Maryam Amir – Disney and Racism
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
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.