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Uncle Remus (Song of the South)

Last Updated on: August 1st, 2023

Who is Uncle Remus?

Uncle Remus is a fictional character from Disney’s controversial 1946 film Song of the South.

Based on the collection of folktales compiled by Joel Chandler Harris, Uncle Remus is portrayed as a kind and wise African-American storyteller living on a plantation in the post-Civil War South. He serves as a mentor and friend to the film’s young protagonist, Johnny, weaving moral lessons and life advice into his enchanting tales of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear. These stories, told through a mix of live-action and animation, are central to the film and include the iconic song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” which won an Academy Award.

Uncle Remus was played by James Baskett, an actor who made history through his performance. Baskett’s portrayal earned him widespread acclaim, and he was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 1948 for his work in the film, making him the first African-American man to receive an Oscar. Despite his historic achievement, Song of the South remains mired in controversy for its romanticized depiction of plantation life and racial stereotypes. Consequently, Disney has not made the film widely available in recent years, though the character of Uncle Remus and Baskett’s performance are still remembered as culturally significant.

The Collection:

Here is the Internet’s largest collection of Uncle Remus related movies, TV shows, toys and other products. As always, new pieces are added to this collection regularly.