“It’s racist but…” [Continued]
So I was listening to a podcast from Spill.com and they mentioned a racist cartoon called “Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs.” So I decided to look it up and the top rated comments both make excuses for this racist ass piece of shit.
This cartoon was made in 1942, staring white voice actors showing racist stereotypes about black people. Who exactly is this supposed to entertain? Certainly not any person of color growing up around Jim Crow and the KKK. Cut the shit. Don’t try to make excuses to make yourself feel better because you found it funny and need to look at through “modern lenses” to make it seem better. If you found it funny and you feel guilty about it then keep your guilt. Don’t try to erase what it is.
It’s racist. OBVIOUSLY SO! Not to mention on top of it all, the art is shit. NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE TALK IN RHYME DAMN IT! >.<
So here is the link to the cartoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXFSsKFrCgY
See it for yourselves.
As riddled with stereotypes this cartoon may be, it actually had more black influence than you think…
1. The idea was pitched by Bob Clampett after being inspired by Duke Ellington’s Jump for Joy, alongside other black jazz musicians. Ellington himself suggested an all black musical cartoon. Clampett and his group went to Club Alabam in Los Angeles to get inspiration for the feel and look of the characters. In fact, Clampett wanted an all black band like the Fleischer Bros did with Cab Calloway, but the producer, Leon Schlesinger turned it down. So Clampett had to hire Eddie Beals and His Orchestra for the final kiss scene. The rest was by Carl W. Stalling like other Warner Bros shorts.
2. Coal Black/ So White is voiced by Vivian Dandridge, a notable black actress, singer and dancer at the time. She also served as a model for Coal/So.
3. Her mother, Ruby Dandridge, voiced one the Queen’s voices and was popular actress in her own right with a long running career.
4. Leo Watson voiced the prince and was a Jazz vocalese singer and quite experienced in several instruments like the drums, trombone and tiple. He traveled with a small group called The Spirits of Rhythm. His career was sadly short lived, and this cartoon is probably his only other notable role.
5. Lillian Randolph voiced both the Mammy and Honeychild characters in the beginning sequence. She also was an actress and singer, in addition to a verteran of radio, film, and television. She was VERY popular and appeared in a whole bunch of stuff such as radio shows, motion pictures, short subjects, and television shows.
6. The only people Mel Blanc voiced were the dwarves and that one worm. The only reason why he might be credited with all, was because of some horse crap with a contract with Warner Bros, where only he ever got credit for voices.
7. According to Clampett, it was well-received by black audiences, and those who worked on it were fine with it.
Now, I don’t know how true that last point is, but I must admit, when compared to the roles of other black characters at the time…
(No this is not a monkey, this Bosko the “Talk-Ink” Kid” from Warner Bros)
especially the rest of the Censored 11…
“Sunday Go to Meetin’ Time”
“Scrub me Mama With a Boogie Beat” (SCREW THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR. IF YOU WANNA RAGE, RAGE AT THIS ONE!!!!!! IT’S AWFUUUUUUULLLL!!!!)
Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs is Oscar-worthy. And, in a way I think it is. Again, for the time, this involved a near all black cast, with black music, and black dance style with roles that weren’t domestic servants, sidekicks, or lazy, unemployed bums. This is basically an AU for Snow White with racial casting in mind. It’s a gem in the midst of a bunch of rubbish and captures the talents of multiple black celebrities and even black culture.
Now, with that said, is it perfect? NO. It still has stereotypes like Coal/ So being rather promiscuous, one of the dwarves being a lazy stereotype, and all the jive talk (which I actually didn’t mind). Coal Black in particular shows how even the best of black representation was still remarkably flawed. It also reminds us that that’s no longer the case today. There’s a ridiculous amount of diversity (accurate and not) today of races black, white, and other. Nobody can do this kind of caricature today with an intense backlash. In fact, people are rather hypersensitive, seeing racism where’s there’s none.
In conclusion, despite all the controversy surrounding it, it shouldn’t have been banned. In fact,
none of the Censored 11 should’ve been banned. They serve as an example
in history where prejudice and ignorance was not only tolerated but
embraced.
Also, INB4 “Shut up Becky”:
I’m black too.
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