Pocahontas Stereotypes

Teaching Children Unsubtle Prejudices Disney’s Pocahontas is quite possibly one their most controversial and racially charged films as of yet. This fact is almost undeniable. How then is it possible that in spite of this very dangerous fact it remains one of the most beloved animated films of all time? Obliviousness and lapse of memory are probably the culprits. As children it is easy to not perceive the rather overt and racist overtones of this film. From the very beginning the tone is set for the movie when a sailor admits that killing “savages” is one their goals when they arrive at the “New World”. “Savages” is in fact of one of the terms that is used ostensibly and ubiquitously throughout the entire movie to refer to the Native Americans …show more content…
As a trusted source for “wholesome” entertainment Disney should be more conscious of what exactly they are teaching children and if in the long run these are positive or negative attitudes to instill in young minds. The same goes for adults who with age have a more informed outlook on these matters. To young children “savages” or “red-skinned devils” may be acceptable terms to use towards anyone who is or may resemble a Native American. In their minds it may also be perfectly ok to sing about the destruction of a race like one of the songs in film does. However, this is where sound judgment of adults needs to intervene. Conscious adults should really think if these hate filled terms should have an opportunity to be used in children’s vernacular. Lyrics like “Destroy their evil race”, “kill them until there's not a trace left”, and “here's what you get when races are diverse” should not be lines in a movie where young impressionable minds may not know how to distinguish right from wrong. A possible argument may be made by stating that the overall message was positive and that these barriers were overcome at the end of the