabic merchants are seen as crabby, rude, and angry in Aladdin, but in reality, this is not the case. Even Native Americans are put in a bad light in Pocahontas as less intelligent than the white settlers as well as weaker. These may seem far-fetched on the surface, but to a young, developing mind, it starts to affect a child's behavior. If they see Muslims as mean in a movie, they will translate that to real life.
Racism is not something we are born with, but something we are taught. Whether it be through social media, parents, peers, or even television; racism is pervasive through the medium called the Internet. Racism is a social problem that cannot be solved unless efforts are made to do so.
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=112
Mickey Mouse Monopoly. 2001. Media Education Foundation.