Br'er Rabbit
Br'er Rabbit, also known as Brother Rabbit, is a central character in a collection of folktales that originated from the oral traditions of enslaved Africans in North America. This clever and resourceful rabbit symbolizes resistance against oppression, using trickery and wit to navigate challenges posed by more powerful characters, such as Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear. The character gained broader recognition through the writings of journalist Joel Chandler Harris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who introduced the narrator Uncle Remus, a fictional storyteller based on various real-life narrators from the Deep South.
Br'er Rabbit stories are considered significant American folklore, though they have faced criticism for their perceived racist undertones, particularly in the portrayal of dialect and the dynamics of enslaved individuals. One of the most notable tales is "Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby," which has drawn scrutiny for its racial implications and is viewed by some as a reflection of the broader cultural issues surrounding racism. Br'er Rabbit's legacy extended to adaptations in popular culture, including Disney's 1946 film *Song of the South*, which has been criticized for its romanticized depiction of slavery and has since been largely disavowed by the company. In recent years, Disney announced changes to its Splash Mountain attraction to distance itself from these controversial elements, further showcasing the ongoing dialogue surrounding the character and his stories in contemporary society.
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Br'er Rabbit
Br’er Rabbit, or Brother Rabbit, is the main character in an oral story that was passed down to North Americans in the folktales of enslaved Africans. According to some scholars, the rabbit represents a resistance figure for enslaved individuals, who used trickery and wit to challenge their enslavers on plantations. The adventures and experiences of Br’er Rabbit universally represent those enduring oppression. The rabbit symbolizes the weak or downtrodden, who eventually overcome their oppressors.
Br’er Rabbit also became a character in stories written by journalist Joel Chandler Harris during the late-1800s and into the early-1900s. Harris introduced Uncle Remus, a fictional character and narrator for a series of these stories, which were influenced by African and Native American cultures. In Br’er Rabbit, Harris created what many consider to be the “greatest trickster” of all time. Some scholars have gone on to say that Harris’s Uncle Remus stories represent the best folklore produced in America.
Br’er Rabbit is also the protagonist in the 1946 Disney movie, Song of the South, and until 2023, was a featured character at Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. In the 2000s, challenges were made toward Br’er Rabbit and the Uncle Remus stories. Numerous groups questioned what some believe to be blatant racism in the storylines and characters. While proponents of the stories argue that Harris used a strong dialect in the stories to help preserve an aspect of American culture, opponents view the stories as stereotypical and racist. Around 2020, Disney announced that changes would be made to Splash Mountain, and Br’er Rabbit (and Song of the South) would no longer be part of the attraction. Instead, the ride would be themed after The Princess and the Frog. Though dates have been reportedly pushed several times, the ride is set to close in 2023.
Background
Rabbits or hares have commonly been portrayed as villains in African folklore or viewed as being sly, cunning, and astute. This is true of Br’er Rabbit, a character who may have first been introduced to North Americans through the oral stories of the enslaved. Enslaved African are believed to have carried the stories with them from their homeland and used them to rebel against their enslavers. Br’er Rabbit is a clever, quick-thinking trickster, but also viewed as non-threatening and comical. Some historians believe that this is how enslaved Africans viewed themselves or wanted themselves to be perceived. Being considered nonthreatening enabled the enslaved to be able challenge their enslavers unexpectedly and with wit. Br’er Rabbit has been considered a universal symbol of the oppressed, as well as a hero.
Robert Roosevelt, an uncle of former US president Theodore Roosevelt, wrote down some of the Br’er Rabbit stories he heard and formally documented the first version of “Br’er Rabbit and the Tar Baby.” The stories were published in Harper’s Weekly but were not successful. However, in the 1870s, Harris adapted the folktales, adding his own touches, and introduced Uncle Remus, who narrates the stories about Br’er Rabbit and his encounters with Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. Uncle Remus is based on multiple storytellers whom Harris met at the Turnwold Plantation in Georgia. To make Uncle Remus more authentic, Harris used a Deep South dialect to portray the characters in his collection of stories, Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings: The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation. However, the dialect in the stories has been criticized for being racist.
Overview
Br’er Rabbit and the stories surrounding him are considered as some of the best folklore produced in America. However, the stories have largely been removed from the public because they are viewed as racist. The story of Br’er Rabbit and Tar Baby is frequently cited as one of the most obviously racist stories. In the story, a fox traps Br’er Rabbit by using a small, tar figure. Br’er Rabbit becomes upset when the “baby” refuses to acknowledge his words and attacks the figure with his entire body, getting his feet and head stuck. When the fox comes to capture Br’er Rabbit, the rabbit begs for a quick death, but specifically one not involving being thrown into the nearby briar patch. Hoping to cause as much pain as possible to the rabbit, the fox throws Br’er Rabbit into the patch, not realizing that he was being tricked because this is where the rabbit was born. Today, the term “tar baby” is viewed as a racial slur.
After purchasing the rights to Harris’s book, Disney released Song of the South in 1946. The NAACP picketed the film and issued public statements regarding the glorified portrayal of slavery. Critics said the film depicted the enslaved-enslaver relationship as being cordial and idyllic, which was obviously not the case. Some considered the piece to be propaganda for white supremacy. Though the film was released multiple times in theaters, it was never released on video in the United States. In 2010, Disney executives said the film would not likely ever be released on video or through streaming services because of its offensive nature.
Disney further removed itself from Song of the South after it announced that Splash Mountain, its popular Disney World attraction, would receive a makeover and change its motif to represent The Princess and the Frog, the Disney film to feature the company’s first Black princess.
Bibliography
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Cartwright, Mark. “Mandate of Heaven.” World History Encyclopedia, 25 Sept. 2017, www.ancient.eu/Mandate‗of‗Heaven/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2023.
Martyris, Nina. “’Tar Baby’: A Folk Tale About Food Rights, Rooted in the Inequalities of Slavery.” NPR, 11 May 2017, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/05/11/527459106/tar-baby-a-folktale-about-food-rights-rooted-in-the-inequalities-of-slavery. Accessed 10 Apr. 2023
Schlosser, S.E. “Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby.” American Folklore. 2022, www.americanfolklore.net/brer-rabbit-and-the-tar-baby/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Tafoya, Scout. “Disney May Never Live Down Song of the South — or Its Attempted Do-Over,” Polygon, 22 Mar. 2023, www.polygon.com/century-of-disney/23649353/song-south-disney-splash-mountain-racist-controversy. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.
Van Ginkel, Govert. “The Wise Lessons of Br’er Rabbit.” Govert van Ginkel. www.govertvanginkel.nl/en/inspiration/the-wise-lessons-of-brer-rabbit/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2023.