song of the south
To say that DisneysSong of the Southis controversial would be an understatement.
The only people who have actually seenSong of the Southsaw the film when it was re-released theatrically.
WhileSong of the Southis littered with racism, its background and legacy make the Disney movie even more problematic.
The ride was closed in 2023 and re-opened under the name Tianas Bayou Adventure in June 2024.
However, the Splash Mountain ride at Tokyo Disneyland is stillSong of the South-themed to this day.
The song is still featured on Disney soundtracks and is available to stream on Spotify.
Yes, the song is certainly catchy, and its lyrics dont mention race or slavery.
But the celebration of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” didnt end in 1947.
In 2022, Disney removed the song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from its theme parks and parades (viaIndiewire).
At the time, he was the first and only Black man to win an Oscar.
Sadly, Baskett passed away in July 1948, less than a year after he won his award.
Even without this controversy, the film was still at the forefront of outrage from the Black press.
and Other Forbidden Disney Storiesby Jim Korkis).
At the time, theNational Jewish Postblasted the fact that Baskett was barred from attending.
However, many of the antisemitic claims against Disney have been unsubstantiated (viaAP).
Disney did releaseSong of the Southon VHS and LaserDisc in various European and Asian countries.
In terms of streaming,Song of the Southis not available on Disney+.
In fact, theres a whole website devoted to one fans love for the film.
Christian Willis created a website calledwww.songofthesouth.net.
On the site, he details how he has collected various promotional material fromSong of the Southover the years.
He also explains his interpretation of the film and its controversies.
Willis advocates for the film to be released to a new audience.
Willis doesnt seem to be the only one who wantsSong of the outhto be accessible at home.
Multiple petitions have demanded that Disney release the film on home media or through streaming.
The most recent petition was generated in February 2025 (viachange.org).
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