Fans of Walt Disney World and Disneyland want the theme of Splash Mountain changed because it relies on characters from the film ‘Song of the South’, considered one of the company’s most racist movies.
A petition started at Change.org calls for re-theming the beloved flume ride because of its ties to the the 1946 film. While the movie isn’t mentioned on the ride, its characters Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox are featured along with the movie’s famed song, ‘Zip-a-dee-doo-dah’.
Critics have complained about the film’s portrayal of African Americans in the post-civil war south as racist and offensive.
The petitioners instead suggest the ride, which is also at Disneyland Tokyo, be based on Disney’s 2010 animated film ‘The Princess and the Frog, its first to feature a black princess.
Fans of Walt Disney World and Disneyland want the theme of Splash Mountain (pictured) changed because it relies on characters from the film ‘Song of the South’, considered among the company’s most racist movies
While the move isn’t mentioned on the ride, its characters Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox (pictured) are featured along with the movie’s famed song, ‘Zip-a-dee-doo-dah’
The petitioners instead suggest the ride, which is also at Disneyland Tokyo, be based on Disney’s 2009 animated film ‘The Princess and the Frog, its first to feature a black princess.
‘While the ride is considered a beloved classic it’s history and storyline are steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes from the 1946 film Song of the South,’ says the online petition started by a Change.org user named Alex O.
The petition claims ‘there is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need.’
Princess and the Frog is a beloved princess movie but has very little representation in the parks,’ explains the petition which has been signed by more than 3,400 people with of goal of reaching 5,000.
The Frog and the Princess tells the story of Tiana, a young black waitress in New Orleans.
The movie is set in 1926 and is about Tiana’s dreams of owning her own restaurant. She kisses a frog, who is really a prince who had fallen victim to a voodoo spell, in hopes of making her dream come true.
Instead Tiana is changed into a frog herself and has to find a way of becoming human again.
By comparison, Song of the South, is based on Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, and takes place during the Reconstruction Era that followed the civil war.
Pictured is the online petition started at Change.org calling for Splash Mountain’s re-theming
The film stars James Baskett as Uncle Remus and won an Oscar for best original song in 1948.
‘There are plenty of examples of pernicious racism in Song of the South’, wrote Scott Tobias in a 2019 story in The Guardian’s about the film’s legacy and how it was never released on video in the US after becoming so controversial.
‘The minstrelsy of the animated characters, particularly Br’er Fox; the slang in the dialogue; a wandering chorus singing traditional black songs; and, most notoriously of all, a fable where Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear use a tar baby to fool and ensnare Br’er Rabbit,’ the writer explains.
‘That part didn’t make Splash Mountain,’ he adds.
Song of the South, is based on Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories, and takes place during the Reconstruction Era that followed the civil war
‘Song of the South’ stars James Baskett as Uncle Remus (pictured) and won an Oscar for best original song in 1948.
The animated character Br’er Rabbit is seen with Uncle Remus, played by James Baskett in a scene from ‘Song of the South’.
Br’er Rabbit, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, also is based on a folklore character known to slaves brought from Africa to the US.
As critics have denounced the movie over the years, it was not included in selections on Disney+ when the streaming service launched last year.
A Disney spokesperson was not immediately available when DailyMail.com reached out for comment.
Br’er Rabbit, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, also is based on a folklore character known to slaves brought from Africa to the US. The character’s image is seen on a sign leading into the Splash Mountain
The online petition points out that Splash Mountain could easily be converted to ‘tell the story of Tiana while not compromising too much of the ride/costing a fortune in remodeling for Disney.’
‘This change could kill two birds with one stone,’ the petition add, ‘Remove the offensive stereotypical theming the ride currently has and bring a much needed diversity to the parks.
‘As well as a much bigger merchandising opportunity for Princess and the Frog.’