I think it is unfair to judge people by standards that are not of their time period, and I imagine that this is what will happen in the PBS documentary. Anti-Semitism as it’s defined today was the norm in Christian society in this country 100 years ago. And if Disney was an anti-Semite which to modern eyes, he was, then so were many if not most of the greatest artists in history, including Shakespeare and Michelangelo. Martin Luther was a great man, and a virulent Jew hater. Half the writers in the 19th century American canon were, too.
In examining the views of historical figures, even relatively recent ones we have to look at what they accomplished as their lesson to us, and not spend too much time on the baggage they carried with them from their social setting. It’s simply not valid to expect an individual who achieved greatness in one domain to exceed - in every single other domain - the standards that were normal for his milieu. That’s why my first post on the thread was “Uh Oh” because I can well see what PBS will do with the topic, and I don’t think it’s right, even though it will be easy for them, I also believe, to produce a damning case within today’s frame of judgement
Disney rose to prominence in the 30’s/40’s; the height of anti-semitism. So by the standards of his time he was saintly to many Jews...
as far as the PBS documentary; PBS is left wing while Walt Disney was a staunch conservative...i’m sure they will take as many shots as possible at Walt...
btw- if Disney is an anti-semite because he drew caricatures of Jews, wouldn’t that make all the writers and actors of a series such as the Soprano’s as anti-Italian as it gets???