A Jungle Cruise to nowhere? Why Disney’s war on its ‘racist’ past will never end

Disney had to face up to its tainted heritage all over again when rolling out its Disney+ streaming service in late 2019. Viewers were alerted to the problematic tone of much of the studio’s older output with a generic caution that films might “contain outdated cultural depictions”.

But even that was regarded as inadequate. Dumbo, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and the Aristocats (both featuring Siamese cats with exaggerated “Asian” features) were judged too offensive for a simple “outdated cultural depictions ” tag. This month Disney raised the ante by including a more explicit warning.

It reads: “This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now”. The message continues that rather than remove the content, “we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together”.

Children under seven are furthermore “blocked” from viewing these films. They can only be accessed by adult Disney + account holders. 

“I have no problem with the disclosures that appear before these films that contain insensitive portraits of people of colour,” says Chris Wakefield. “Is it a perfect solution? No. Does it leave the door open for families to have conversations? Yes. I have a two-year old daughter, and I fully anticipate having such conversations with her in the future while watching some of these films. Will steps like this, and changing part of the Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, etc fully heal and solve the problems of communities of colour? Of course not. But I take it as one step in the right direction.” 

Disney in many ways embodies the soul of America. So perhaps it is not surprising the stain of racism should be something it will continue to confront. Its history is America’s history. And so, in a sense, America’s sins are Disney’s sins, too. 

The ultimate problem confronting the corporation is that racism is embedded in America. Consequently Disney is playing whac-a-mole as one controversy follows another. It motives appear sincere. But it may find itself in an endless struggle to atone for generations of wrongdoing. 

There have, for instance, been calls for further changes to the American Adventure section of its theme park in Orlando which houses the Hall of Presidents. The accusation is that its presentation American history – which features a song and dance routine by the Muppets – is jingoistic. There have even been suggestions that Disney is working with Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda to update the entire zone so that it more accurately reflects the brutal truth of American history.