I have always known that Disney was slightly problematic. It does not take a genius to figure out that Disney has promoted seemingly weak female characters like Sleeping Beauty, who has maybe twenty or so lines in her own movie and has depicted racial minorities offensively, such as the monkeys in the Jungle Book, which were meant to be animal representations of African Americans. I was even aware that Walt Disney himself was a bit of a bigot. He was unapologetically anti-communist and also anti-Semitic. However, these problems really stemmed from the conception of the Disney company and more so, Disneyland. Originally built to be a suburban paradise, Disneyland was built in the semblance of white, middle class Americans. Perhaps most shocking is that the park’s manipulation of space and exclusion of race somehow morphed into a powerful corporation that is synonymous with happiness and Americanism.
Disneyland was built for suburbanites so that they could experience all the excitement of Coney Island without its undesirable urban aspects. It was about the WOW factor- WOW (my own acronym) being Whiteness, Order, and Wholesomeness. The park was notably white in all of its attractions. There was very little variety when it came to workers. The park’s manipulation of space is quite incredible. Located in Anaheim, the park was not (and still is not) easily accessible. One needs a car to reach it and in the 1950s, only a certain income bracket could afford a car. Furthermore, think back to your own experiences at the park (or at any of the Disney parks). While the place is jammed packed with people, it never feels congested or as rowdy as, say, Times Square. You can at least breathe as you watch fireworks behind the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Lines are organized and clearly marked entrances and exits distinguish each section of the park. It is easy to find your way around. Lastly, the wholesome and family-oriented image was key to Disneyland’s success. Even today, there is the so-called “Disney look” that attempts to ensure “Sandra Dee” employees. Even Disney stars are caught in a trap of seemingly “kiddie” work. It seems to take music video nudity for Disney to even let go of its biggest starlets (cough, cough, Miley Cyrus).
Despite all this, I (as well as million of other racial minorities) have bought into Disney and Disneyland. This is what truly terrified me. When “American” and “happiness” both mean “white,” are we trying to deny our race or heritage in order to gain what others have or are we really trying to diversify and change the connotation of both words? I would like to think the latter. To be fair, Disney has changed over the years. As it has grown to be an international company, it has realized that catering to a broader audience would work in its favor. In the past years, Disney is becoming more inclusive. We have seen strong female princesses like Merida in Brave or Anna and Elsa in Frozen and nonwhite protagonists like Hiro in Big Hero 6. Disney, which owns ABC and ABC Family, has allowed for openly gay characters such as in The Fosters.
Nonetheless, what do we make of these changes? These steps have been small in order to appease demographics that still see Disney as conservative and, you know, WOW. I mean, Frozen was bashed by homophobic families for having secretly lesbian undertones and Disney continues to whitewash characters as seen through the latest controversy on Doctor Strange casting.
The bottom line is that we should be aware that Disney, despite its palatable façade, is no different from the rest of society when it comes to problems of exclusion. Historically, the happiest place on Earth does not have the happiest backstory. Recognizing this is important, especially if we decide that we are still huge Disney fans. After all, Disney has done some good in our society, including cleaning up parts of Times Square. Walt Disney himself is a good role model to dreamers and visionaries (if you just neglect his prejudice). He never gave up in the face of adversary and worked really hard to transform animation into a respected genre of film. Thus, while I still have a soft spot in my heart for Disney because fond childhood memories are still fond childhood memories, I will be more skeptical and critical of the company from now on.
If you are interested in learning more about Disney, check out the PBS American Experience series on Walt Disney and Eric Avila's Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight, the book that inspired this post.