October 1996, p. 56

Arab-American Activism

ADC Continues Protests Against Disney Stereotyping

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) demonstrated at Walt Disney studios in Burbank and Anaheim California Aug. 22 to protest what the group calls Disney’s consistent “ridiculing and defaming” of Arab cultural heritage.

The latest dispute with Disney came after a statement made in the July 1996 issue of the children’s magazine Disney Adventures. In the issue, a story claimed that to “greet somebody Arab-style,” one must “grab a friend and blow into his face at the same time he blows into yours! Just don’t turn your head to avoid your buddy’s breath. Arabs consider that a major insult!”

According to the ADC, dozens of Arab Americans have called and written Disney Adventures offices to complain about the false information and ask for a retraction. While the magazine did apologize in a letter to the ADC, it did not run a retraction in the magazine. Editors of the magazine said the information is accurate because it appeared in a book review in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The ADC holds that the book in question was obviously inaccurate and that Disney Adventures still is obligated to correct the misunderstanding of Arab culture.

“We are especially concerned because your readers are impressionable young people who might form a negative opinion of Arabs based on the erroneous information they read in your magazine,” the ADC told Disney Adventures publisher Peter Medwid. “Arab-American children are also hurt to see their culture ridiculed and distorted in this way. I urge you to try to remedy the situation as soon as possible by printing a retraction and apology in your next issue”

The Arab-American group’s spokesperson said the book reviewed in the medical journal was written by a French cultural anthropologist and it contained a number of factual errors. But the number of complaints by Arab Americans alone should have convinced Disney Adventures editors that the information was wrong and prompted an apology, the ADC holds.

“In light of this empirical evidence, we find it mind-boggling that you have ignored our reasonable and simple request for a retraction,” the ADC told Medwid.

The Disney Adventures story is only one example of what some Arab Americans believe is a blatant insensitivity toward Arab culture. An ADC spokesperson said the August protest came after “repeated” attempts to persuade Disney officials to respond to Arab-American concerns. Despite an agreement reached with Disney after the release of “Aladdin” in 1992, the ADC said there has been little improvement in the company’s actions. The recent Disney movies “Father of the Bride, Part II” and “Kazaam” also drew considerable protest from Arab Americans for perpetuating stereotypes. The ADC said that neither the protest nor continued calls and letter writing has prompted an adequate response from Disney executives.

—Geoff Lumetta