The Shocking Truth Behind the Disappearance of The Little Drummer Boy (1968) from TV!
The Little Drummer Boy (1968) faces ongoing controversy due to racist stereotypes, raising concerns since the '90s Explore the heated dispute surrounding this beloved holiday classic
Summary
The Little Drummer Boy, a beloved Christmas special, faced accusations of offensive content due to its villainous portrayal of Arab characters.
Since the 1990s, there has been ongoing controversy surrounding the Little Drummer Boy Christmas special by Rankin/Bass. Certain viewers have criticized it for its racist portrayal and stereotypical portrayal of Arab people. As a result, some channels removed the special from their programming in the 90s. Despite this controversy, the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, as well as their non-holiday TV shows, remain highly popular and acclaimed for their charming animation, heartfelt messages, and catchy songs. While most of their films feature fictional characters and fantasy worlds rooted in mythology and folklore, occasionally the specials touch on more realistic subjects. Notably, characters like Santa Claus, Jack Frost, and Rudolph often take center stage in their movies.
Some of the Rankin/Bass specials showcase religious and/or historical narratives and characters. An example of such a Christmas claymation TV special is The Little Drummer Boy. This special is an adaptation of the eponymous song, which in turn retells the biblical account of the Nativity. Set in ancient Jerusalem, the story revolves around Aaron, a young Jewish boy who, along with his donkey and sheep, is abducted by a caravan. Filled with despair, Aaron encounters a newborn baby in a manger, who helps restore his faith in humanity. While the themes are profound and the story remarkably mature, certain animation choices in The Little Drummer Boy provoked a negative response.
The Little Drummer Boy Contains Racist Stereotypes
Taking place in the Middle East during the year 0 C.E., The Little Drummer Boy showcases authentic individuals from that era. The film accurately portrays Jews, Arabs, and members of other races. While most characters are depicted in a conventional manner, resembling those found in other Rankin/Bass productions, the Arab characters are unfortunately presented in a negative light. The primary antagonist, Ben Haramed, is animated with certain stereotypical features. He possesses a curved nose, a large mustache, and dons opulent Arab attire. The Arab characters, including Ben and his assistant, are depicted with an offensive level of crudeness.
They are sly, driven by greed, and cunning, yet lacking genuine intellect, resulting in an regrettable portrayal.
The Little Drummer Boy Controversy Has Been Ongoing Since The '90s
It wouldn't be as troubling if these characters possessed additional defining qualities beyond their Arab heritage and desire for wealth, but these are the sole aspects the film discloses about them. They are devoid of any development or opportunity for redemption; instead, they are portrayed as purely malevolent and merciless.
During the '90s, there was widespread public backlash against a TV special due to its portrayal of Arab characters. In response to the outcry, a TV station in Detroit decided to cease broadcasting the special (source: UPI). Arab Americans residing in the Detroit area were successful in their campaign to have WJBK, the station in question, stop airing The Little Drummer Boy. Their grievances were based on the belief that the characters were depicted in a racist manner and that Arab individuals were unfairly stigmatized as materialistic and child abductors.
The response to backlash against The Little Drummer Boy, in which it was completely removed from the air, demonstrates a slightly more proactive approach compared to how some studios handle similar backlash towards older films in today's age. In the era of streaming, when confronted with inappropriate content, many streamers choose to display a warning at the beginning of their film, as was done with the controversial crows in Dumbo. However, there are still instances akin to The Little Drummer Boy, where a movie or an episode of a show deemed problematic is withdrawn, such as the removal of a Community episode from Netflix.
