Is the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Sequel Offensive?

Pretty much nothing has been revealed related to the storyline to the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean sequel Dead Man’s Chest, yet the Carib people of the Antilles have caught word of the premise and are highly offended.

According to the Indian Country Today websiteWalt Disney Pictures is premising its sequel to its film Pirates of the Caribbean on the supposed cannibalism of Carib Indians. This is disgusting. It is a bit beyond the time when the present-day children of the Carib people of the Antilles need to be hit in the face, one more time, with the wanton and highly-disputed idea that they descend from cannibals.

Apparently filming is scheduled to begin in Dominica this month, a land where some 3,000 Caribs live, Chief Charles Williams of the Carib community in Dominica has denounced the concept of his people being depicted as cannibals.

The article goes on to say that “at least three communities of Caribs – Salybia in Dominica, Santa Rosa in Trinidad and a community in St. Vincent – have registered their strong objections to Disney executives, who have not responded in any positive way to the critique. Scholars and others are adding their voices to the challenge… The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Historical and Archaeological Society has called for a boycott of the sequel by moviegoers if Disney does not modify the script.

With all of this said, the article also states that “the governments of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, who will benefit somewhat from the production activities in their countries, have not objected. In fact, the tourism minister of Dominica has defended the proposed film, which would bring some economic benefits to people on the island and which is, as he put it, only a ‘work of fiction.’

All things considered though, the author of this article clearly doesn’t take too kindly to the storyline as the final sentence reads: “Call it what you may, ”fiction” or dramatic or poetic license, it smacks of racism to us.

To read the article in it entirety click here, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is slated for a July 7, 2006 release.

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