Maryam Amir – Disney and Racism

This guy is on my screen or is

speaking, I am having anxiety.

He literally sounds and acts like a Disney

movie villain.

Yes, well, the reason why this Arab man

sounds like a Disney villain to you is

because for generations, Disney has spent billions of

dollars casting white actors to play the voices

of black cartoon characters and those of people

of color in order to shape the way

people across the world, because of the exportation

of Western imperial hegemony, receive black communities and

people of color, including the way that we

perceive our own selves.

For example, Aladdin, the cartoon was incredibly racist.

The villain's voice was Jonathan Freeman.

Lady and the Tramp, the Siamese twins was

played by Peggy Lee.

And there were so many racist tropes towards

the Asian community in their characters seen all

throughout Hollywood.

For example, The Simpsons, Carlton Carson is played

by Hank Azaria, and his voice is that

of Apoos as well.

Peter Pan, Candy Candido is the one who

played the father of Tiger Lily.

That movie is filled with incredibly disgusting and

racist caricatures of the Native American community.

And can be said of Tasia or the

Jungle Book or so many other classic Disney

movies.

He was also asked by the United States

government to push propaganda around the world.

Saludos Amigos and the Tres Caballeros were films

which were supposed to build trust between the

United States and South America, but were actually

filled with stereotypes about South America.

They also produced film that was anti-German

and anti-Japanese.

Generations of that type of propaganda has absolutely

worked because look at Palestine.

We are all witnessing babies being beheaded by

Israel.

People being melted alive in hospitals while they

are already injured from another bombing at a

mosque or a school or a UN refugee

center.

Living in little tents with no food, no

water, no supplies.

They are being butchered.

Yet with decades of propaganda like this, something

as benign as a cartoon, someone like me

is seen as a threat, is seen as

oppressed, is seen as violent.

And someone like you is seen as needing

saving or the savior.