I admit, I spent part of this aghast and yet delighted. I've seen "Coal Black and the sebben little dudes" and others but had never seen this -- or a character depicted like this.
This is not just a wee bit stereotyped, this is BIG stereotype. From the drawl, jumbled language, slouched posture, slow, awkward gait.. this is bad.
Yes, some of the hijinks are EXACTLY what is done with/to Elmer in other cartoons (including the classic, "through the log and over the cliff"), I've yet to see a cartoon where Bugs gets out of what looks like Sure Death by rattling.. dice.
I wasn't aware that in '41, Blacks were considered avid gamblers, but I'm sure if we searched, we'd find SOMETHING alluding to it (beyond this cartoon, I mean).
I wrote this, though, to let interested parties know that I found this cartoon on a DVD-for-a-dollar at *shudder* Wal-Mart! It was on a bugs bunny disc titled, "Falling Hare" (alluding to the classic episode with Bugs and the gremlin in the airplane). Also included is another wonderful Bugs where Elmer is a mounty. THIS, TOO, ends with blackface singalong -- even bugs goes blackface.
Well worth a dollar. I'm off to see if there are other gems hidden among other cheapie $1 discs!
