The Racist History of Cartoons From Fleischer Studios, Warner Bros, Disney And More!

Many of the stock stereotypes of black people in old animated shorts can be found in Jay-Z’s video, from thick-lipped minstrels and cannibal natives to plantation workers, sharecroppers, and Little Black Sambo.

All of the studios of the period (Disney, Warner Bros., MGM, Iwerks, Lantz, Fleischer, etc) engaged in the production of cartoons with racial stereotypes, some studios more than others. While the regrettable images appeared in a relatively small portion of the overall output of those studios, they did exist and they helped perpetuate negative attitudes towards black people. Depictions of African-Americans tended to be especially vicious in the works of Warner Bros. and Lantz cartoon studios.
Posted By Joe