Mary Poppins branded racist by academic for 'flirting with blackface' in iconic rooftop dancing scene
Professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner criticized the classic film in an article for the New York Times under the headline ‘Mary Poppins, and a Nanny’s Shameful Flirting With Blackface'
Dame Julie Andrews gave what could be described as an ethereal performance in 1964 Disney classic 'Mary Poppins'.
However, a US academic is calling the movie racist and accuses her of ‘blacking up’ when her face is covered with soot during the iconic rooftop dancing scene. In the iconic scene, Poppins joins Dick Van Dyke’s Bert and his fellow sweeper friends on a rooftop for the song 'Step In Time' which is considered to be one of the most beloved moments in the classic.