The cartoons featuring Bugs and Native Americans are more regrettable, but in two cases the Amerinds in question are mere stand-ins for Elmer Fudd (the dumbest white hunter in cartoondom). In both cases the protagonists hunt the rabbit -- something I'm sure Native Americans never did -- and both live to regret it, as many of Bugs' adversaries do. The third cartoon is a parody of Western cavalry pictures and is meant to be portrayed as a farce. Cartoon shorts portraying caricatures of Native Americans were pulled from broadcast some five years ago; the Cartoon Network has at least conceded that they are unacceptable. Today Native Americans fume at the sight of Chief Wahoo adorning the caps of the Cleveland Indians, rail against the "tomahawk chop" practiced by fans of the Atlanta Braves and are disgusted with the Washington Redskins for reasons unrelated to the obnoxious follies of owner Daniel Snyder. All three football franchises are among the most successful of the past decade, invariably playing before sellout crowds. Would a single showing of three antiquated cartoons in their historical context exceed these modern examples of stereotype?

Bugs Trivia

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In a 1965 article written for The Nation, noted black author and screenwriter John Olive Killers cast a critical look at Hollywood. After expressing disgust at images of blacks in movies, the film industry's racial fears, and the dearth of blacks within the film/TV industry, Killings archly noted that: "Ironically, the American Negro, at whom Hollywood has eternally aimed her fire, has been the least vulnerable of all Americans, the least brainwashed. We have never been completely taken in by the hypocritical culture, by film or television. Our belief in our innate inferiority has been, at most, superficial. Yes, the black American is a believer, but not a True Believer in the Word according to Saint Hollywood."

Those words were written thirty-five years ago. It is difficult to believe that black self-awareness and pride have diminished since the struggle for civil rights, or that blacks have regressed back to a docile acceptance of any image Hollywood wishes to portray of them. The same is true for all minorities, whom today are asserting their racial and ethnic identities with unprecedented self-esteem and confidence. Discrimination still exists, but at an increasingly steep cost to its perpetrators. If a handful of old cartoons can reverse or even destroy such progress, then so much the worse for America and all people black, white, Hispanic and Asian. I prefer to bet that such a scenario won't come to pass: Let the Twelve be shown again, but with the sensitivity, consideration, and intelligence needed to portray a regrettable part of our past history. I believe we can handle it.

Martin "Dr. Toon" Goodman is a longtime student and fan of animation. He lives in Anderson, Indiana.