BOYCOTT POLAR EXPRESS! Racist Undertones. What do you think?

Question

This movie should be boycotted. There are so many racist undertones and subliminal messages. How can we show children this? Everything about this is racially charged. This film started off as a "nice family film". It all started to change when "Hero Boy (official name of the main character who is brown haired and green eyed)" aboarded the Polar Express. As he enters the train, he is eyed by "Hero Girl (Black girl voiced by Nona Gaye)". The Black girl eyes him down and makes Hero Boy uncomfortable with sexual tension. This gives the impression that White males are physically and emotionally weak and easily intimidated by Black women. I'm pretty sure there is a mixture of Black and White animators that worked on the Polar Express, because there is no definite "pro White" or "pro Black" standing.

As the movie progresses to the "Hot Chocolate" scene, I was baffled by the blatantly racist imagery. As the waiters were handing out hot chocolate to the kids, the Black girl (voiced by Nona Gaye) took the hot chocolate that was handed to her and hides it under her seat. She did this to make it look as if she hasn't gotten a hot chocolate yet. The waiters kept giving her more hot chocolate and she kept hiding it(keep in mind there was a lot of waiters). She did this twice. The racist message that they tried to convey was so obvious. They are basically hinting that Black people are cheap and greedy - that they take more than they need. Think about the "news (cough)" of Black people stealing Nike Shoes after the aftermath of Katrina. They showed it when there was so much more important things to show. As I was watching, I felt this was so wrong. I reminded my daughter (who was watching with me) about Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and most powerful people in the world. We later find..

...out why she was hiding the hot chocolate; it was for the poor boy sitting at the back of the train called "Lonely Boy (voiced by Peter Scolari)". You think this is justified? They are hinting at another stereotype. They are giving people the impression that Black people don't follow the rules and act on compulsive behavior. So the Conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks) reluctantly escorts Hero Girl (the African American Girl) to the "caboose" to give the Lonely Boy some chocolate. Hero Girl (Black girl) leaves her gold ticket on her seat (which hasn't been hole punched). The racist message that they are conveying is that Black people are irresponsible, slobbish, and forgetful. Black people are often blamed for societies mishaps. But there clearly is a division among the qualities of schools in Suburban White America and the neighbourhoods with Pre-dominantly Black or Mexican residents (as discussed on an episode of Oprah Winfrey).

So basically the scores are Pro White: 3 - Pro Black: 1. We see another attack on Black people later in the movie. Stereotypically, interracial relationships involving Black and White people are usually White women and Black men (this stereotype is induced solely by the media, as I have seen otherwise). So what did the pro White animators/storyboard-writers do? They made the Black girl fall for BOTH Hero Boy and Lonely Boy (both White males). I scoff at this. Not only are they hinting a racial stereotype of Black women being sexually promiscuous, but they are giving a slap in the face to Black males by stealing their women in the animated world. The scene where Hero Girl (Black girl) gives hugs to BOTH Hero Boy and Lonely Boy was done with malicious and spiteful intentions. Media has been glorifying White female Black male relationships for the past few decades, so the pro White animators/storyboard-writers counterattacked with this racially charged message. When will this stop?

It doesn't end here. I see hints of neo-Nazi, pro Aryan propaganda. Did anyone notice what hair color the "Know-it-all (voiced by Eddie Deezen)" had? Blonde. This character was abnormally intelligent. Almost "superior". It doesn't take a genius to realize what they are doing. They are glorifying the "Aryan Superiority" by portraying a character with typical "Aryan" features as being way more intelligent than the rest. You ask "What about the Lonely Boy? Wasn't he Blonde?". Yes, he was. But did you notice his eye color? It was brown. The typical "Aryan" is supposed to have blue eyes. The pro Aryan animators/storyboard-writers could NOT accept a impoverished Aryan character, so they "tainted" him with the brown eye gene. Sick.

I have sent a letter of complaint to the creators of Polar Express. I have petitioned for a more thorough editing of the original movie. Is this what America has become? A racist battleground fought on the big screen? This is not the first children's movie to be racist. Don't get me started on Harry Potter. The character of Cho Chang was deliberately created to insult Asian women.

Answer 1

You should be a writer.

P.S. I actually read the whole thing.

Answer 2

Really? some people just read into things so much. I have seen the movie several times. I always thought the hero girl was welll... a hero. She does an amazing deed by saving a cup for the lonely boy, comforting the lonely boy, etc. No white kid even considers him. What about hero boy... he lost hero girls ticked so I guess that sets up the stereotype that white people are screw ups and lose things and ruin it for other people. You are reading way too much into this. Hero girl is the only main girl in the movie. so what if she likes one of the other boys and the happen to be white? It seriously scared me when you said: "Not only are they hinting a racial stereotype of Black women being sexually promiscuous, but they are giving a slap in the face to Black males by stealing their women in the animated world"... THEIR woman,.... so black men own black woman now? that's insightful. Its a Christmas movie. Nothing more. jeez

Answer 3

Although I'm certainly sensitive to your opinion, it begs a repsonse that perhaps the notion of boycotting a movie because an "impression" has been made that indicates racial undertones might be a waste of time and emotional energy. I'm not trying to sound insensitive, it's just that perhaps you've read into something that is not there. But from the length and detail you've put into this question, I'd have to say you have it well investigated. But really, short of interviewing the crew involved in the relevant aspects, there is not a whole lot of accurate insight you can glean from this.

