Many people today are well versed in the life surrounding Disney whether it be through the timeless movies or their various theme parks, to the point where Disney has slowly began taking over the world. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida hosts some of the most popular attractions based on their movies and shows. One example of this is that of Splash Mountain. Many guests who visit the Disney Resort in Florida know and love this classic ride but still there are people out there who do not realize exactly where it originated.
Splash Mountain's concept came from the 1940's movie titled "Song Of The South." Those that have heard of this movie associate racism with it despite never actually watching it and Disney has tried for decades to forget that this movie was ever produced. What is baffling though is that this movie is far from racist in so many ways.
First, this country has a dark history of slavery that crippled itself for many years. This particular movie recognizes this by displaying a plantation in Georgia during the Reconstruction Era which takes place immediately following the Civil War. With movies coming out such as 12 Years A Slave, there is no reason why Song Of The South should be persecuted. It is movies such as this that truly show us what paths we must never follow and for us as a country to learn from these horrible mistakes and follow a more unified path to equality.
Also, one of the wisest men that I have witnessed in film is that of Uncle Remus who tells tales of Brer Rabbit and his ability to always find trouble. He teaches a young boy in the movie how to handle life situations by animating his dreams about Brer Rabbit and his ongoing battle with Brer Fox and Brer Bear which are all three featured in the ride Splash Mountain. Throughout the film, they are always getting involved in ways that endanger Brer Rabbit, but he seems to use his head to escape every time. When I hear these stories, it seems to make all of my problems disappear just from the joy of riding Splash Mountain and hearing the music to Zip A Dee Do Dah.
Since I was a kid, I always looked forward to riding this flume ride because I loved the characters and the storyline behind it. Brer Rabbit was just as clumsy as everyone else but with guidance was always able to win out in the end. The stories within the ride open new doors to a child's imagination that originated from the stories as told by Uncle Remus and his ability to help those around him. I will forever be grateful to those stories and I hope that one day, this movie will be recognized in a different light that shows the more positive sides that display the timeless stories of Brer Rabbit and his adventures.
