As a history teacher and lover of films, I occasionally like watching cartoons that have been banned, as they tell us a lot about our society and how far we have come over the years. What was perfectly acceptable decades ago is now, in some cases, seen as gross and inappropriate. Occasionally, these cartoons which have been removed from screening aren't particularly offensive but often, as in the case of this cartoon, they are so god-awful it's hard to imagine that people would have laughed at and enjoyed these films! Thirteen of these cartoons have been packaged together on a DVD entitled "Cartoon Crazys: Banned and Censored" and while the print quality of many of the cartoons is less than stellar, it's a great chance to see how sensibilities have changed.
Okay, we've gotten to the most amazing film in the DVD set. Without much doubt, SCRUB ME MAMA is the most offensive cartoon ever made--and even makes COAL BLACK AND DE SEBBIN Dwarfs look like a film endorsed by the NAACP!!!! It was so bad it made me wonder why the film didn't provoke race riots (I sure felt like hurting some White folks--and I am White!).
So what's so bad about the film? Well, just about every negative stereotype about Blacks is included. As the film begins, most of them are just lying around sleeping as you hear Steven Foster's "Swanee River". Almost all the Black people have huge lips and many look as if they are mentally retarded. And, to top it all off, they of course are eating watermelon!! Aye, aye, aye!! Gross, disgusting and offensive--yet also not at all funny or worth seeing unless you are a sociologist or history teacher or are very, very curious. What I also find amazing is that this film actually has a very high rating AND positive reviews!! God help us!
Okay, we've gotten to the most amazing film in the DVD set. Without much doubt, SCRUB ME MAMA is the most offensive cartoon ever made--and even makes COAL BLACK AND DE SEBBIN Dwarfs look like a film endorsed by the NAACP!!!! It was so bad it made me wonder why the film didn't provoke race riots (I sure felt like hurting some White folks--and I am White!).
So what's so bad about the film? Well, just about every negative stereotype about Blacks is included. As the film begins, most of them are just lying around sleeping as you hear Steven Foster's "Swanee River". Almost all the Black people have huge lips and many look as if they are mentally retarded. And, to top it all off, they of course are eating watermelon!! Aye, aye, aye!! Gross, disgusting and offensive--yet also not at all funny or worth seeing unless you are a sociologist or history teacher or are very, very curious. What I also find amazing is that this film actually has a very high rating AND positive reviews!! God help us!