9 Groundbreaking Disney Channel Original Movies

In the 1970s, a young white South African girl named Mahree Bok, played by Lindsey Haun, travels to America for an exchange program. To her astonishment, she’s placed with a Black family, only to discover that the harsh realities of apartheid don’t follow her across the ocean. It’s almost unavoidable to cringe at the concept of “The Color of Friendship,” especially since it was a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) released back in 2000. You might find it surprising how director Kevin Hooks, along with writer Paris Qualles, both Black creatives, dive deep into the subject without softening its edges, portraying race relations in a powerfully evocative way inspired by true events.

Upon her arrival, Mahree hesitantly avoids shaking hands with her host mother, Roscoe Dellums, played by Penny Johnson Jerald, and awkwardly laughs when she meets her host father, Congressman Ron Dellums, portrayed by Carl Lumbly. She’s taken aback by the fact that a man in such a position of power can be Black. Through various interactions, including an innocent gesture from young Piper Dellums, played by Shadia Simmons, who offers Mahree a meal, Mahree’s ignorance gradually diminishes. The two girls soon discover shared interests. A particularly striking scene unfolds as Mahree teaches Piper about the different racial classifications in South Africa. Remarkably, this moment includes two mentions of the N-word, all within the confines of a TV-G rated DCOM!

Things become intensely real when news breaks of Steve Biko’s death, a renowned anti-apartheid activist in South Africa, killed by the police. Mahree’s initial dismissive reaction is, “Who cares? Just some crazy terrorist who killed himself.” This understandably infuriates Piper, leading Congressman Dellums to explain the cruel cycle of apartheid to Mahree. It’s at this moment that Mahree begins to comprehend the systemic oppression faced by Black people and the significance of the Black liberation movement in South Africa.

So, not exactly your typical Disney movie, right?

Consider another Disney film from the same year, “Remember the Titans,” also focused on desegregation but within 1970s America and grounded in a true story. Starring the legendary Denzel Washington, it is revered as a classic. However, its resolution of racial discord, particularly the scene where characters Gary Bertier and Julius Campbell seemingly resolve their differences with chants of “left side, strong side,” feels oversimplified. The movie’s racial tensions seem to vanish abruptly after that moment.

In contrast, “The Color of Friendship” concludes with Mahree returning to South Africa to her racially prejudiced family but reveals to their Black maid, Flora, that she’s secretly sewed the Black liberation flag into her jacket lining. Racism isn’t magically eradicated; it’s still a very present threat, potentially endangering Mahree if she voices her newfound insights.

“The Color of Friendship” stands out as perhaps the least Disney-esque Disney movie you’ll come across, perhaps made possible because it aired on the small screen rather than having a theatrical release. While the film hints that racism’s legacy is over in America, it effectively illustrates how ignorance forms, teaches younger audiences about apartheid, and highlights universal similarities among people of all ethnicities, making “The Color of Friendship” an intriguing watch every time you revisit it.