Christmas classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is racist, a woke Canadian college professor claims

Carleton professor claims beloved holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” contains hidden racial bias

A music professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, James Deaville, has recently taken a swipe at the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, saying that the movie’s soundtrack and setting betray “racism” in its portrayal of a small American town. According to Deaville, the soundtrack switches from “boogie‑woogie and jazz, a Black type of sound” in the film’s alternate reality to the “Buffalo Gals,” a white traditional standard, when the town is shown as Bedford Falls. He also notes that the population is almost entirely white except for a black housekeeper and calls the film’s director and producer, Frank Capra, a racist.

Deaville’s remarks were first reported by the New York Post after the professor told the paper that the music “is full of ‘racism.’” In his own words, he says, “Listen and pay attention to the sounds of the movie and that’s where the racism lies, in the music.” He pointed out that, in the film’s alternate version where George Bailey’s life is erased, the town turns into a slum called Pottersville populated by nightclubs and “ne’er‑do‑wells.” In that version, the music style indeed shifts to an African‑American jazz vibe.

The film, which stars James Stewart as the conflicted banker George Bailey, has long been an American classic, even earning a place on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 best U.S. movies ever made.

The professor’s comments have sparked a flurry of reactions online. Conservative commentator Matt Margolis tweeted that he was “beyond furious” over what he called an “unhinged leftist” professor claiming the film carries “secret racial and bigoted ideas.” Conversely, supporters of the movie have defended Capra and the film’s legacy, arguing that the narrative’s moral message transcends any perceived racial commentary.

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