I played Dumbo for my 2.5 year old daughter and she loves it. I was playing online chess while my daughter was watched Dumbo (yes, bad parenting 101), and I couldn't resist The Song of the Roustabouts. I thought wow that's bad. But how bad is it? Is it so bad children in the 21st century shouldn't watch it?
Part 1: The Song of the Roustabouts
Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike!
We work all day, we work all night
We never learned to read or write
We're happy-hearted roustabouts
Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike!
When other folks have gone to bed
We slave until we're almost dead
We're happy-hearted roustabouts
Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike! Ugh! Hike!
We don't know when we get our pay
And when we do, C
We get our pay when children say
With happy hearts, "It's circus day today"
Muscles achin'
Back near breaking
Eggs and bacon what we need (Yes, sir!)
Boss man houndin'
Keep on poundin'
For your bed and feed
There ain't no let up
Must get set up
Pull that canvas! Drive that stake!
Want to doze off
Get them clothes off
But must keep awakeHep! Heave! Hep! Heave! Hep! Heave!
Hep! Heave! Hep! Heave! Hep! Heave!
Hep! Heave! Hep!
Swing that sledge! Sing that song!
Work and laugh the whole night long
You happy-hearted roustabouts!
Pullin', poundin', tryin', groundin'
Big top roundin' into shape
Keep on working!
Stop that shirking!
Grab that rope, you hairy ape!
Poundin'! poundin'! poundin'! poundin'!
Oh
There are concerning words and ideas when taken out of context, so can context help or save this song? The words slave and ape capture how black people and workers were treated. The use of slave connects to the history of African Americans.
The word choice of Ape is unnecessary and inappropriate. Even if that is an accurate account of history, it doesn't do anything productive for a children's movie. The back breaking work and desire for sleep capture the working conditions along with the commands to keep working. We get it. It's hard work and workers are not treated well. We can imply racism took place.
The two most interesting ideas in the song are: "We're happy-hearted roustabouts" and "We throw our pay away."
Could the workers be happy-hearted considering their conditions?
Shortest answer, yes. See the table below for basic economic stats from the Great Depression.
Dumbo is a product of the Great Depression. The unemployment and GDP, although improving by the end of the decade, show the hardships.
We can assume Dumbo, the film, is taking place when unemployment was between 10-25%. Considering the lack of jobs available, working a back breaking night shift with inconsistent pay is better than nothing. Not only were the workers happy to have a job, there were probably unhappy-hearted workers passed up for the job, even white laborers, and especially when the unemployment was closer to 25%.
Furthermore, for the roustabouts, that was the best job they could get. If they had a better job available, they would have taken it. Same if there was an easier job and or a job with better working conditions. Roustabouts like the workers in the film do not have the privilege or freedom to pass up pay. So yes, in a depression and 10-25% unemployment, a worker would be happy to have a slave like labor job.
Do they throw their pay away?
Short answer no. The writers of the song are judging the roustabouts from their higher social position. Are the workers partying they pay away with nothing to show for it? Maybe, but who cares as long as that is their choice.
It is more possible that these workers are family men, working to support their families. And the appearance of wasting money by never buying new or better things is a result of saving and sending money for their family.
Regardless of where the workers are in the spectrum of "wasting" or saving their income, they're not throwing away their pay. To throw away their pay, they would have to literally throw the money out with trash where no one else would find it. Any spending of their income would support the people who produced and provided whatever products of services they bought.
How do the roustabouts look in the song and film?
Overall, the song is more negative than anything else, especially with a 2020 lens. The point of view for the laborers in the song is off. If the point of view was from a more authentic black laborer's voice, the song would be fine or even great. But as it is, children will not be able to provide the background knowledge of the 1930s.
With all that said, I doubt this song is going to have a significant effect on viewers ideas of race or culture. So even revising the song to clean up the negative portrayals I mentioned, wouldn't have a significant effect on viewers ideas about race or culture either.
The song is fine as it is. It provides parents and families an opportunity to have a good discussion about history, racism, and economics.
Part 2: Disney's Disclaimer
Disney has a disclaimer before the 1941 Dumbo. It's the same disclaimer used with other media. It reads:
"These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit www.disney.com/StoriesMatter."
I want to focus on the first sentence, "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now."
Wrong then
If you believe that right and wrong are absolute and what is wrong or right is always wrong or right regardless of your position in time and space, then that's fine. Enjoy the paradox. I believe right and wrong are relative ideas that should be considered in their original context.
If they were really wrong then, no one noticed...
The following is what it really was then (all sources from Dumbo wiki page): (later, I want to read reviews available online myself. I'll share links when I do.)
- Variety wrote that Dumbo was "a pleasant little story, plenty of pathos mixed with the large doses of humor, a number of appealing new animal characters, lots of good music, and the usual Disney skillfulness in technique in drawing and use of color."[42]
- Cecelia Ager, writing in PM, called Dumbo "the nicest, kindest Disney yet. It has the most taste, beauty, compassion, skill, restraint. It marks a return to Disney first principles, the animal kingdom—that happy land where Disney workers turn into artists; where their imagination, playfulness, ingenuity, daring flourish freest; where, in short, they’re home."[43]
- Bosley Crowther, reviewing for The New York Times, wrote that the film was "the most genial, the most endearing, the most completely precious cartoon feature film ever to emerge from the magical brushes of Walt Disney's wonder-working artists".[44]
- Time wrote: "Like story and characters, Dumbo's coloring is soft and subdued, free from picture-postcard colors and confusing detail—a significant technical advance. But the charm of Dumbo is that it again brings to life that almost human animal kingdom where Walter Elias Disney is king of them all."[45]
- Harrison's Reports praised the film as "one of Walt Disney's most delightful offerings. Technically, it is excellent; the color is exceptionally good. The story itself is pleasing; it combines comedy with human appeal. The only fault is that occasionally the action slows down."[46]
The Crows
The crows are black both literally and figuratively. I like the crows. They are nice; they're cool; they sing the best song; and they help Dumbo fly. Without the crows, Dumbo the character and movie could be in trouble.
Conclusion
If you're a bit worried about Dumbo, use The Song of the Roustabouts to teach your kids about history and economic theory. The workers were probably content to have a job and they didn't throw away their money. And the crows are positive black characters because they help Dumbo find a happy ending.
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