How is Splash Mountain Racist: Decoding the Controversy Behind the Theme Ride

Sometimes, a ride seemingly disconnected from its original origins can still stir up historical debates. For many visitors and fans of Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World, this hidden world of Br'er Rabbit and Uncle Remus may have always felt like an enjoyable and heartwarming experience. But for others, the shadows of past prejudices can make it a controversial subject.

The Controversial Film: Song of the South

Splash Mountain is based on the 1946 Walt Disney film Song of the South. This film is an interesting blend of live-action and animation. It tells the story of a young white boy who lives on a southern plantation following the end of the Civil War, where he becomes friends with a sharecropper named Uncle Remus

Uncle Remus, played by the legendary actor James Baskett, tells stories to the boy about Br'er Rabbit. It is these stories that form the basis of the animation and the eventual attraction: Splash Mountain.

Racism in Song of the South

Song of the South is predominantly criticized for its portrayal of black characters. Some argue that the film depicts these characters as cheerful and content in their living conditions, which is at odds with historical reality. Critics contend that this portrayal downplays the harsh reality of racism faced by African Americans during the 1800s. There is also the insidious myth propagated in the film that black people were more content as slaves than they were in their post-slavery freedom.

The Controversial Tar Baby Scene

A notable scene in the film is the tar baby encounter. The term "tar baby" itself carries negative connotations that revisit problematic racial stereotypes. Despite the film's efforts to make the story in Splash Mountain more palatable, the name and the scene were reimagined to avoid any risk of racism.

Defending the Film: An Often Overlooked Perspective

Defenders of the film argue that the Br'er Rabbit tales are not inherently racist as they are an important part of African American culture. These tales originated in Africa and were passed down through generations of slaves in America. States where slavery was illegal often outlawed the reading or writing of such stories, making them mainly an oral tradition. It is only through white writers and, eventually, white filmmakers that these stories gained wider recognition.

The Remarkable Legacy of James Baskett

A significant aspect of the film's legacy is the historical recognition it conferred upon James Baskett, the first African American male to win an Academy Award for his portrayal of Uncle Remus.

The Ride's Controversy and Disney's Response

Splash Mountain itself is structured around the animated segments of the film, particularly the tales of Br'er Rabbit. However, there is no Uncle Remus or plantation scenes within the ride. The tar baby scene has been adapted to steer clear of any potential offense. The ride was an instant classic, beloved by many, but some began to question: what movie is it from?

Under the surface, a deeper look into what Disney was trying to obscure revealed the very controversy it aimed to avoid. This controversy is a recurring theme, with protests even at the film's premiere in 1946. Disney's approach to addressing controversy has been clear: the parks should be filled with attractions celebrating beloved, widely adored stories rather than those that are half-heatedly loved and half-hated. In the end, Splash Mountain was not closed because of the racial undercurrents of Song of the South. It was, fundamentally, due to Disney's wish to avoid any possibility of division or conflict.