I wish you luck in championing this cause and hope that you find some satisfactory results.

Answer 4

I think you gave this movie a lot of thought. Maybe too much thought hello this is a children's movie. Children have or already have seen this movie and probably haven't come to this realization. But, you could look at any children's movie and see some kind of stereotype. Example: Disney's Aladdin.They stereotype Muslims in Egypt and use American actors to voice these characters. Or any other Disney movies that have woman characters. The ugly people are always the bad guys and the woman are always beautiful. They are not realistic! That's why you shouldn't dig too deep and put a lot of thought into them. Polar Express is a cartoon for children and that's it. It is just pure entertainment!!!

Answer 5

I think you need to get a life!!
What the hell is your problem? Its a freakin childrens movie.

Ur living a lonely life if you can find something like,
"As he enters the train, he is eyed by "Hero Girl (Black girl voiced by Nona Gaye)". The Black girl eyes him down and makes Hero Boy uncomfortable with sexual tension. This gives the impression that White males are physically and emotionally weak and easily intimidated by Black women. I'm pretty sure there is a mixture of Black and White animators that worked on the Polar Express, because there is no definite "pro White" or "pro Black" standing."
IN AN INNOCENT CHILDRENS MOVIE!!

Answer 6

Wow!!! I am in utter shock! In this day and age when there are so many bigger things to worry about WHY oh WHY are people taking such an innocent movie and putting their own spin on it? The very idea that racism is present in this movie is crazy. The little girl eyeing the "newest boy on the train" sexual tension??? Really??? Obviously the person saying this has their mind in other places than where it belongs. The innocence of children. She was just smiling and wanting him to feel welcome. And no different than with the little boy in the back. As for the hiding hot chocolate... Outrageous!!! If you are actually watching the movie instead of trying to pick it apart and look for something that is not there, you would know the second that she hid the first cup under the seat was because she wanted the boy in the back to have it.
Ppl need to stop misinterpreting things simply because THEY WANT there to be an issue. This is so sad that it's come to this!

Answer 7

Wow. Read the whole thing. And what a waste of time that was. Actually, it wasn't necessarily. I learned one thing: people these days are OBSESSED with racism. Damn, this is a Christmas Movie. You looked way to far into these "racist undertones". Stating all of these racist qualities that apparently the movie makers are trying to portray is outrageous! "Cheep"? "Greedy"? "Forgetful"? Since when are these words describing black people? These negative words could literally describe anyone, any race, any personality, any age. And after all the time it probably took you to rip apart every little scene in the damn movie, write this whole hanus article up, and overall put so much of your mind into such a topic..you have completely wasted your time and make yourself look like an racial-obsessed bastard. Enough said. Merry Christmas.

Answer 8

I have seen this movie several times. I have seen this movie with both white people, and black people. Of myself, my family, my friends, none of us ever found anything racially motivating about this movie. It is simply an imaginative tale of Christmas that has been spiked with acts of virtue. Many of the people who see it take away a message about kindness, faith, and friendship versus the imposing commercialism that most people believe Christmas to be. Sure, you can add endless speculation, as you have done, as to the motives behind the film's characters, but you have taken it to a level beyond ignorance by claiming that even the characters' eye color was racially motivated. I can explain the eye/hair/skin pigments of the movie and what they represent in one word: diversity. By making each character different they made them each identifiable. That's all. The fact that you've spent this much time on your witch-hunt, finding loads of racist propaganda where there isn't any, doesn't show the makers of The Polar Express to be racist. It shows YOU to be racist.

Answer 9

😂😂😂 This literally made me laugh out loud. You ask what America has come to? I feel you provide a perfect example! Pathetically looking for any excuse to call somebody racist or too extreme. The producers were running on limited time, and on a limited budget. They don't have the time to think about every rediculous claim to racism. And about your letter, I guarantee they laughed their heads off. Moral of the story? They weren't trying to be offensive, and in reality, they weren't at all. Also, don't read too deeply into things, it will only lead a life of constant conflict, no peace, no happiness.

Answer 10

It must be lonely in your little world!!
You sound like one of those simple minded people that said Bert Ernie and Tinky Winky are gay, the smurfs are devil worshipers, and Steve left Blues Clue because he was addicted to drugs........Get a life!!

It's a D@MN cartoon enjoyed by millions of children. We are exposed each and everyday to prejudice based on race, sex, and religion!

You must tell your children not to play pool (white ball pushing around all the balls of color), not to play or watch hockey (with all the big white men knocking the BLACK puck all over the ice). You must also tell them not to watch the Rugrats because Suzie and her family are the only African Americans on the show and her mom is a doctor (we all know there are no Black doctors) and let's not forget the Cosby Show...Claire was a lawyer and Cliff a doctor? They had 5 children and none of them were drug dealers, got pregnant at an early age or dropped out of school.
This is not possible in an African American family!!!
My God what kind of message are these shows sending???

