Most of us have probably seen the Disney movie, Pocahontas, which came out in 1995. It centers around a young Native American lady who falls in love with an English settler. Meanwhile, their people are enemies to each other. It reminded me of Romeo and Juliet.

Anyway, unlike many of my peers, I did not watch Pocahontas as a kid. It was probably because my family didn’t own it on video or DVD when I was growing up. But I am glad that I didn’t see it as a child, especially when I was very young.

Despite the film’s G-rating, it contains prejudice, especially from the English to the Indigenous people. The song, “Savages,” is filled with prejudicial lyrics. I am shocked that it was allowed in the movie. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it taught some kids to be racist. It certainly would have to me, had I seen the movie in elementary school or before.

When I was little, I had a terrible uncontrollable habit of imitating what I saw on TV or in movies. A few times, I even had to be punished for copying things I viewed on screen.

So, if I had watched Pocahontas as a young child, not only would I have learned to be racist (despite being of minority race myself), I would have copied other moments that would not be acceptable in real life.

For example, in one scene, Pocahontas jumps down from a big waterfall and onto a boat. And she survives with no injuries whatsoever.

Of course, as an adult, I know that would not be safe in real life. But as a little kid, I may have been too inspired and might have attempted that. And then I would have, at the very least, suffered from severe injuries.

Later in my youth, I developed a passion for the song, “Colors of the Wind.” I even sang it in my middle school talent show.

However, it was not until I was 21 that I saw Pocahontas. Despite my criticisms in this post, I actually liked the film.

But if I had a child, I would probably wait until they’re older and mature before I’d let them watch Pocahontas.

All in all, the reasons that I am glad that I first saw the movie as an adult was because of prejudice and imitating films and television. Of course, if you have young children who watch or want to see Pocahontas, that’s fine – as long as they can avoid imitating it.