School cancels production of 'Aladdin Jr.' because of offensive description of Arabs
Disney doesn’t exactly have a clean track record when it comes to offensive racial stereotypes. In Mickey’s Mellerdrammer, Mickey and the gang put on a production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin – complete with Mickey the Mouse in blackface. The Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp are as offensive as Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And, of course, there’s Uncle Remus in Song of the South, which even Disney’s CEO Bob Iger deemed “fairly offensive.”
One would expect that by the 1990s, these stereotypes would be a thing of the past, but that isn’t the case. Even in Disney’s 1992 movie, Aladdin, the lyrics of “Arabian Nights” include, “Where they cut off your ear/If they don’t like your face/It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.”
The description of Arabs as barbaric in Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is why Westowne Elementary School in Baltimore County, Md., has decided to cancel their production of the musical.
According to TV station WBAL, students had already auditioned for the play, based on the 1992 film, and it was set to go on in February.
Danette Zaghari-Mask, a parent of a fourth grader and an attorney with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is supportive of the cancellation.
“In the play, Arabs are described as barbaric — those are the exact words that are used. And the actual play was very controversial, apparently, in the early ’90s,” she said.
Principal J. Palmer Wilker sent the following letter to parents of students in the drama club: “Recently, it has been brought to our attention that Disney’s Aladdin Jr. has historically been criticized for its inaccurate, negative stereotyping of Arabic culture. Here at Westowne, we want to cultivate students who have a strong self-image, appreciation, and respect for other cultures. It is important that we make choices that resist negative stereotypes, promote understanding, and celebrate all people. After careful consideration and with input from the perspectives of many stakeholders — teachers, parents, and community members — we decided that this production of Aladdin Jr. is not the best fit for our Westowne community. Instead, the drama club will be producing an alternative theatrical production with a focus on fables to showcase the talents of our amazing students.”
The students will put on a production of The Young Fables instead.
Disney will release a live-action Aladdin movie in 2019 starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott, and Mena Massoud. The opening song, “Arabian Nights,” will have a new verse.
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