My 3 year old son LOVES the Polar Express, not only have Igone to the movies to see it, I rented it, and later purchased it....and I am going to go home and watch it with him this evening and think about your stupid @SS while the African American girl stares at the little white boy, while the waiters dance and serve hot chocolate, and while the ticket taker (Tom Hanks) punches LEARN into Mr Know It Alls ticket (wish it were your ticket your dumb @ss)

Phuck eugh

Answer 11

you sound like a very oversensitive black person whos failed at life and likes to blame the white people for there part in history by downgrading your own you sound like a very selfish individual with no grasp of reality what you just said can be changed as simply as this due to its a very basic stupid responce that can mean anything.

This movie should be boycotted. There are so many racist undertones and subliminal messages. How can we show children this? Everything about this is racially charged. This film started off as a "nice family film". It all started to change when "Hero Boy (official name of the main character who is brown haired and green eyed)" aboarded the Polar Express. As he enters the train, he is eyed by "Hero Girl (white girl voiced by Nona Gaye)". The white girl eyes him down and makes Hero Boy uncomfortable with sexual tension. This gives the impression that black males are physically and emotionally weak and easily intimidated by white women. I'm pretty sure there is a mixture of Black and White animators that worked on the Polar Express, because there is no definite "pro black" or "pro white" standing.

Update : As the movie progresses to the "Hot Chocolate" scene, I was baffled by the blatantly racist imagery. As the waiters were handing out hot chocolate to the kids, the white girl (voiced by Nona Gaye) took the hot chocolate that was handed to her and hides it under her seat. She did this to make it look as if she hasn't gotten a hot chocolate yet. The waiters kept giving her more hot chocolate and she kept hiding it(keep in mind there was a lot of waiters). She did this twice. The racist message that they tried to convey was so obvious. They are basically hinting that white people are cheap and greedy - that they take more than they need. Think about the "news (cough)" of white people stealing Nike Shoes after the aftermath of Katrina. They showed it when there was so much more important things to show. As I was watching, I felt this was so wrong. I reminded my daughter (who was watching with me) about Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and most powerful people in the world. We later find..

Update 2: ...out why she was hiding the hot chocolate; it was for the poor boy sitting at the back of the train called "Lonely Boy (voiced by Peter Scolari)". You think this is justified? They are hinting at another stereotype. They are giving people the impression that Black people don't follow the rules and act on compulsive behavior. So the Conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks) reluctantly escorts Hero Girl (the Caucasian Girl) to the "caboose" to give the Lonely Boy some chocolate. Hero Girl (white girl) leaves her gold ticket on her seat (which hasn't been hole punched). The racist message that they are conveying is that white people are irresponsible, slobbish, and forgetful. white people are often blamed for societies mishaps. But there clearly is a division among the qualities of schools in Suburban black America and the neighbourhoods with Pre-dominantly white or latina residents (as discussed on an episode of Oprah Winfrey).

Update 3: So basically the scores are Pro black: 3 - Pro white: 1. We see another attack on white people later in the movie. Stereotypically, interracial relationships involving Black and White people are usually White women and Black men (this stereotype is induced solely by the media, as I have seen otherwise). So what did the pro black animators/storyboard-writers do? They made the Black girl fall for BOTH Hero Boy and Lonely Boy (both black males). I scoff at this. Not only are they hinting a racial stereotype of white women being sexually promiscuous, but they are giving a slap in the face to Black males by stealing their women in the animated world. The scene where Hero Girl (white girl) gives hugs to BOTH Hero Boy and Lonely Boy was done with malicious and spiteful intentions. Media has been glorifying White female Black male relationships for the past few decades, so the pro black animators/storyboard-writers counterattacked with this racially charged message. When will this stop?

Update 4: It doesn't end here. I see hints of Nation of Islam , pro The New Black Panther Party propaganda. Did anyone notice what hair color the "Know-it-all (voiced by Eddie Deezen)" had? black. This character was abnormally intelligent. Almost "superior". It doesn't take a genius to realize what they are doing. They are glorifying the "The New Black Panther Party" by portraying a character with typical "The New Black Panther Party" features as being way more intelligent than the rest. You ask "What about the Lonely Boy? Wasn't he black?". Yes, he was. But did you notice his eye color? It was brown. The typical "The New Black Panther Party" is supposed to have green eyes. The pro The New Black Panther Party animators/storyboard-writers could NOT accept a impoverished The New Black Panther Party character, so they "tainted" him with the brown eye gene. Sick.

Update 5: I have sent a letter of complaint to the creators of Polar Express. I have petitioned for a more thorough editing of the original movie. Is this what America has become? A racist battleground fought on the big screen? This is not the first children's movie to be racist. Don't get me started on Harry Potter. The character of Cho Chang was deliberately created to insult black women.