Uncle Remus is a character created by white author Joel Chandler Harris to be inserted into his collections and re-tellings of African-American folklore. He was a major character in the infamously racist Disney movie, Song of the South (1946) where his character was amongst the most controversial aspects of the movie; being depicted with various black stereotypes and characterized as a black former slave who missed being enslaved while having his main motivation be the support of the white protagonist.
History[]
Background[]
Uncle Remus was a black man in the 19th century, known for telling stories such of those about Br'er Rabbit. Remus was enslaved at a plantation in Georgia belonging to Mrs. Doshy. After the American Civil War, Remus got his freedom and befriended his former slave-owner's grandson, Johnny. Remus may have gone on to run the, Remus Washboard Company.
Appearances[]
In the 1980s, Uncle Remus was a face character in the, "Disneyland's Fantasy on Parade" parade where he appeared alongside Br'er Rabbit.
Splash Mountain[]
This attraction was based on the Uncle Remus stories and Song of the South. The role of Uncle Remus was taken up by Br'er Frog, a character who Remus briefly interacted with in the movie. Various of Uncle Remus' quotes appeared in the queue for Disneyland's Splash Mountain.[1]
Uncle Remus himself was referenced in the Magic Kingdom version of the attraction where one of the PhotoPass washboards was labelled as coming from the, "Remus Washboard Co." with the slogan, "Actual and Satisfactual". Another labelled, "Baskett McDaniels" referenced his actor James Baskett as well as Hattie McDaniels who played Aunt Tempy.[2]
Trivia[]
- Before Splash Mountain closed in the American parks, Uncle Remus' song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah from the movie was commonly played in the Disney Parks. The song appeared in Splash Mountain, the Mickey Mouse Revue, the music-loop for Critter Country,in the music-loop for Fantasyland, and was referenced on the "ZPD2DA" licence plate in the queue for Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. Uncle Remus' song Who Wants to Live Like That? as well as the song about him and his stories That's What Uncle Remus Said also appeared in the Critter Country music loop.