9 Groundbreaking Disney Channel Original Movies That Defied Expectations

In the 1970s, we meet a young girl from South Africa named Mahree Bok, played by Lindsey Haun, who embarks on a journey to the United States for an exchange program. She’s set to stay with a Black family and is caught off guard when she discovers that apartheid isn’t a reality in America. It sounds like a premise designed to make you wince, especially considering it’s from a Disney Channel Original Movie released back in 2000. However, what might truly surprise you is how director Kevin Hooks and writer Paris Qualles, both of whom are Black, tackle this delicate subject with a candidness that doesn’t hold back in its portrayal of racial dynamics, drawing inspiration from a true story.

From the moment Mahree touches down in America, her discomfort is palpable. She hesitates to shake hands with her host mom, Roscoe Dellums, played by Penny Johnson Jerald, and when she’s introduced to Congressman Ron Dellums, played by Carl Lumbly, she can hardly contain her disbelief at meeting a Black person in power. As events unfold, including young Piper Dellums (Shadia Simmons) extending a kind gesture by offering food to Mahree, we witness Mahree’s ignorance start to unravel as she and Piper discover shared ground. A particularly striking moment occurs when Mahree educates Piper on the racial classifications used in South Africa, all within the confines of a TV-G rated movie that daringly includes the N-word twice!

Things take a tense turn after the real-life incident of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko’s murder at the hands of police. Mahree’s nonchalant reaction, dismissing Biko as “just some crazy terrorist who killed himself,” triggers a heated response from Piper, understandably so. Congressman Dellums steps in to enlighten Mahree about the brutal cycle of apartheid, sparking her recognition of the oppressive systems Black people endure and the liberation efforts they champion in South Africa.

This isn’t your typical Disney fare, is it?

Contrast that with Remember The Titans. Released the same year and also rooted in a real story, it portrays desegregation in 1970s America. With the legendary Denzel Washington at its helm, it’s become a beloved classic. Yet, it takes a simplistic route, suggesting racism is so easily resolved through a heartfelt exchange of “left side, strong side” during a late night practice, and magically, bygones are bygones.

The Color of Friendship concludes with Mahree’s return to South Africa, where she subtly confides in the family’s Black maid, Flora, about secretly sewing a Black liberation flag into her jacket. It’s clear racism isn’t suddenly vanquished. In fact, her newfound perspectives might even put her at risk back home.

The Color of Friendship stands out as the least Disney-like film on the list, perhaps benefiting from its position on the smaller screen. Although it suggests racism is now forgotten history in America, the film does a powerful job of illustrating how ignorance is cultivated, enlightening youth about apartheid, and highlighting the universal human experience, regardless of skin color. This movie presents an engaging and thought-provoking viewing experience that merits revisiting.