Question

is disney racist?

Answer 1

As far as Disney has made several racist remarks in their past towards many racial groups, they aren't considered a racist company as of current day. Recently in 2021 they have started to have content advisory notices about racists stereotypes in many of their older films like Dumbo, Pocahontas, Peter Pan, Aladdin and Songs of the South. They start each notice with "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together..." Overall Disney as a company isn't racist but definitely has many flaws in its past as well as in its present when it comes down to diversity in their working environment. Which makes it hard to really say if Disney is racist or not. 

Disney updates content warning article

Disney trying to overcome their racist past

stories matter by Disney

Comments

I like how you mention they are not currently considered a racist company as of current day. I think that resonates because disney as a company does not connect with racism in many people's heads. I also like how you provided statements and other articles related to the topic but i'm wondering has this topic been touched by any other major news outlets? Perhaps you could look for incidents that included racism. Disney is a big company meaning they go beyond just movies but also amusement parks. I feel like there has to be people who have had a bad experience and shared it with the internet or maybe even a good one of disney addressing racism. Real life examples as opposed to online statements.
I agree that it's hard to decide if disney is racist when there is always room for mistake but I believe this fact check can use more evidence from both sides. A couple more examples, to make this fact check more informational would be nice.

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I am glad you brought up the program notices displayed on Disney+ because that is one way we have seen Disney address their controversial programs. Some were so controversial that Disney didn't even add them to Disney+ at all (Song of the South). Many would still consider the company racist, even with newer movies, but in general I think everyone has to agree that it wasn't as bad as before. However, has Disney done enough to address their problematic past? Is a program notice on Disney+ enough? It depends on who you ask. Overall, the claim is pretty opinionated and can't be true or false.

Answer 2

The source provided here is an opinion essay on if Disney is racist or not, but there are little verified articles stating if this information is true. Disney is pretty well known for being stereotypical in their early days, especially towards women and culturally diverse characters. According to bbc.org, in 2019, Disney has started putting a content warning at the beginning of their films, saying "This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures". This shows they have at least realized their wrongdoings and are doing what they can to inform the public that the films do contain negative stereotypes. It seems they are trying to leave their racism in the past. 

Comments

I like how you noticed that the article is an opinion piece so it can't be proven false, but also back up your factcheck with the history of Disney that likely led to this claim. I appreciate how you noticed that the claim stretches beyond current day.

Answer 3

There has always been major controversy with Disney about their organization being racist. Many people have noticed that they lack minority representation and incorporate racial stereotypes which negatively affect children of color. Even when they incorporate characters from different ethnicities or backgrounds, the racial stereotypes within those backgrounds persist within the films. Disney, being one of largest producers for children's films, has the responsibility to represent different cultures and ethnicities in a way that accurately and authentically portrays diversity. It is important that the writers and creators of these films recognize and acknowledge this problem and make a change for the sake of the mental health among children of all backgrounds. 

https://shgreenwichkingstreetchronicle.org/115987/opinions/disneys-lack-of-diversity-and-use-of-racial-stereotypes-a-tale-as-old-as-time/